Metrosource National - AUG/SEP 2021

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your

healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information

about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine,

visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21

DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP ASPIRING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES. Feel good from the inside out by selecting good nutrition, allowing your body to function at its best. A healthy weight and regular physical activity can prevent chronic health conditions, including some types of cancer.

GIVE BACK TO OTHERS. Being an active part of our community and offering support to others is a part of maintaining healthy relationships. Call a friend you have not spoken to in a

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS EDITOR’S LETTER

HEALTH AND WELLNESS HAVE BEEN AT THE

or volunteer within your local community. Small acts of kindness like this can make you, and others, feel happy and appreciated.

TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS.

FOREFRONT OF EVERYONE’S MIND FOR SOME TIME

Many of us keep a lot of our feelings in, whether that

NOW. In addition to the obvious health concerns, the

be sadness, anger, or despair. Talking about what you

LGBTQIA+ community is subject to increased risks of

are feeling can help you in processing your thoughts.

physical, behavioral, and sexual health problems. A good

Writing in a journal can help in expressing your feelings

place to start is with a healthy mindset. This is indeed a

as well. LGBTQ youth face elevated rates of suicide, bul-

commitment that may involve lifestyle changes, but the

lying, sexual abuse, and other challenges. Again, your

right frame of mind will set you up for success.

local LGBTQ Center or trusted healthcare provider can

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A Reyes MARKETING DIRECTOR Christopher Jackson FEATURE WRITER Alexander Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Rimalower

Jeffrey James Keyes Megan Venzin Michael Westman Steve Gottfried

NATIONAL DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

assist in finding you someone to talk to. Do not keep

ACCEPT YOURSELF FOR WHO YOU ARE.

your feelings bottled up. There is help. Contact www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, www.trevorproject.org, www.

This is perhaps the hardest thing for many of us to

VIEWS

while (no, not a FB message, actually pick up the phone),

PUBLISHER Bent Share Entertainment, LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Westman COPY EDITOR James Delyea

pflag.org, or your local LGBTQ Center.

do. It can be hard to have self-love when we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. Always strive to be better, to be healthier, and to be happier, but to attain

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

this self-acceptance, it helps to understand that only you

Avoid the added stress in worrying about the things

can do it for you — and no one else. You were born this

you cannot control. There will always be things that you

way for a reason - you are unique and perfect as you are,

do not have complete control over. Instead, focus your

so there is no point in trying to be someone else. Your

efforts on problems you can control, and tackle smaller

version of success should be about what is important to

problems and tasks. It’s all about a better focus.

Los Angeles 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #438 Long Beach, CA 90803 New York 511 Avenue of the Americas, #901 New York, NY 10011 800.818.0480 info@metrosource.com

you, and not about what other people are doing. So, focus on being the best version of YOU.

KEEP A POSITIVE BODY IMAGE.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE.

transgender and queer youth. Back to that self-acceptance

Eating and weight disorders are especially high in

Laughing and feeling appreciated can help to boost

and how hard it is to love ourselves. Love your body and talk to a trusted healthcare provider if you have concerns.

your mood. Surrounding yourself with family, friends and others who have a positive outlook will give you a greater sense of wellbeing. Having trouble finding other

USE FAILURE TO ENCOURAGE SUCCESS.

like-minded people to surround yourself with? Check

Use failure as an opportunity for success. We all fail at

out your local LGBTQ Community Center, most have

times. It can be disheartening, and you may instinctively

several fun programs to participate in. Go out, try new

want to give up. However, it is important to remember

things, and have fun!

each time you fail at something it teaches you a lesson.

It’s how you chose to learn from these lessons that is

APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS.

important … learn from them and use them for success!

Subscriptions: One year (6 issues): $24.95; 12 issues: $39.95.

Reproduction of any article, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in Metrosource are supportive of the gay community. Mention of any person, business or organization is not a reflection of their sexual orientation. ©2021 Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Advertisers in Metrosource acknowledge that they do business in the spirit of cooperation, fairness and service, maintaining a high level of integrity and responsibility. Providers of products or services are fully and solely responsible for same as advertised. Metrosource assumes no responsibility or liability for improper or negligent business practices by advertisers. The appearance of any person, model, business or organization in this publication, by name, advertisement or photograph is not an indication of sexual orientation.

Advertisers and their agencies assume all responsibility and legal liability for the content of their advertisements in Metrosource. Publisher assumes no liability for safe-keeping or return of unsolicited art, manuscripts or other materials.

Metrosource reserves the right to edit all material for clarity, length and content.

All contents are copyright Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.

Content may only be reproduced with written permission from Bent Share Entertainment, LLC. Metrosource assumes no liability for any claims or representations contained anywhere in this magazine and reserve the right to cancel or refuse advertising at publisher’s discretion.

We all balance demands from different areas in our lives, but it is important to remember to set time aside for

BE HAPPY. BE HEALTHY. BE WELL.

YOU and doing the things that make you happy - listening to music, reading, playing with the fur baby – whatever that may be, appreciate the time you are spending on yourself and on the things that make you happy.

4

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

@metrosource @MetrosourceMagazine @metrosourcemag

METROSOURCE.COM

August/September 2021 | VOLUME 32, NO. 4

CONTENTS

THIS PAGE: MJ RODRIGUEZ PHOTO BY LEV RADIN • BIANCA DEL RIO PHOTO BY DENISE MALONE • BLU DEL BARRIO PHOTO BY PHIL SHARP

20

28 38

20 MJ RODRIGUEZ POSE’S MICHAELA JAE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY

28 BIANCA DEL RIO GET OUT, LIVE, AND HAVE A DRINK

38 BLU DEL BARRIO DISCOVERING THE FUTURE

COVER: MJ Rodriguez Photographer: Lev Radin photography.levradin.com IG: @levradin METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

5

DEPARTMENTS

August/September 2021 | VOLUME 32, NO. 4

46 14

CULTURE

33

7 THE SCOPE New Barbra Streisand, the girls from RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! are back in Las Vegas and more

A Legacy of Photography and Love

TRAVEL 33 Soak It All In A Spa Vacation Can Bring Rest and Rejuvenation

46 Curacao Old and New Worlds Collide AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

10 Bad Hair Day? Take back control and revitalize your hair

25 Summer Reading Six Heath and Self-Help Books to Devour this Summer

ENTERTAINMENT 14 Lucas Murnaghan

6

HEALTH

42 What’s In Your Gym Bag?

VIEWS

4 EDITOR’S LETTER

Set Yourself Up

for Success

THIS PAGE: MIND OF MATTER BY LUCAS MURNAGHAN • RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE LIVE! LAS VEGAS PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO • PHOTO COURTESY OF CURACAO TOURISM BOARD • PHOTO COURTESY OF LA MAMOUNIA PALACE, MOROCCO

7

CURATED BY MICHAEL WESTMAN

THESCOPE LISTEN

BARBRA STREISAND - RELEASE ME 2

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY RUSSELL JAMES • ALBUM COVER COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS

CULTURE

Release Me 2 is the eagerly awaited second volume of Barbra Streisand rarities, a timely companion to her highly successful 2012 Columbia/Legacy album Release Me, which entered the Billboard 200 at #7, making it her 32nd Top 10.

Release Me 2 showcases exquisite songs and sublime studio performances recorded over the course of Barbra’s astounding career but were shelved for various reasons. In her notes for the album, Barbra says,“For me, the studio is a combination musical playground and laboratory … a private sanctuary, where the possibility of catching lightning in a bottle always exists. Whenever that kind of magic happens, it’s extremely satisfying. Sometimes though, when the arrangement doesn’t quite gel or the song no longer fits the tone of the album it was meant for, the tapes go into the vault for safekeeping. Working on this 2nd volume of Release Me has been a lovely walk down memory lane … a chance to revisit, and in some cases, add a finishing instrumental touch to songs that still resonate for me in meaningful ways. I’m particularly struck by the ongoing relevance of ‘Be Aware’ and ‘One Day,’ which still speak to our collective sense of humanity.”

Throughout her career, Barbra’s passionate social activism has been a driving force in her art and life. Her performances of “Be Aware” and “One Day (A Prayer)” connect to the core of the human condition. Release Me 2 features songs penned by celebrated writers and tunesmiths including Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Barry Gibb, Randy Newman, Michel Legrand/Alan Bergman/ Marilyn Bergman, Harold Arlen and“Yip”Harburg, Carole King, Steve Dorff, Paul Williams/Kenny Ascher, and Walter Afanasieff/John Bettis.

In addition to her duet with Willie Nelson, Release Me 2 features Barbra singing with Muppet superstar Kermit the Frog on the classic composition“Rainbow Connection” (originally intended for Barbra’s Wet album in 1979) and a musical collaboration with Barry Gibb on“If OnlyYou Were Mine,”written by Barry Gibb/Ashley Gibb/Stephen Gibb as a potential bonus track for 2005’s Guilty Pleasures.

Release Me 2 will be available as a digital album as well as a CD digipak with a 32-page booklet--featuring liner notes by Barbra Streisand and Jay Landers, the album’s executive producers. Several collectible 12” vinyl editions, art directed by Barbra Streisand, will be available in a variety of color packages, color vinyl pressings, and a special picture disc.

THESCOPE

THE FIRST NEW BARBRA STREISAND ALBUM TITLE SINCE 2018,

Visit www.barbrastreisand.com and www.barbrastreisandshop.com.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

7

THESCOPE CULTURE

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE LIVE! LAS VEGAS

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE LIVE!, THE MOST SICKENING ELEGANZA EXTRAVAGANZA IN LAS VEGAS HERSTORY, is returning to the

stage at Flamingo Las Vegas beginning Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Tickets for performances through Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, are on sale now.

