PRIDE IS 365 DAYS: Some Queer Creatives to Support Now & Forever, Curated by Sydney Davy
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Caleb Nkosi
Caleb Nkosi is a model based in Johannesburg. She has worked with photographers like Andrea Baioni and Jamal Nxedlana. Aside from her modeling career, she has become one of the very recognizable faces in the South African queer community. Caleb leverages her audience on platforms like Instagram and twitter to uplift her fellow marginalized creatives. She makes sure to showcase every aspect of her identity in a way that is inclusive and relatable for everyone that bears witness to her journey. Being proud of who she is and continuously embracing her community is the reason why I have become so obsessed with who she is and what she does. Being able to watch someone be so unapologetically themselves is mesmerizing. “I think its time that we are all known and appreciated for the beauty that we bring into this industry”, she shares.
Camryn Pearson
Originally from Port Elizabeth and now based in Johannesburg, Camryn Pearson is the kind of person you can strike up a conversation with, and she’ll leave you feeling like you’ve been friends for years. She connects with her audience through relatable content around the South African queer and Coloured communities, and the result is comical to say the least. You could watch one of her videos and automatically be hooked. She highlights the fact that people know that she is here to make a comfortable inclusive space for the queer community both on and off social media. Her ambition, rhythm and style is an important part of her identity and she hopes to that this will help grow her online presence as a gay south African influencer. She’s currently working super hard to be able to go to Trinidad to meet her person, which makes my heart gush!
Khanya Kemami
Khanya Kemami is freelance illustrator, graphic artist, tattooist and “extraordinaire”. He creates illustrations that are grounded in a sense of community. He always makes sure to represent everyone from all aspects of life in the most truthful and beautiful way. His illustrations always address the intersections of race, sexuality and gender identity. Khanya stays on top of social issues and addresses them through his art in addition to using it to translate who he is and whats important to him at any given time. Recently, he has expanded his creative portfolio to include tattooing, and has made significant strides towards mastering that art too!
Cole Skye Barnes
Cole Skye Barnes is a model, you-tuber and drag artist. They use their YouTube to discuss social issues along with tutorials and reviews. They also have a very exciting project coming up and knowing Cole, it’s going to be amazing! Cole in and out of drag is a fierce, funny and charismatic person. They have hair for days and a fierce attitude to match, I 100% recommend you subscribe to their YouTube channel.
Jordan Chinetsa
Jordan Chinetsa is an activist and creative. She models, directs, is a poet and performance artist who is working on combining music and her poetry in a way that highlights “experiences that come with navigating this space called earth”. She is a beautiful, strong-minded, powerful woman who I promise we are going to be reading about in our history books. Her social media is a great representation of the person that she is in all aspects, she makes it known that she will always fight for and stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. “I am an LGBTQIA+ rights activist mainly focusing on the rights of trans persons as the country I am from does not recognize trans identities, like my own.” she shares.
Deylin Universe
DeylinUniverse is a model and tik tok star. He is someone whos very passionate about creating things that make people feel good and comfortable and his audience is a testament to that. He is still in high school, but is leaning towards a career in film-making. Deylin is also really passionate about fashion “ I love fashion, literally what I wear is my life because its how other people view me but more importantly how I view myself”. There is something so charming about Deylin, he impacts the queer community in such a beautiful inspiring way, even at his young age.
Kirsten Gobey
Kirsten Gobey is a director, art director, concept creator and model. She is someone who consistently fights for the rights of marginalized communities and she is someone you can always count on to do the right thing in the most respectful, nurturing way. She gives women a voice in everything that she does where it be through her work or personal relationships. She has project coming soon called “Stained”. It is a short film, which “focuses on our bodies and our experiences with our bodies”,she shares on her Instagram.
Maneo Mohale
Maneo Mohale is a feminist writer, poet and editor. She has been published internationally and has been a contributing editor for The New York Times and i-D magazine. She published her debut collection of poetry in 2019 and stole the hearts of many with her incredible writing. Everything is Deadly Flower gives us a personal view into her experiences as a black queer woman, at the intersection of challenge and comfort. Aside from her excellence in writing Maneo is the kind of person who makes you feel at home with just one conversation. She is a matriarchal figure in the queer community and has helped so many with her work. She is an inspiration.
Monde Motadi
Monde Motadi is a writer, actor, presenter and formally known as ‘The Gay Superhero’. He recently wrote a queer short film titled The Feminine Lotus for the youth writers NFVF competition. Monde has appeared on screen, on stage and on radio numerous times in productions like Songs of Migration and Talent on Track. Recently, he started his own queer mandated company, Monde Motadi Productions. Aside from Mondes amazing accomplishments in the industry, he has also been a loud voice in the queer community at the forefront of activism. He consistently wants to bring light to the queer community and help others get the recognition they deserve without asking anything in return. He does it because he genuinely believes in his community.
Nalu
Nalu is a model, artist, singer, songwriter and producer. She is an extremely talented artist whose voice transcendent. She writes songs about her experiences as a woman, love, sexuality, and spirituality and will always leave you wanting more. She brings a fresh and new outlook to the South African music industry through her unique and enchanting vocals. If you are looking to find music that takes you on a trip, makes you laugh, smile, dance non-stop and just feel good,her debut mixtape Tacenda is all you need.
River/Saintdeepthroat
River/Saintdeepthroat is a rave princes, songwriter, producer and DJ that has always had a deep love for music. She began producing music when she was just 9 and she is now 21. For the past two years she has taken music more seriously and has played many iconic parties in South Africa, including Prime and DDI. She has produced music for international music giants and has gained recognition for her amazing abilities in production. River also has a huge social media presence where shes always made it known that inclusivity is the only option. She has been the voice for many just by being open about her experiences as a black queer woman growing up in South Africa and the US. She has used her platforms to voice injustices experienced by the marganilized communities and has provided a safe space for those communities. She is the epitome of what actual pop culture icons are, she is hilarious, real and full of talent.
Tazneem Smith
Tazneem Smith is an actress, director, and art director and has worked in production. Tazneem has worked on productions like Lord Kez’s WAE music video and more amazing pieces. She is an extremely passionate person with a deep love for the arts industry in all its forms. She is eager on learning and growing more in the industry and wont let anything stop her from achieving her goals. She has always been someone whose love spreads across many different communities, and has taken time be active in the supporting of those communities. Tazneem is an advocate for equity and has made it known through her conversations and social media. She, like Jordan, is someone you can go to for protection without question. She is a kind hearted and someone you can trust in the queer community.
