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United States Desmond Napoles, known formerly as Desmond Is Amazing, has transitioned from a child drag performer and LGBTQ+ advocate to a vocal activist focusing on queer youth acceptance and gender diversity. As a genderfluid model and author, Desi now champions self-expression and identity away from the drag stage.
Desmond Napoles was featured in a Pride ad campaign for Converse shoes.
Known as the House of Soulja, showcasing their identity as an LGBTQ+ advocate and model.
Desmond Napoles, born in June 2007, began performing drag at the age of eight, quickly gaining recognition under the stage name Desmond Is Amazing. Their initial public appearance in the 2015 NYC Pride March brought early attention to their work. By 2019, Napoles had accumulated approximately 180,000 followers on Instagram, establishing a significant online presence as one of the prominent ‘drag kids’ in the American drag scene. This early period was marked by their commitment to drag performance and their emerging role as an LGBTQ+ advocate. Through these platforms, Napoles aimed to promote visibility and acceptance for queer youth.
In October 2017, Napoles founded Haus of Amazing, which was notable as the first drag club organized specifically for child drag performers. This initiative highlighted their dedication to fostering a supportive community for young individuals interested in drag. Further showcasing their expanding influence, in 2018, Napoles participated in New York Fashion Week, walking the runway for Gypsy Sport. This period also saw the publication of “Be Amazing: A History of Pride” in 2020, a children’s picture book with text by Napoles, solidifying their role as an author and further extending their message of pride and self-acceptance to a younger audience. These accomplishments demonstrate their multifaceted engagement across entertainment, fashion, and literature.
By 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Napoles began re-evaluating their persona and identity. They recognized that their performances were no longer solely confined to a drag character but had evolved into an authentic expression of their own creative and genderfluid identity. This led to their decision to retire the ‘Desmond Is Amazing’ drag persona by 2023, choosing to be known as Desi. Currently, Napoles focuses on activism, completing high school, and expressing themselves through fashion, including starting their own brand, Be Amazing NYC, and developing a line of skin care products. Desi continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ youth, leveraging their past experiences to speak out against anti-trans legislation and promote understanding, while actively shaping their personal and public identity.
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