From the creative team behind the Emmy® Award-winning series RuPaul’s Drag Race, the critically acclaimed Las Vegas revue is everything you love about the TV show and then some. With over-the-top costumes, visually stunning sets, and jaw-dropping performances, RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! serves the audience a drag experience like they’ve never seen before. Each show features six queens, including Asia O’Hara, Derrick Barry, Kameron Michaels, Naomi Smalls, Vanessa“Vanjie”Matteo and Yvie Oddly.

To coincide with the reopening of RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!, RuPaul’s Werk Room, the immersive, multi-sensory store experience at Flamingo Las Vegas, will also reopen

8

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

this August. A reflection of the bold, interactive style of the live show, RuPaul’s Werk Room is located next to the Spa at Flamingo Las Vegas near the conference center and will be open daily at 4 p.m.

Directed by RuPaul and award-winning choreographer and filmmaker Jamal Sims, RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! is produced by World of Wonder, the creative team behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, with Voss Events. Original music for RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! is written by RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race composer Leland and Tom Campbell, Chief Creative Officer at World of Wonder. The score includes RuPaul’s hit songs from the past 13 seasons of Drag Race, plus original show-stopping numbers created especially for this residency.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! will perform Thursday through Monday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets starting at $49, plus applicable tax and fees, are available for purchase now at www.ticketmaster.com/dragracevegas.

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO

LIVE!

READ

¡HOLA PAPI!

HOW TO COME OUT IN A WALMART PARKING LOT AND OTHER LIFE LESSONS FROM POPULAR LGBTQ ADVICE COLUMNIST AND WRITER JOHN PAUL BRAMMER COMES A HILARIOUS, heartwarming memoir-in-essays chronicling his journey

growing up as a queer, mixed-race kid in America’s heartland to becoming the “Chicano Carrie Bradshaw”of his generation.

The first time someone called John Paul (JP) Brammer “Papi” was on the popular gay hookup app Grindr. At first, it was flattering; JP took this as white guy speak for“hey, handsome.”Who doesn’t want to be called handsome? But then it happened again and again…and again, leaving JP wondering: Who the hell is Papi?

What started as a racialized moniker given to him on a hookup app soon became the inspiration for his now wildly popular advice column ¡Hola Papi!, launching his career as the Cheryl Strayed for young queer people everywhere—and some straight people too. JP had his doubts at first—what advice could he really offer while he himself stumbled through his early 20s? Sometimes the best advice to dole outcomes from looking within, which is what JP has done in his column and book—and readers have flocked to him for honest, heartfelt wisdom, and of course, a few laughs.

In ¡Hola Papi!, JP shares his story of growing up biracial and in the closet in America’s heartland, while attempting to answer some of life’s toughest questions: How do I let go of the past? How do I become the person I want to be? Is there such a thing as being too gay? Should I hook up with my grade school bully now that he’s out of the closet? Questions we’ve all asked ourselves, surely.

Publish Date: June 8, 2021 Format: Hardcover US Price: $26.00

THIS PAGE: ¡HOLA PAPI! BOOK COVER COURTESY OF SIMON & SCHUSTER • UDO KIER IMAGE COURTESY OF SWAN SONG

WATCH

SWAN SONG

LEGENDARY ACTOR UDO KIER STARS AS RETIRED HAIRDRESSER PAT PITSENBARGER, WHO ESCAPES THE CONFINES OF HIS SMALL-TOWN SANDUSKY,

Ohio nursing home after learning of his former client’s dying wish for him to style her final hairdo. Soon, Pat embarks on an odyssey to confront the ghosts of his past – and collect the beauty supplies necessary for the job.

SWAN SONG is a comical and bittersweet journey about rediscovering one’s sparkle and looking gorgeous while doing so.

Written and directed by Todd Stephens.

Produced by Todd Stephens, Eric Eisenbrey, Tim Kaltenecker, and Stephen Israel.

Starring Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie, Ira Hawkins, and Stephanie McVay. In theaters August 6th and On Demand August 13th.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

9

BAD HAIR DAY?

TAKE BACK CONTROL AND REVITALIZE YOUR HAIR

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF QUARANTINING AND ZOOM MEETINGS, GROOMING MIGHT NOT BE THE FIRST THING ON YOUR MIND BUT IT’S

BODY

HEALTH

TIME TO TAKE BACK CONTROL AND REVITALIZE YOUR HAIR. Fran Leb-

owitz, star of Pretend It’s a City, says, “You’re only as good as your last haircut,” and while there’s truth in her statement, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure you look your best between trips to the barber chair. We looked at a variety of new and trusted hair care products on the market. Summer is upon us, after all.

So be sure to look your best, now that we’re getting out of the house more.

DYSON DYSON SUPERSONIC HAIR DRYER www.dyson.com $399.99 Are you emerging from the pandemic with long, luxurious hair, ala Brad Pitt in Interview with a Vampire and Legends of the Fall? If not, a quality (read: adult) hair dryer is a necessity. The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is engineered to protect your locks from extreme heat damage while drying and controlling with speed and efficiency. The hair dryer features three precise speed settings (high, medium, and low) and four precise heat settings (hot, warm, cooler, or cold drying) as well as a “cold shot” to set your hair after styling. All Dyson Supersonic hair dryers come with magnetic styling attachments for easy fitting and rotating during styling. Add a pop of color in your bathroom and opt for the fuchsia/nickel color dryer and take advantage of the bonus styling set to help you get the kinks out.

EUFORA HERO FOR MEN POWER POMADE & GROOMING CREAM www.Eufora.net $22 Eufora has been offering clean, quality beauty products since 1997. Eufora formulations harness the power of more than 100 unique plant and flower extracts, essential oils, vitamins, and natural aromas for their products. The company is known for their fantastic line of hair care products, including Power Pomade, which delivers shine and a firm, powerful hold without crunch or greasiness. This pomade is lightweight, water soluble, and easy to wash from hands and hair. Need a little frizz control? Eufora HERO for Men’s Grooming Cream ($19.50) is great for taming and managing curls, offering a medium hold and low shine. This cream is a great non-messy styling cream that will help you look and feel your best.

10

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

EVERY MAN JACK SEA SALT SURF SPRAY & BEARD + FACE WASH www.Everymanjack.com $8 & $10 Bring the beach home with you with Every Man Jack’s texturizing Sea Salt Surf Spray. This product will add texture, enhance body, and leave a matte finish to give you that just-left-thebeach look (who doesn’t want that?). This spray is enriched

INNERSENSE REFRESH DRY SHAMPOO

Face wash will cleanse and condition your beard and face while

www.Innersensebeauty.com $24

hydrating the skin. Coconut oil and glycerin work together to

Dry shampoo became all the rage a few years back, and with so

condition and soften. Surf’s up, fellas.

many dry shampoos on the market it’s difficult to know which

with aloe vera, vitamin B5, and vitamin E. The Sea Salt Beard +

product can clean your hair. Just a few pumps of Innersense Refresh Dry Shampoo can not only remove dirt but also absorb oil

GAGE FOR MEN FLEX WAX

while adding volume and a bit of shine to any type of hair. The

www.gageformen.com $20

and tapioca starch to help pull oil, while certified organic honey

GAGE for Men is a full line of multipurpose, high performance

tasy. Want to take Innersense in the shower with you? Innersense

hair care and styling products created by hair expert Bennie

Color Awakening Hairbath and Radiance Daily Conditioner are

Pollard specifically for men. Their Flex Wax provides ultra-hold

two great products for medium texture and for color and chemi-

without that obnoxious crunchy feel. Work a little Flex Wax into

cally treated hair.

foam features bitter orange and tangerine to relax, witch hazel adds body and shine so you can live your Legends of the Fall fan-

your hair and see how this styling blend holds like a gel but is flexible like a wax. GAGE for Men also offers a refreshing Tea Tree Shampoo & Tea Tree Conditioner ($34 each), that work together to increase scalp and hair circulation while balancing oil production, reducing itchiness, and hydrating so you can go out and look your best.

JACK BLACK DOUBLE-HEADER SHAMPOO + CONDITIONER www.GetJackBlack.com $32 Jack Black’s Double-Header Shampoo + Conditioner with coconut oil and kelp extract is a creamy, sulfate-free lather that removes oil

HOUSE OF DEAR RESURRECTING RINSE & RESURRECTING WASH

and product buildup while lightly conditioning, detangling, and

www.Houseofdear.com $38/each

extract, peppermint oil (no wonder why it smells amazing), sea

Dear Clark Salon, the #1 salon in Dallas, launched House of

hair and your scalp and lather before rinsing. Not familiar with

Dear this past January offering a six-product line to lean into

Jack Black? They’re a family owned and operated company out of

this summer. Master hair artist Holly Dear is passionate about

Carrollton, Texas that has grown to become a top selling men’s

beauty and haircare and has partnered with a world-renowned

skincare company after getting their start a little over twenty years

Italian chemist and botanist to learn how to create hair care

ago. Jack Black offers body, hair, face, and grooming products that

products that harness the power of nature and take on beau-

will take your medicine cabinet to the next level.

soothing the scalp. This fantastic two-in-one product contains creatine, rice seed protein, white lupine protein, coconut oil, sage leaf kelp, basil, and green tea extract. Massage a small amount into wet

ty challenges at the root. The House of Dear line, formulated around rose of Jericho, nourishes the hair down to the cuticle to resurrect and hydrate. House of Dear Resurrecting Wash is a brand-new color safe shampoo, formulated with rose of Jericho, aloe vera, sunflower, cucumber, hydrolyzed quinoa and lupine protein, gently cleanses away debris while rejuvenating. Follow the wash with their Resurrecting Rinse to rebalance the hair’s moisture. Formulated with rose of Jericho, aloe vera, sunflower, prickly pear, hydrolyzed quinoa, and lupine protein, this rinse is a perfect addition to your shower routine. Need a little mid-day boost? The House of Dear Volumizing Tonic, with a bit of additional witch hazel, ginger root, and yucca, will give your hair a boost of volume right when you need it.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

