Back to overview

Milkshake Campaign 2022: A chat with Marie-Léa

17 February 2022

For this year, a total of five wonderful faces will be the centre point of our campaign. Behind these faces are beautiful stories that we love to share with you. We sat down with campaign model Marie-léa and asked her about her drives and dreams.

“I’m driven by individuality and being able to express myself wherever, whenever, unapologetically. I hope that we get to a time when it won’t be necessary to always have to explain ourselves. We need to reach the point that no one needs to come out anymore. It shouldn’t be such a big deal. When a trans or queer person is present, the conversation should not always be about them and their queer journey. People always have questions which is a natural sense of curiosity, but it becomes exhausting to repeat.”

“Walk into every room knowing that you deserve to be there.”

“For the longest time, choices were always made for me, that was until I came into the ballroom scene. You meet such a wonderful spectrum of people from all walks of life, being themselves and not caring about what anyone thinks of them. The ballroom scene gives you a place to breathe and not worry about having to defend yourself. To be seen, loved and respected. My vibe in life is that I don’t have two shits to give about what anybody thinks. I hope for everyone to go through life with this energy. Walk into every room knowing that you deserve to be there.”

“it's so important to try and create safe spaces that are open for discussion”

“Milkshake creates a safe space for us; I know that we hear the word safe a lot, but it's so important to try and create safe spaces that are open for discussion.

As a trans woman today, when walking down the street, it's always in the back of your mind that someday you may have to fight or defend yourself from someone that does not agree with your existence. We shouldn't have to choose between gender/queer dysmorphia and safety, because that’s what it comes to. It’s currently one or the other and they are both on the same level of unbearable. We can make this crazy world not only bearable but enjoyable too.”

Back to overview Next article