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Desmond Napoles        

LGBTQ Youth Visibility Activist, Drag Kid, Model & Author

Desmond Napoles is a 12-year old drag kid, awarded LGBTQ advocate, outspoken gay youth, editorial and runway model, public speaker, performer, founder of his own drag house: the Haus of Amazing, fashion designer, film and TV actor, published author, muse, legendary up-and-coming member of the original pioneering voguing house, the House of UltraOmni, and icon from New York City. Most importantly, he is an inspiration to many and a representation of hope for the future to come.

Napoles first developed an interest in drag when he was a toddler. His mother would be watching RuPaul's Drag Race and he would stop playing with his toys in order to watch as well. He made his professional drag debut in RuPaul's Drag Race season 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon's video for the "Bacon Shake" when he was just 7 years old. He continues to perform on stage and at events.

Napoles is an awarded LGBTQ+ advocate whose goal is to teach LGBTQ+ youth how to be themselves and to pay haters no mind because they "will never be as fierce as you and I." He has received a letter of recognition from the president of Fairleigh-Dickinson University, is the "child honor godfather" of the ONG Espana campaign #unfuturosinviolencia, and has earned the Marsha P. Johnson Don't Be Outraged Be Outrageous award from Heritage of Pride and a Queeroes Award from Conde Nast Them for his work in the LGBTQ community.

He was listed on the 2018 Dazed100 and Out100 top influencers. He was nominated for a Qweerty Award, Shorty Award, and Social Global Impact Award. He has been featured in Pride campaigns for Google and Converse. Napoles is also the founder of the first ever drag house for drag kids, the Haus of Amazing.

Napoeles has slayed the runways at New York Fashion Week, including Gyspy Sport, The Blonds x Disney Villians, and Nicopanda's MAC Cosmetics collaboration with Macy's. He's appeared in Vogue Magazine four times, breaking the age and gender boundaries of the fashion industry. Napoles has designed his own line of fans with Daftboy, t-shirts with Drag Queen Merch, and a line of lashes with Chimera Lashes.

Napoles recorded his first inspirational music single "We Are All Amazing", released in 2019. He has written a children's book called "Be Amazing: A History of Pride" to teach young children how to have self-confidence and express themselves. He is currently working on a TV show and magazine for LGBTQ youth. In his spare time, he enjoys collecting miniature trains, playing with Hot Wheels, drawing maps, playing video games, visiting parks and zoos, and building virtual roller coasters. He also loves pigeons. He would like to study ornithology or engineering in the future.

Napoles has been featured and mentioned in numerous magazines and online media sites including Vogue, Refinery29, Gayletter, Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, Slate, New York Magazine, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, and many more around the world.

News


The Harmful Presumption That Kids Are Straight - The Atlantic
The 12-year-old drag star Desmond Napoles is one of a growing number of kids who have embraced an LGBTQ identity at an early age. He has already come ...
Sashaying Their Way Through Youth - The New York Times
“I'm excited!” screamed Desmond Napoles, a 12-year-old drag star who performs as Desmond is Amazing, punctuating his enthusiasm with mild profanity.

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