11

KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 OLIVE FRUIT OIL DEEPLY REPAIRATIVE HAIR PAK www.kiehls.com $25 You probably know Kiehl’s Since 1851 for their great skincare products, but their extensive line of hair products ranging from shampoos and conditioners to gels, masks and treatments are out of this world. Kiehl’s Since 1851 Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair

BODY

HEALTH

Mask is a perfect antidote to dried out, dull, and tired hair. Lather a

REMINGTON REMINGTON T-SERIES ULTIMATE PRECISION HAIRCUT KIT

oil, and avocado oils, to moisturize and strengthen your hair while

www.Remingtonproducts.com $44.99

restoring its shine and healthy appearance. This is a great summer

Still too anxious to go to the barber? Remington can help you to

product, after a long day out on the water or jogging in the park.

step up you’re at-home barbershop. The company released an ex-

The sun and excessive heat can weaken and strip the hair’s balance

tensive line of new haircut and grooming kits this past January to

leaving it undernourished and ready for some pampering. Leave the

help you clip, cut, and shave, alleviating your need to step out of

mask in for at least three minutes before rinsing.

your cluster to “sit in the chair.” Remington T-Series Ultimate Preci-

generous amount of this product, with enriching olive fruit, lemon

sion Haircut Kit offers a high-visibility cut-away neck design so you can see as you clip. Access all fourteen lengths and style settings and take advantage of the foil shaver attachment to quickly clean up the neck and jawline. Enjoy ultimate precision without having to leave your home. Want to step up your facial game? The Remington

LEONOR GREYL PARIS REGENERESCENCE NATURELLE

WETech 100% Waterproof Body & Face Grooming Kit gives you the

www.Leonorgreyl-usa.com $40

You have 70-minutes for the blades to run. Just be sure to get out a

freedom to groom in the shower or dry. Use the 3-Blade Body Hair Shaver at seven length and style settings. Like to take your time? mirror so you can see the back of your head as you go.

RuPaul’s Drag Race standout Mrs. Kasha Davis is known for saying, “There’s always hair could also use a cocktail. Leonor Greyl

SALWA PETERSEN CHEBE DU TCHAD

tail, Régénerescence Naturelle, a stimulat-

www.Salwapetersen.com $69

ing and purifying scalp oil known to stimulate and treat the scalp, to

Chébé powder has been used in haircare rituals in Chad for cen-

stimulate and purify those slow growing follicles with 100% natural

turies. It is famous for its ability to help achieve long and healthy-

essential and botanical oils, amino acids, and proteins that nour-

looking hair. For the first time in modern times, Salwa Petersen has

ish, protect, and encourage growth. Use once or twice a week on

infused Chébé, sourced directly from Chad and selected from an ex-

those pesky dry scalp sections while gently massaging. Leave on

ceptional harvest, into a leave-in hair care cream with an intoxicat-

for at least fifteen minutes before shampooing out. Régénérescence

ing fragrance. Salwa Petersen Chèbe du Tchad hair cream is perfect

Naturelle is the first 100% natural booster, designed to regenerate

for daily use to smooth, strengthen, and reduce hair breakage. In

tissue and significantly improve hair loss-related problems.

addition to Chébé, the product includes fair-trade African shea but-

Paris has concocted the perfect hair cock-

ter and a selection of five oils: virgin castor oil, cold pressed sweet almond oil, organic sesame oil, avocado oil, and sea buckthorn oil.

Apply to damp or dry hair and watch as your hair wakes back up from its dull, dry nap.

12

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

PAGES 10-12: MODELS PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

time for a cocktail,” and let’s face it, your

HOW DOES HIV TREATMENT WORK AS HIV PREVENTION Starting and sticking with HIV treatment every day helps lower the amount of HIV in your body. It can get so low it can’t be measured by a test.

That’s undetectable.

Less HIV in your body means it causes less damage. And according to current research, getting to and staying undetectable prevents the spread of HIV through sex.

It’s called Treatment as Prevention. Or TasP for short.

There’s no cure for HIV, but if you stick with treatment you can protect yourself and the people you care about.

Talk to a healthcare provider and watch It’s Called Treatment as Prevention at YouTube.com/HelpStopTheVirus

GILEAD and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. UNBC7269 08/20

LUCAS MURNAGHN HEADSHOT BY CHEE SIM

14

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

LUCAS

MURNAGHAN A LEGACY OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND LOVE

BY STEVE GOTTFRIED The Great Escape

WHEN IT COMES TO PROMINENT GAY PHOTOGRAPHERS, SOME HAVE DISTIN-

PAGES 15,17,18,19: PHOTOS BY LUCAS MURNAGHN

GUISHED THEMSELVES BY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF SEXUAL EXPRESSION

(Robert Mapplethorpe, Steven Arnold) while others have focused on the aesthetics of the male form (like Tom Bianchi or Herb Ritts). Lucas Murnaghan added a new dimension by taking the art form underwater, producing an impressive collection of captivating images that showcase not only his subjects’ bodies but also challenge us to look beyond the surface. When it came time to publish his works, the title Beneath the Surface made sense literally and metaphorically. The images are not just physically provocative but evocative, exploring a spectrum of emotions and themes. Alan Cumming [stage and screen actor], an admirer of Murnaghan’s work, wrote in the foreword how Murnaghan’s images “transcend the usual click-bait aesthetic of the male form…” capturing “an otherworldliness, as though we are joining these perfect specimens in a kind of amniotic pool that takes us away.”

My interest in learning more about the man behind the images hit a brick wall when Lucas passed away this year at the age of 45. Like so many of his fans, I was shocked and saddened by this sudden loss. I had seen a riveting TEDx talk Lucas gave in 2019 two years before his death. In just under 20 minutes,

Lucas gives an unflinchingly honest and cohesive account of his life, distilling well-earned life lessons. Having battled homophobia, depression and addiction, Lucas spoke of his relationship with water as a sacred place of refuge. While photography and medicine were interwoven in his family lineage, his interest in photography only developed much later in life once he had become established as an accomplished orthopedic surgeon in his native Canada.

I realized I would have to settle for a posthumous account of the late photographer’s life, but it wasn’t until I reached out to his surviving partner Antonio Lennert that things really came into focus. Little did I realize that my article about photography would turn into a love story. Adjusting to the loss of his life partner of 14 years, Antonio assumed the task (a labor of love, no doubt) of managing Lucas’ estate and carrying on his legacy. Handsome and youthful at 37, with a lanky athletic build and an endearing, soft-spoken manner, it is easy to see what drew these two together. A native of Brazil, Antonio grew up with a deep reverence for the ocean and for surfing specifically. But as a gay man, he encountered homophobia in Brazil and moved to the United States at the age of 20 in search of a more tolerant existence where he studied design and interactive media.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

15

Lucas and Antonio Iceland

Over the course of our hour-long Zoom chat, Antonio took me back to the beginning of their relationship, starting with their“cute meet”when Lucas was visiting San Diego for a medical conference. Lucas wandered into a G-star clothing store in the Gaslamp district where Antonio was selling overpriced jeans. Antonio recalls how Lucas kept trying on jeans as if looking for any excuse to prolong his immediate and palpable chemistry with Antonio. When he learned of Antonio’s passion for surfing, Lucas played up his interest (and ability) in surfing, quickly taking Antonio up on his offer to join his friends for a surf outing. At this stage, there was an undeniable spark, but neither was completely sure whether the other was gay. Once they exchanged phone numbers, Lucas leveled with Antonio via text that he might have exaggerated his interest in surfing. They settled on a non-surfing first date and would go on to form a tight bond even though their relationship would have to endure a period of long-distance separation while Lucas returned to Canada for work and Antonio finished his degree in San Diego.

Five months later, Lucas returned to California for a visit, but a sudden medical emergency would change everything, putting their relationship on a fast track that would test their budding relationship. When Antonio realized how dire the situation was, he dropped everything and flew to Canada to be with Lucas.“I remember the first few days at the hospital, he was asking: are you sure you want to be here? You didn’t sign up for this. Well, I said, I’m in love with you and it doesn’t matter. I’ll do whatever I have to do to take care of you. I feel like that has been our main role in each other’s lives. I took care of him, and he took care of me in different ways. And we created this life for ourselves, and we just lived life to the fullest, because we knew it was so fragile and could be taken from us at any point.”

Lucas’ medical problems eventually settled down after he had his spleen

16

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

removed. His health improved to the point where he was competing in Ironman competitions, something he turned to as an outlet from the stressors of a demanding career in medicine. But this close call had another impact on his life. Having watched his father (also an orthopedic surgeon) put off traveling and enjoying life until late in life, Lucas resolved that he would enjoy life to the fullest, and this led Antonio and Lucas to travel to many exotic locales for surfing. Antonio recalled the early stages of Lucas’ interest in underwater photography. They were traveling in Barbados when Lucas bought a waterproof case for his iPhone.“We surfed for about 30 minutes. He caught a couple of waves, and I was encouraging him. But then he decided to hang back and just take some photographs.”Antonio was struck by Lucas’ excitement as they looked over his photos, recalling Lucas’ words: “Oh my god, this is so amazing. I love taking photos of surfing way more than I like surfing.”“And from that point on, he just started going out with me to shoot whenever I went surfing. So, we got him a proper case for his DSLR camera, and he started documenting the surf scene here on the Great Lakes.”

It was during this time that Antonio was starting to develop a business to promote and support the surf community in the Great Lakes region in Canada. When he first moved to Toronto to be with Lucas, the prospect of surfing the placid waters of the Great Lakes seemed nonexistent. It took a trip to the Bahamas where he ran into a fellow Canadian to explain that the Great Lakes were in fact surfable. You just had to know how to find it.

Antonio describes how Lucas was one of the first photographers here to get in the water and document the surf scene on an immersive level. “So that’s kind of how it started. We traveled to beautiful islands, and he would get out and shoot. He did that for a few years. But I think we both struggled a bit in the surf industry because we were gay. There are a lot of amazing people in

Against The Dying Of The Light METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

17

surfing, and it’s come a long way, but it’s still a very white male dominated sport. Very hetero-centric. It’s changed quite a bit over the years, and we’re a part of that change, but he never fully felt that he belonged there.”

For a time, it seemed that Lucas found his niche in sports photography, but for some reason he was not getting the response from the commercial market. So, he redirected his energies. Because of his clinical practice at the University of Toronto Athletic Centre where he treated professional and varsity athletes, he got permission to shoot the water polo team as well as the swimming team.

As Antonio explains: “From here, it actually evolved very quickly. He had an opportunity to book one of the other pools at the University of Toronto. It’s like this beautiful pool – for himself to shoot with three of the athletes from the swimming team.”Antonio, who was recovering from back surgery, went to assist him. “They started shooting – and the guys were doing action stuff – and then Lucas approached one of them and said let’s just sink to the bottom of the pool. He got him to pose as if he’d won a Gold Medal – just crossing his arms, looking straight at the camera. And that was the moment things clicked for him. When he posted that photo to his Instagram, that photo just blew up. That’s when he switched all of his work underwater.”

Lucas’ technique was pioneering in many ways, eschewing breathing apparatus in favor of a more holistic approach, focusing on the connection between photographer and subject. For someone who had an interest in acting during high school, it seems that he would channel that creativity into creating artistic scenarios with his subjects underwater, drawing on his imagination and exploring the dynamics of various conflicting impulses: vulnerability and confidence, solitude and connection, pride, and shame. It was in this manner that his art really flourished to the point where he was waking at night scribbling down ideas that would come to him and finding ways to bring these ideas to life. It seemed as if he had truly found his calling, but it would take a while for him to navigate his place in two disparate worlds, the world of medicine and his role as an artist with a homoerotic bent.

But in a cruel twist of fate, having mastered two very disparate careers, Lucas’ medical problems resurfaced. As Antonio explained:“He was really healthy for many years – that’s when he was competing in Ironman races and triathlons. We were traveling all over the world, surfing and free diving. But two years ago, in the winter - right around when he had his first underwater photography show - he got really sick.”They relocated temporarily to Oahu to escape the harsh winter, but after two months, his doctors found a tumor. “The moment they gave him the diagnosis, he knew what the outcome was going to be. We had lots of difficult moments and sad conversations – but there were also some of the most beautiful conversations we have had in our lives. I am just so happy that it was not something that took his life overnight. We

18

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Afternoon Delight

For Steve

Conscientious Objector

Wherever You May Go

actually had 8 weeks to take care of each other and tell each other all of the things we always wanted to say.”

As with many couples, Lucas and Antonio each brought something unique to each other’s life. I asked Antonio what he brought to Lucas’ life. “The main thing that I brought to his practice and to his life was the creativity – the encouragement to pursue his creative side. I went to design school here in Toronto – we were always surrounded by artists and designers, and we were always going to art shows. I think it was my encouragement – to push him to pursue his creative side. That was probably the biggest gift that I gave him. I was able to witness and empower him to get behind the camera and to get underwater and to produce those beautiful images. And the images aside – just to see how happy he was when he was shooting – when he was coming up with those ideas and planning shoots. I just feel so honored I was able to witness that.”

But Antonio did more than just offer encouragement. He handled a lot of the logistical challenges. His background in lifesaving and rescue as a surf instructor became particularly useful during the shoots that were filmed in the ocean in non-controlled settings.“I was part of most of his shoots. I did artistic direction, I did lighting, I did wardrobe, I did safety – because I am a surf and paddleboard instructor. So, for the photo shoots involving shipwrecks and stuff like that, I oversaw taking everyone to those places. And tying the boards and overseeing safety, looking out for the bad weather. Our creative practices were very intertwined and very connected.

ANTONIO IS EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD. “I just know that there will be so many gems that I’m going to find as I start going through his work. It is going to be something I will probably do for the rest of my life. That just gives my life a sense of purpose now that he is no longer physically present here. I just have something so special to hold onto and to give continuity to.” Lucas is not the only one with a legacy. Antonio is featured in a soon-to-be-released documentary called Fresh Water. The 40-minute documentary explores Antonio’s conflicted emotions about his homeland (Brazil) and the homophobia and bullying that compelled him to leave. At the same time, he acknowledges that the adversity instilled in him a resilience which pushed him to persevere. It is also the source of his lifelong passion for surfing which provided the impetus to bring his surfing expertise to Toronto and build and foster a sense of community and camaraderie in the Great Lakes region through the surf company he co-owned with Lucas.

■ Visit www.lucasmurnaghan.com.

Castaway

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

19

ae J a l ae h c i S ay M o s t ’ e ing h Pos t e m o S s Ha

ELE V ID IN T TS AN R A E IN F X’S RH ELISTA IN OU VANG L ACE E P Z IP TED A E D A SCR DRIGU ARNE SSES IN C A RO HA S E E N Z and R E A T L U C B A IG punch AL OF N D ER RO D R tional N SG E o RTR AY A JA E A O L m , the R P E e s T A R h F E laug ed an MICH ITH H k e A ST O c h C W a t T , Y p S s R r E acte eason ing on HISTO L A RG SION e char nale s orytell h G THE t fi t s IN s f R o ie Q U r T GB FE AT ation w’s se P OSE, f our L celebr he sho part o ibrant e v V ER . T E m a , o c g W SH O a ban ave be

ith at h out w oms th went ballro e h t and n. tears, elevisio eam t r t UEZ s in ma DRIG

R RO

ANDE

EX

BY AL

20

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY KATHY HUTCHINS

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

21

22

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

MJ’s Blanca became mother to us all, her advice and show of unconditional love a force for our present-day LGBTQ community.

MJ’s own mother would be her foundation and inspiration.

My mom was one of the main driving forces of why I’m in the music industry today. When I was 11 years old, she put me into a program at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (North New Jersey, all day Brick City - just wanted to throw that out there!).

My mom made sure she was adamant with me. She made sure that she kept my energy focused and she saw that I had a knack and a love for the arts, especially music. So, she just kept me diligent in it.

MJ’s childhood would be a colorful one, being raised in an African American and AfroPuerto Rican father. Her heritage is at the core of every performance and every song.

I love being an Afro-Latina woman, I love being Black and I love being a Latina. I feel like there are pieces of my community that have shown up in ways that I’d never thought before. It is empowering to be an Afro-Latina woman in this time and to be a trans woman and just live in my truth. I stand for every part of my communities and my culture.

PAGES 20,22: PHOTO COURTESY OF FX’S POSE

Not only did we see Blanca grow into her role as Mother, but we also saw MJ blossom as an actress in her first major TV role and as an activist for the trans community and beyond.

The final day of filming was bittersweet.

I knew there was another chapter for me. I knew I wanted to pursue other ventures in my life, but I did not know that it would happen so quickly. But I will say it was beautiful. It was emotional, it was endearing. And more than anything, I feel so strong and empowered. So, the last day I just cried tears of joy.

The ballroom scene presented by Pose was not new to Michaela Jae, she had been voguing from the age of 14, hand-picked by her house father.

My house father at the time was coming to my school and was teaching fashion shows. I was already voguing at high school, with my friends, and we were having battles in the cafeteria, we had all this stuff. We were voguing down! But I just remember him seeing me at a fashion show. I did like this kind of like arm crack behind my back and he was like, “That’s my daughter right there!” And the rest just went on from there!

No one could have predicted the success of Pose. Not only was it a hit with the LGBTQ community, but the show’s reach and presence in the mainstream media also put trans actors into the spotlight. This new generation of actors was here to make noise.

I was not ready for all of it! I was ready for the work of it all, I was ready for the professionalism of it all. I was ready to get down and dirty into an industry that I had already been ready to be a part of, but I didn’t know that it was going to get the extreme reception that it got. I was insecure. I was worried that the world was going to talk about us and, you know, deem us something other than what the world usually does with people or individuals that they have no understanding of. And I was fooled. I was proven wrong.

The world instead, or most of the people of the world, shows nothing but love.

What I learned about myself is that Blanca taught me to be a strong woman, a grown woman, a leader. I don’t know how I’m leading, but I know I’m doing it. And I live freely. I live autonomously, but I also live with direction. I make sure that I have a set direction, a set purpose. I don’t know what my purpose is, but I know there’s a purpose. I feel like that’s what I’ve learned from Pose is that there’s a purpose that may be bigger than you, but you got to just follow it. So, I am following it.

Pose was a history lesson for our community.

With the younger generation of our community not having experienced the fear we lived in during the AIDS epidemic, it opened our eyes to the reality of that time. MJ started researching the stories of people of that era.

What shocked me most is that (the news) did not shine a light on trans women of color having this disease. And for me, I was just so sad about that because I can only imagine how many women wanted some kind of resource, some kind of place to go to, but they didn’t have it because they weren’t being seen, even as much as the gay community - and that’s no shade to the gay community, but it’s the truth.

There were trans women who were not seen.

They were considering it “the white man’s disease, gay man’s disease.” And then more research came out and they started sticking it to just gay men in general, when not realizing that it was a disease that affected everyone and that everyone needed the care, and everyone needed help when it came to that disease. I learned a lot when Pose shed a light on that.

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY LEV RADIN

In addition to the attention MJ received for her acting, she also became a strong voice as an activist. Looking back at the young, theatre kid, did she have any idea that she would become such a leader in our community?

I did understand what I wanted to do and what I felt my purpose could have been at a very young age. I wanted to be someone who was changing and helping and pushing forward and just being truly and completely immersed in the arts. And boy, was I surprised that it happened the way it did, and I’m glad that it’s going to stay that way. I am excited. I am blessed. I am filled with love. I want to constantly keep instilling that in people, it just feels good. I know I never dreamed it to happen so quickly, but the fact that it did it just showed me that I have worth, and people are looking to me now. And I’m glad because I’m going to be the example, or at least I’m going to try. I always say that I’m going to try to be the example as best as I can. I’m human.

Telling the stories of our community is nothing new to MJ. While attending college, Rodriguez was cast in a theater production of Rent as the iconic Angel, a role that she had wanted to play since first seeing the film. Actress Fredi Walker-Browne (who originated the Broadway role of Joanne) saw MJ’s performance and helped land her an audition for an upcoming off-Broadway production.

MJ got the part and earned a Clive Barnes Award for her performance. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Rent.

What I learned from Angel, and what I incorporated from her, is that she lives every day as if it were her last. And I live my day, like every single day, if it were my last. I LIVE, she taught me that. What a strong individual that person was, simply bearing and dealing with the onslaught of HIV and AIDS at that time - that was empowering to me. Her death was very emotional to me, but the fact that her spirituality, her energy was left through all these strong characters, this strong ensemble, made me want to leave that kind of legacy. It made me want to leave that kind of impression on people when I’m gone.

Like, this is what you need to do, what you need to keep doing. You need to give love. And sometimes when people are down, get them up, make them happy, you know?

MJ got to play another iconic theatre role. She challenged theatre norms with her portrayal of Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Pasadena Playhouse. Everything from what had been presented with that character changed. Vocal keys were different, the energy was different, the role of Audrey was thrust into the modern day. She and her costar, George Salazar, performed the show’s hit “Suddenly Seymour” on The Late Late Show with James Corden, a performance that, for MJ, was at once as exhilarating as it was terrifying.

I was very nervous at first because the vocal keys

were changed, and I was still in this phase of comfortability with my voice and how people receive my voice and in all different facets of it. So, that came into play. Once I got over that, the focus was really representing all women. No one has ever gotten a chance to play Audrey who is trans and Afro-Latina.

So, I wanted to speak for every single last person who was within those intersections - Black, Latina, trans, Asian, or a white woman that doesn’t feel like she’s the stereotypical blonde woman who has to feel inferior or has to be considered dumb because she’s blonde. I wanted to break down those barriers, and I feel like the only way to do that was to go into that role. And now any woman who goes into that role, whether she be cis or trans, she is not going to go into it thinking that she must be this caricature, she can go in there with the story of this woman who

is fighting and who has been battered and who has been broken but finds herself through someone who actually sees her, who is Seymour. And that’s one of the reasons why “Suddenly Seymour” was one of my favorite moments too, because it was speaking to myself - those words spoke to me as a woman of the trans experience. And if it spoke to me, then I know it spoke to all those women out there who were looking at me, who possibly knew, or did not know, that I was trans, but saw me and understood.

And now, in her own voice, Michaela Jae has “Something to Say.” This summer, she dropped her debut single, a definite summer bop with a message. Music has always been a major part of MJ’s life, she was a multi scholarship recipient at Berklee College of Music. This time, there’s no role, there’s no script, just pure Michaela Jae. When we ended on the third season, I was just like, “work!” This is a perfect time for people to see the person outside of Blanca and inside of MJ, which METROSOURCE.COM

(left to right) Hailie Sahar, Angel Bismark Curiel, Indya Moore, Dyllón Burnside, MJ Rodriguez, Angelica Ross, Dominique Jackson, Ryan Jamaal Swain, and Billy Porter

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

23

is Michaela Jae. I want people to really see what I have to offer as an artist and what I have to say as an artist, which is “Something to Say.” The song is really about upliftment and togetherness and speaking out, knowing who you are and never being afraid to speak out because we all have something to say, knowing that we all have more in common than we realize, and it doesn’t take just one group of people - it takes all of us.

My favorite lyric is “black and brown and yellow, and why let’s stand for something tonight.” We are here as a collective, as the human race. So, yeah, there’s a bigger purpose behind the song. The music gets you

24

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Left to Right top: MJ Rodriguez, Angelica Ross, Bottom: Hailie Sahar, Dominique Jackson and Indya Moore

Michaela Jae is a modern-day superhero.

It is fitting that she takes her stage name from Marvel comics. MJ is a play on Mary Jane from Spider-Man, and she made history playing Sister Boy on the TV show Luke Cage, marking the first appearance of both a transgender actress and character in the Marvel universe.

My love of comics started when I was a child. My uncle got me hooked on comics.

Luke Cage was one of his comics that he had stacked up in his closet, and I was just sneaking into his room and stealing his comic books. And, after a while, I had already known how to draw so I was like, I’m going to just start drawing and creating characters that I think best represent me or who I felt more resonant with.

We will see a lighter side to MJ in the upcoming AppleTV series Loot starring Maya Rudolph.

I’ve always wanted to just delve into comedy. I knew I had that kind of knack, and I knew that I had the ability to just take it head-on. And when I found out that it was Maya Rudolph, I just felt safe, with her protecting me in that space and just being comforting. She’s been in the business for so long, I feel like I’m someone that’s going

to be under her wing. I can’t wait, I cannot wait until I play next to her. And we get to delve into these two different characters, a totally different character from Blanca and the world gets to see it. They get to see this whole story.

And what does Michaela Jae want to say, right here, right now?

I got something to say, and this is what I’m going to say. Dear babies out there across the world, no matter if you’re cis or if you’re trans, or if you’re a part of any type of culture or community – keep being you, keep loving you, keep pushing, never let anyone tell you that you don’t deserve to live or exist because you do. You have a purpose on this earth and I’m a testament to it. And if ever you feel that you are going to falter, or if you feel that you don’t deserve to be here, look to me. I promise I’ll be there.

■

You can follow Michaela Jae on IG: @MJRodriguez7 Check out our in-depth podcast chat with MJ at Metrosource.com

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY JUSTIN BETTMAN

up, but the lyrics are very serious.

Saying something, as MJ has, can ignite hate. There are people saying something and standing for something on the opposite side of the fence that rally against us and hurt our community. How do we build bridges with them? Or do we just work on making our community stronger?

I think most importantly, we must keep trying. I think there are some people out there who just don’t have the education and who don’t mean any harm. We know the people that mean harm have been very prevalent to us and now it’s everywhere, we see it now more than we have ever. So now we know those specific people to distance ourselves from. But the people who are willing to learn, more willing to understand, really willing to getting into our lives and our story, we should give them just a little bit of grace too. I still think there is a space for everyone on this earth for understanding and not every person on this planet understands the human condition, right? But there are some of us who so happen to be in the LGBTQIA community, who also happened to be in the black and POC community, who happen to be in the white community, who do understand the human condition and see the bigger picture and why we deserve to be together. So, those people who’ve been creating those legislations and who have been deeming us something that we’re not, you can keep doing what you’re doing, but we’re not going anywhere and we’re going to keep fighting. And we’re beating the stereotypes, we’re stepping up and fighting up against the stigma. We are literally here, and we are not going anywhere.

FITNESS FOR EVERYONE 50 EXERCISES FOR EVERY TYPE OF BODY

By Louise Green Not a gym person? If you’re someone who’s never felt comfortable lifting

SIX HEALTH AND SELF-HELP BOOKS TO DEVOUR THIS SUMMER

weights, pounding on an elliptical, or riding on an exercise bike then Fitness

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

gym evader. Louise Green is a personal trainer, fitness coach, fitness activist,

WHILE SELECTING THE PERFECT PAGE TURNER TO READ BEACH OR

many of us, she lived “through a period of extreme diet culture.” In her Fitness

POOLSIDE, there are a few great health and wellness books to the

for Everyone, Green states, “Maybe your struggle isn’t weight, but whatever

market including Aaron Day’s Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook and Louise Green’s Fitness for Everyone: 50 Exercises for Every Type of Body. If you’re looking for a little out-of-the-box guidance from the universe, or a few “dips” from drag artists we’re including a few titles below, as well as useful tips for decluttering, and healing the prostate. Choose one or several and use the long days of summer to find opportunities to come back to yourself and get healthy. We’ll meet you in the cabana!

it is, accepting and adapting to how your body moves is absolutely possible.”

for Everyone: 50 Exercises for Every Type of Body is the book for you. Flipping through the 256 pages and seeing models of all shapes and sizes embarking on manageable, effective exercise can bring a smile to even the staunchest and writer who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and through her twenties, like

Want to target muscles in your upper or lower body, strengthen your cardio, manageable variety that literally anyone can do. The book is divided into five chapters, including Fitness Basics, Upper Body & Core, Lower Body & Cardio, Stretch & Balance, and Combinations, Intervals, & Complexes. Green is the founder of Big Girl Fit, a brand, fitness app, book, weekly podcast, and monthly column in Self magazine. Her work has impacted thousands of individuals around the world. Join Green in her quest to break the stigma that fitness and working out is only for one body type.

BOOKS

or develop balance and stamina, these fifty exercises (and modifications) are a

CULTURE

SUMMER READING

ANGEL WISDOM TAROT DECK AND GUIDEBOOK

by Radleigh Valentine Illustrations by Dan Craig Tarot novices and experts alike can gain a great deal from the lavishly illustrated and symbolic tarot deck, which“draws upon the wisdom and power of the archangels to help you speak with the divine”. The guidebook, accompanied by a deck of stunning cards, offers a quick reference guide to the specific card, PAGES 25-26: MODELS PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

meanings behind the cards, and how to work with tarot, in general. Find uplifting interpretations of traditional tarot messages and imagery, including diverse, contemporary depictions of classic characters. Valentine includes unique features on each card to make them easy to use. Is this your first time exploring tarot cards? The guidebook offers clear details and reference points for each card, including the Major Arcana, which consists of 22 cards describing major events and turning points in your life. Explore deeper insights like words of awareness, other people, and additional interpretations meanings of specific cards. Enjoy gorgeous artwork while flipping through these cards, and who knows what answers you might receive from the cards.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

25

HEALTHY KETO AIR FRYER COOKBOOK

By Aaron Day Air fryers became the craze this past year while everyone was in lock down and they can be key to post pandemic weight loss. Aaron Day’s Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a manual to healthy cooking. The book, published this past winter, includes 100 keto-friendly recipes including breakfast, mains, sides, snacks, and even desserts. Day, an accredited nutritional therapist, clinical weight loss practitioner, advanced sports exercise nutritional advisor. He previously penned Keto Sweet Tooth Cookbook and Easy Keto Meal Prep. In addition to recipes, Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook offers complete nutritional data for calories, fat net carbs, protein, and dietary fiber as well as expert keto and air fryer information including “tips and tricks’’ for getting the most out of using your air fryer. Day walks readers through information describing the fundamentals of the keto diet, how it can help with weight loss, as well as tips for keto success. Recipes include Raspberry & Vanilla Pancakes, a Mediterranean Halloumi Bake, Breaded Onion Rings, Ratatouille, Zucchini Rounds, Pumpkin Pie, and even Snickerdoodle Cookies. Wait, keto Snickerdoodle Cookies? Yes, the keto alternative is delicious and chewy, and

BOOKS

will be a healthy hit at your next social gathering.

SECRETS OF SPACE CLEARING

CULTURE

ACHIEVE INNER AND OUTER HARMONY THROUGH ENERGY WORK, DECLUTTERING, AND FENG SHUI

by Denise Linn Does your home or workspace no longer feel comfortable? In her new book, Secrets of Space Clearing: Achieve Inner and Outer Harmony through Energy Work, Decluttering, and Feng Shui, Denise Linn, notes every space has energy, and that “every cubic centimeter of it, whether solid or seemingly empty space, is composed of infinite energy ... sometimes energy in a home or office that can become stagnant and dull.”For the past five decades, Linn has practiced the art of cleansing and harmonizing home energy.“Space clearing,”a term Linn coined, is the art of cleansing and harmonizing the energy within an environment. This practice has the power to not only make your home feel good but also help those within to feel more positive and energetic, to bring balance to relationships, and to remove blocks for increased abundance, creativity, and well-being. Linn’s guidebook is peaceful and fun, she walks you through space clearing fundamentals like space clearing practices, the four stages of space clearing, setting the groundwork for space clearing, and shares how clutter clearing is modern-day alchemy. In Part II of the book, she shares the deeper energy of space clearing tools, like sound, the alchemy of air and fire, as well as elemental space clearing and mystic mudras. The appendices in the back of the book, including a reference guide to colors, stones, aromas, flowers, and more, how they impact us, and how each type of stone or gem elicits a particular kind of energy.

26

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

HEALING THE PROSTATE THE BEST HOLISTIC METHODS TO TREAT THE PROSTATE AND OTHER COMMON MALE-RELATED CONDITIONS

by Dr. Mark Stengler This past winter Dr. Mark Stengler put out an essential book which all men, regardless of age, should look at. For all its many important functions, the prostate gland can become a health curse to many men. Many common prostate conditions including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, prostatitis, testosterone deficiency, and erectile dysfunction can be healed holistically, or even prevented through simple steps that every man can take. Diet, supplements, and lifestyle choices can all support your prostate and overall health. While there are surgical, pharmaceutical, and other conventional therapies for all these conditions, scientific studies have demonstrated that a comprehensive, integrative, or holistic approach to healing can dramatically

SERVING FACE

diet to a more“Mediterranean diet”full of organic plant foods, no dairy, and low

LESSONS ON POISE AND (DIS)GRACE FROM THE WORLD OF DRAG

in animal products, exercising, taking herbal supplements, even incorporating

By Felix Le Freak

reduce risk and/or decrease negative side effects and symptoms. Adjusting your

beta-sitosterol or saw palmetto into the diet can make an enormous difference.

Self-help from drag queens? Oh, yes, hunty ... Come through and serve it

Don’t know where to begin? Dr. Stengler offers a clear two-week meal plan

to the children! For drag fans, or those who need a little charisma, uniqueness,

with a variety of delicious recipes in the back of his book. It’s never too early

nerve, and talent in their life, Serving Face: Lessons on poise and (dis)grace

to start healing your prostate.

from the world of drag is a wonderful addition to the coffee table. Written by Felix Le Freak, winner of Drag Idol UK, 2018, with a foreword by Monét X Change, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season four and voted Miss Congeniality on RuPaul’s Drag Race season ten. Author Felix Le Freak says, “It has been a privilege and a romp to delve into the minds of these utterly fabulous artists. Drag is not just a hot topic right now but a rich historic tradition and the starting point of infinite creative possibilities. I hope that the sass, wit and campery contained within this book sparks joy in the imagination of its reader, as writing it did for me!”Serving Face offers inspiration and motivation while dishing out real talk life lessons and offering tips and tricks from some of the most revered drag queens and kings from around the world, including Adam All, Andro Gin, Art Simone, Calypso Jeté Balmain, Cheddar Gorgeous, CHIYO, Miss Coco Peru, Crystal, Evah Destruction, Fay Ludes, Freida Slaves, Gingzilla, Glamrou, Majic Dyke, MYNXIE, Myra Dubois, Peaches Christ, Sum Ting Wong, Tynomi Banks and Yuhua Hamasaki. Explore the multitude of fun offerings of this book, including a handy glossary of terms including: clock, for the gods, lace front, shade, and gag. Peruse through the nuanced, and informative interviews and profiles of each of the queens and kings including a fun “60-Second” sidebar for each legend. Explore the broad array of performers and lewk queens, including those who identify as camp, fierce, glam, and punk.

The interviews, as Le Freak states, “cover a broad range of topics, from queer history and underground movements to the peaks and perils of the reality TV zeitgeist. What they have in common is a wealth of overflowing insight on life, style, and performance, straight from the unicorn’s mouth!”

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

27

GET OUT, LIVE, AND HAVE A DRINK

BIANCA DEL RIO IS UNSANITIZED

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ GIRD YOUR LOINS, GIRD YOUR PEARLS, GIRD YOUR EVERYTHING. THE LARGEST FORCE SINCE COVID

“best known from” with one pinnacle show to recognize them by. Bianca Del Rio may have won RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, but the credits don’t end there. She’s a comedian, a podcaster, an author, a custom designer, a businessperson, and above all, a hell of a good time.

This September she hits the road for a national tour with her new one-person show, Unsanitized! – beware the tagline “She’s vaxxed, she’s waxed, and she has more attitude than ever.”

This tour will mark her 5th show around the globe, her first show The Rolodex of Hate came hot off the heels of the end of her Season on Drag Race.

I knew I had to hit the ground running and I made it a point to go out and do as much as I possibly could. I took every gig there was. And from there is when I started touring because that is ideally what I wanted to do because after so many years of being in bars - nothing wrong with being in bars - but I had done it for many, many years, and some nights are good, some nights are bad, some nights there are two people, some nights there’s a hundred. So that was basically the rat race that I was playing, along with a day job, that I thought, okay if I can just tour, I’m going to tour my ass off and focus on that. And that was kind of the beginning of me doing it. So, I have been very fortunate on that level, but it has also been a conscious choice to say, this is the lane I’m staying in - I don’t do music videos. I’m not going to lip-sync some stupid song, let the other queens do it. If music videos made money, I would have done 12 of them.

You know what I mean? But it doesn’t.

Contrary to popular opinion (or Bianca’s own tweets), she loves the audience. Under the costumes, under the makeup, under the witty insults, she is an entertainer first.

I love what I’m doing. Shockingly, like people … I mean, I generally do. That’s important in comedy. I do a meet and greet before my show with 150 to 200 people, but we do it early in the evening because they’re still scared of me, I still look somewhat decent, and they’re not drunk yet. So, I get to meet those people. I know their quirks, I know their problems, I know what they’re about. I see them and it helps me with the show. I enjoy meeting people. I love hearing their stories, including the ones they have about me (which makes me cackle), their ideas, and views. And they always say, “You’re taller than I thought you were. Uh, you’re skinnier than I thought you were. Uh, you’re not pretty in person.” I love it. You know? And that’s just my family.

28

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY DENISE MALONE

IS COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU AND SHE IS UNSANITIZED! Most celebs can be introduced by

Dubbed the “Joan Rivers of the Drag World” by the New York Times, she is known for her acidic tongue and wildly politically incorrect humor. But her comedy has timing, has an intelligence to it, and is honed from years in the business.

I think it’s truth. Truth is all you have, you know, I mean, and self-awareness, I think is very important.

Now everybody’s saying you can’t say this, or I’m offended. You know what happens to people that get offended? You’re going to die. Like the rest of us, it doesn’t matter. So, I come from a place of, if it is not your cup of tea, move on - don’t drink it, don’t come near it, don’t watch it. But don’t ask me to change or ask me to alter it to justify some fuckery that suits you. I don’t get that. It’s especially relevant in the gay community because the gays love to put you on a pedestal and then tear you down. I mean, that’s just how it is. So truthfully, I’m no advocate, I am no ringleader, I am not trying to run for office, I’m not your mother, I’m not your grandmother. So, I don’t have to answer to any of you. Do not put me on a pedestal, I’m here in my little corner doing my thing. And if it works for you, great. And if it doesn’t, bye, keep moving.

Bianca, known without her makeup as Roy, formed her personality from the get-go. Born into a Cuban and Honduran home with four siblings, the home was always full of vibrant chaos.

It was full of cooking, lots of bad attitude, broken English, rules that didn’t make any sense whatsoever.

I just assumed that that’s how everyone grew up. I didn’t know any different until I saw maybe The Brady Bunch and thought, “Wow, look at these white people!” But it was a completely different world, it was so accepting. I know people often complained about their childhood or say they were misunderstood, or their family didn’t understand their gayness and they cry about it. Well, that’s not me. Everything that they did is a product of why I am who I am today.

So, I have no regrets, no remorse. I have no sad story.

I made it out alive. I’m happy.

There was no denying that Roy was different. In high school, he started acting and designing costumes for plays.

I was called a faggot before I ever knew I was “gay.” It was just one of those things where I knew I was different. I didn’t know what that meant. But I knew that I was an embarrassment by just being eccentric or being flamboyant or being artistic - which was just IN me. I just loved all these things. I loved Dynasty and I loved everything that was catty and glamorous. I think my parents just didn’t know what to do with it, and maybe they were concerned about what society was going to think of me and worse, and what society was going to think of them as parents.

No one wants to raise a different child.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

29

30

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

I think that’s what’s missing from a lot of drag queens nowadays. I think if they’ve never worked in a bar, never had an act, never dealt with an audience (and I’m not saying everyone should), but we live in the Instagram world now where they can look gorgeous in a photo, but there’s no substance. I’m not saying that they’re doing it wrong, I just mean you do have a better sense of self and professionalism if you’ve been around the block, especially some shitty blocks. I think that that’s one of the reasons I’ve been successful with work is because I’m a go-getter. I go and do it on my own. I’m not going to worry about all this fanfare and all this production and all this madness.

I know I have to get out and hustle because it isn’t going to last forever.

While Bianca is part of the Drag Race world, she has made her brand and her business her own. She is a standout, not just from the show, but from drag history.

I think the hustle is important. I enjoy working and I hustle now more than ever. I never thought this Drag Race opportunity, whether I won or not, this amazing platform that puts you in people’s living rooms, would allow me to sit back and smoke a cigarette and see what the show is going to do for ME. That was never the case because I didn’t know the outcome.

I didn’t know what was going to happen. I did not know what the end result in editing was going to be for their narrative, which I signed up for.

People expect Bianca to be purely Bianca. There is no time off for Roy, he’s set the bar high. Fans feel like they know Bianca.

I see people in the street and it’s like, “Do you mind if I get a picture?”

Of course, it’s not a problem - it comes with the territory. I mean, I’ve had many years where no one wanted a photo, so it doesn’t bother me in the least. And I think that also who I am on stage and who I am in real life are very similar. Obviously, it’s heightened when you’re on stage, but you’re not really getting a different person. It does get tricky when people look at me and say, “Read me, read me, read me!” And I’m like, “Well, that’s not how this works!” I could be a little bitchy but give me a minute. So, I do find that fascinating, but I think how lucky that anybody even gives a shit to say hello or take a picture. That’s where I come from.

When Bianca comes to your town this year, don’t expect a party.

She’s a worker.

It’s a very tricky game when you’re on the road because when I’m in whatever country, I’ll be traveling on a tour bus. I like to do at least five to six shows in a row, in a different city every night, so I don’t like to have too much time in between. I don’t like a day off or any of that. We only do it for union reasons that I have to take off. I like to hit it hard.

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY JOVANNI JIMENEZ-PEDRAZA

I think through that, I was able just to find my voice. I knew that some people in school didn’t understand me, but the advantage was I found the theater. Finding theater was a whole new grouping of people who for once said, “Oh, you’re talented. You’re not crazy.

You’re not insane. This is your path. This is what you need to do.”

And has been my passion – theater, costume, acting and performing. Once you can release that, then you can go, “Okay, I’m safe.

This is the stage. This is where I want to be.” And that was kind of the narrative for me growing up, just get through high school, get through this move to New York, find your way. I did not think I was going to be a drag queen, but it was definitely part of the journey. And I had great people who encouraged me along the way.

Roy’s first costuming achievement came at the early age of 15. He was hooked and was destined to become a viral sensation. He was helping a local dinner theater with costumes and was asked to design the state costume (Mardi Gras for New Orleans) for Mrs. Louisiana for a pageant.

That was the first thing I did and the local newspaper (back in the day when newspapers were a big deal) ran a story on me. And the headline read “ASK HIM ABOUT HEMS” and it was about my life and how I got to make this costume for her. And the next day when I went to school, everyone I saw said, “What about hems?”

Roy was nominated for 13 Big Easy Entertainment Awards for costume design, winning six. Bianca’s drag debut would happen by chance while doing wigs and costumes for a play called Pageant. The show needed a bit player and since Roy was already there, they asked him to fill the cameo.

I did the part, and, in the beginning, it was two minutes long and then the next week it was five minutes long and then the next week it was 10 minutes long. So, it became my bit because I was just covering with the audience and filling the time needed, and I really enjoyed it. That look wasn’t really a Bianca look, so to speak, but that was the start of my love affair of me wearing a costume because all these years I never wore one. I made stuff for other people. This was the first time that I actually experienced the excitement of being in full drag, doing it.

Local drag queen Lisa Beaumann saw him in Pageant and would start casting him in shows at Oz nightclub. He would go on to win the New Orleans Gay Entertainer of the Year for three years.

All of those $50 gigs, changing in the bathroom, having no light in the dressing room, the hotel rooms where you had no money to even put down for incidentals, is something I’ve never forgotten. And all of that makes me appreciate all of the fabulous things I have now.

THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY MATT CROCKETT

You get into town around maybe noon each day. About 3:00pm I’m allowed into the theater. I unpack, get ready for a meet and greet at 5:30pm.

Once they open the house, I go in and do my show around 8:00pm. I’m finished, out of drag, and in the shower by 10:30pm - 11:00pm. Then I put on my pajamas, get back on the bus, pass out (maybe take a Xanax that I bought in Puerto Vallarta), and then wake up in the next city and do it all over again.

So, it’s really not that exciting on the road, but that’s how I like it best. I like to keep it moving. If I do six nights in a row, then I ask myself, okay - what worked well out of four of those nights? What didn’t work? What do I need to eliminate? What do I need to work on?

This Pride season, Bianca wants you to get off your ass.

I would say get out, get out - we’ve sat home long enough, get out, go live.

And if anything, 2020 has taught us that you just cannot worry about the bullshit. It was so amazing to be in New York for Pride, and it was also beyond amazing that I didn’t have to be in a wig. I was so happy not to have to work, but I got to experience it. And there’s just an energy that’s out there now. I think people realize, “Hey, we get one life!” We lost a whole year, an insane year - not to mention an insane four years before that. Get out, go out, live, enjoy your life. Don’t be affected by the ideas and the games, or the rules that people make up. It’s insanity. You just got to live and find what’s best for you. We’ve sat at home long enough.

We’ve been depressed. We’d been mad.

Now, get out and just live and have a drink. Please have a drink. I’m always suspicious of people that don’t.

■ You can follow everything Bianca and get your tickets for Unsanitized! at www.TheBiancaDelRio.com And check out our podcast chat as we get into Bianca’s dating life, little known hobbies, playing Angel in RENT, and her time working at Bloomingdale’s (it did not go well) at www.Metrosource.com.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

31

SOAK IT ALL IN

A SPA VACATION CAN BRING REST AND REJUVENATION

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES EVERYONE CAN USE A SPA VACATION AFTER THIS PAST YEAR. AND LUCKILY, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF NEW AND TRUSTED TREATMENTS TO TURN TO ALL OVER THE WORLD. We surveyed the

BODY

HEALTH

globe and found some of the best spas to check out as soon as you’re ready to don a robe and slippers for your pampering. Be sure to follow local guidelines for safety and find a window to rest and rejuvenate on your spa day. Soak it all in, you deserve it!

Blue Lagoon Iceland

32

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

SPA ALKEMIA AT ZADUN, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE, MEXICO www.ritzcarlton.com Spa Alkemia, part of the recently opened Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a playground of peaceful healing inspired by nature and tradition. Located just a short distance from the Los Cabos International Airport and San Jose del Cabo, the property is the fourth RitzCarlton Reserve in the world. Treatments in the spa are performed in secluded settings amid the rich foliage, blending the line between indoor and outdoor. The healing elements of nature and the magic of Mexico form the foundation for blissful signature experiences at Spa Alkemia. Indulge in the Day of Dreams, a four-hour adventure that includes agua frescas in a private soaking pool, three treatment choices including a massage, facial and manicure/pedicure. The unique Purificacion Ritual is a three-hour journey that includes ceremonial smudge, a steam with fresh botanicals, followed by a botanical scrub and outdoor shower, a detoxifying wrap and foot massage. Finish this luxurious ritual with a massage off the Spa Alkemia menu.

Spa Alkemia at Zadun

THE RITZ-CARLTON SOUTH BEACH, FLORIDA

The Ritz-Carlton South Beach

www.ritzcarlton.com The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, is an oceanfront hotel inspired by its 1950s Art Deco building. The property embodies the glitz and glamour of Miami culture, and is located close to Lincoln Road, one of the most famous shopping districts in the country. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach is the exclusive Miami partner of Natura Bissé, a luxury skincare line known for its innovative ingredients and devotion to outstanding service, quality and ultimate luxury. The Spa’s latest spa experience is the impressive Ritz-Carlton, South Beach Diamond Experience, which includes the 60-minute Diamond Luminous Facial and 90-minute Diamond Rose Massage, using products from the Natura Bissé Diamond collection. Both Diamond treatments are also available on their own, for 60 or 90 minutes. If you prefer something more traditional, Deep Muscle Massages are available for 60 or 90 minutes and the spa’s Mindful Massage, a 100-minute journey, is a deeply relaxing massage that focuses on both the mind and body. Need a workout?

The hotel’s 24-hour fitness center offers treadmills, elliptical machines, free weights, and classes including cardio, sculpting, Pilates and yoga. Take a dip in the enormous outdoor pool or kick back in a private cabana and feel that ocean breeze.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

33

www.bluelagoon.com The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 during the operation of a nearby geothermal power plant. Its geothermal water has a unique composition of three active ingredients: silica, algae, and minerals. The water is a blend of fresh and seawater, combined at extreme temperatures rising at just about 100-degrees Fahrenheit. People started bathing in the lagoon and noticed the incredible effects it had on their skin. In 2005 the New Blue Lagoon Clinic opened with a variety of retail shops, building on the existing spa with skincare lines. Guests can opt to stay at the glamorous Silica Hotel with sweeping views of the nearby lava fields. The standard entrance fee to the Blue Lagoon (which includes a Silica Mud Mask, a towel, and a first drink of your choice) is $45. The luxury pass ($372) will grant you entrance to the Retreat Spa, a private changing suite, spa care amenities, a drink of your choice, and access to eight subterranean spaces as well as the Spa Restaurant.

Take your spa day to the next level at the Blue Lagoon by adding on their Signature Massage, a 120-minute inwater massage in the revitalizing powers of geothermal seawater.

BODY

HEALTH

BLUE LAGOON GEOTHERMAL SPA, ICELAND

CASA SPA AT HOTEL PUNTA ISLITA, COSTA RICA www.hotelpuntaislita.com Hotel Punta Islita is a Costa Rican luxury property that connects guests with the vibrant culture and legendary landscapes of its surroundings. Located in Guanacaste, one of the most popular provinces in Costa Rica, this resort boasts one of the best ocean views in the country.

Venture into a lush tropical garden to discover Hotel Punta Islita’s Casa Spa, home to “pampered wellness.” From the moment you are greeted with a relaxing cup of justbrewed herbal tea you will feel a true taste of Costa Rica’s legendary hospitality.

Beauty rituals, Costa Rican traditional healing arts, and local herbalist wisdom are artfully combined to gently relieve modern stress. Casa Spa’s ample selection of treatments offer options for the whole family and includes massages, aromatherapy baths, body scrubs, and skin nourishing wraps. Keep the wellness going throughout your stay at Hotel Punta Islita, with on-site Pilates/Yoga, guided arm stretches to “channel the ocean’s energy” and take some time in the resort’s infinity-edge pool that merges with the ocean horizon. What a great way to start (or finish) each day!

34

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Hotel Punta Islita

Eau Palm Beach Spa Garden

EAU PALM BEACH RESORT & SPA, FLORIDA

Blue Lagoon Iceland

www.eaupalmbeach.com Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, situated on the expansive and inspiring backdrop of Florida’s gold coast, offers fun in the sun, an intimate ocean retreat, and a place to unplug and find your inner bliss. Indulge in the warm Florida sunshine, with chic accommodations designed by Jonathan Adler, and the awardwinning Eau Spa. Step into the adorably titled Self-Centered Garden, a true oasis with cabanas, lush water gardens, a central dipping pool and swinging chairs for lounging and playing. The spa itself is a 42,000 square foot wonderland, a mix of play and relaxation. Planning on getting a few treatments? Eau Spa offers a completely customizable experience including a selection of scents, color therapy, tailored music, and your choice from their “Scrub & Polish Bar’’ available in nineteen different treatment rooms. Eau Spa proudly carries Storie Veneziane by Valmont, a line of elegant, handcrafted fragrances. Float a candle in the Wishing Well, sip on free-flowing bubbly, and nibble on whipped cupcakes. The sky is truly the limit at Eau Spa. Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, connecting discerning travelers to not only luxury but unparalleled service levels through their Integrated Quality Assurance Program.

KOH SAMUI SPA RESORT TREE SAMUI SPA, THAILAND

Banyan Tree Samui Rainforest Spa

www.banyantree.com Located just off the coast of the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand, Banyan Tree Samui is nestled perfectly in the jungles of Lamai Bay. The luxury all-pool villa resort offers a variety of exquisite spa treatments through the Banyan Tree Spa Samui.

Disappear for an afternoon and indulge in this secret hideaway that features The Rainforest: a holistic hydrotherapy wellness experience designed to heal and soothe. Banyan Tree Spa Samui offers a suite of ten spa treatment pavilions where you can experience the Sukhothai Heritage treatment, an authentic spa journey including Thai Body Treats, a Thai Classic Massage, Coconut Jasmine Rice Facial, and a Thai Jasmine Bath. Products in the Sukhothai Heritage treatment include Thai ingredients like fresh coconuts, jasmine rice, turmeric and tamarind.

FUN IN THE SUN, AN INTIMATE OCEAN RETREAT, AND A PLACE TO UNPLUG AND FIND YOUR INNER BLISS” ­— EAU PALM BEACH RESORT & SPA, FLORIDA

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

35

www.mamounia.com In Marrakech’s La Mamounia Palace, one of the most Instagrammable hotels in the world, sprawling corridors reproduce Medina’s narrow streets and gorgeous wooden doors lead the way towards sweet dreams in 135 rooms, 71 suites, and three elegant riads. The lavish property is famous for celebrity guests like Winston Churchill, Elton John, and even Sarah Jessica Parker while she was filming Sex and the City 2. The crown jewel of the palace is the luxurious spa, of course, and if you’re ready to pamper it’s the place to be. Allow the lanterns to guide you to The Spa at La Mamounia, an expansive sanctuary of marble and exquisite ornamentation dedicated to beauty and wellbeing. Let your worries wash away as you travel from the hammam to the jacuzzi pavilion, sauna, outdoor heated ozone swimming pool, indoor ozone swimming pool and beyond. Need a workout? In addition to a high-tech fitness facility, La Mamounia offers a coaching room, cardio, fitness, yoga, two clay tennis courts, table tennis, and even a French bowling pitch.

BODY

HEALTH

LA MAMOUNIA PALACE, MOROCCO

MIRBEAU INN & SPA RHINEBECK, NEW YORK www.rhinebeck.mirbeau.com Just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of New York City, Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck embodies the Mirbeau philosophy of balancing life with wellness and indulgence.

Check into the swank hotel for a weekend of indulgence and enjoy the 12,000 square foot spa featuring a European-style resting area, Aqua Terrace with thermal pool, eucalyptus-infused steam room, and Himalayan salt saunas.

Mirbeau spa treatments tailored specifically include Just a Day Away treatment, featuring a manicure, pedicure, and two 50-minute (or a 100-minute) treatments with lunch for one in Willow by Charlie Palmer. Couples can opt for the Close to You experience, a 50-minute Couples Treatment and a quiet lunch for two at Willow.

36

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck

THE RITTENHOUSE SPA, PHILADELPHIA

Rittenhouse Spa

La Mamounia Palace

www.therittenhousespaclub.com Inspired by the fashions of Jean Paul Gaultier, The Rittenhouse Spa in Philadelphia is a luxurious hotel day spa serving locals and tourists alike in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love. Skincare offerings include a vitamin C treatment to combat the signs of premature aging, a Diamond Brightening facial to diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation, and a non-invasive, non-surgical HydraFacial MD procedure to resurface the face. Massages range from therapeutic to their classic Rittenhouse, custom tailored with aromatherapy and customized massage techniques. In the mood for something a little different? The Citrus Drench uses natural ingredients like crystallized honey shea butter and orange juice to restore elasticity and increase hydration. Be sure to head to the Rittenhouse Spa & Club for state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, bikes, yoga, treadmills, and an expansive atrium indoor saltwater pool.

ROUND HILL HOTELS & VILLAS, JAMAICA

Round Hill Hotel

www.roundhill.com Round Hill Hotel and Villas, located on a lush 110-acre peninsula just west of Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a classic resort known for attracting Hollywood A-listers and jetsetters alike. The Spa at Round Hill, nestled into a beautifully restored 18th century plantation house, is the only spa in the Caribbean to utilize the renowned Elemis product line. Center yourself with a transformative yoga class in the open-air pavilion with sweeping views of the sea, experience an outdoor Vichy shower under a canopy of tropical foliage, or indulge in a seaside massage as you listen to the Caribbean waters folding into the shore. The spa features an extensive treatment menu focusing on natural and indigenous influences, all focusing on each individual’s physiology while working to restore, balance and transform the skin. For a truly unique spa experience, book one of their authentic Jamaican treatments that utilize local ingredients or enjoy a therapeutic Vichy shower or massage in the secluded Hydrotherapy Loft surrounded by tropical gardens. The 120-minute “Total Time Out for Men” treatment is a complete face and body overhaul.

Take in the best of both worlds by combining a Time for Men Facial with a Deep Tissue or Wellness Massage to improve total body performance. At the end of your visit, go ahead and select a stone of your choice and cast the white, pebbled stone into the warm Caribbean waters silently with a clear intention. Each stone reflects positive energies - love, peace, prosperity, happiness. Cast yours and let go of any stress or worry and link your mind, body and soul with the spirit of Jamaica.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

37

DISCOVERING THE FUTURE

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

38

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

PHOTO BY PHIL SHARP

BLU DEL BARRIO

Blu del Barrio as Adira and Ian Alexander as Gray of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo by Michael Gibson/CBS BLU DEL BARRIO’S JOURNEY TO THE STAR TREK UNIVERSE TOOK THEM AROUND THE GLOBE FIRST. Of Ar-

gentinian heritage, raised in Southern California, studying in London, and filming in Canada, Blu now calls the USS Discovery home - in the 32nd century. In the third season of the CBS Access’ Star Trek franchise, Blu’s character, Adira, tells her fellow crew member, “I’ve never felt like a ‘she’ or or a ‘her,’ so… I would prefer ‘they’ or ‘them’.” Star Trek history was made as the first non-binary actor took their place to play the first recurring character in the franchise not to identify with their assigned gender at birth. This telling moment, carefully curated by the producers with involvement from Blu and with involvement from GLAAD, added to the promise of Star Trek – in the future, everyone will have visibility, and no one will be excluded because of race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. It took Star Trek 55 years to get here, but then again, so did Hollywood.

The casting of Blu as Adira happened at warp speed. Blu was finishing up school in the UK, taped their audition, and in the space of a few weeks, was arriving on set to begin their mission.

It did happen insanely fast! I don’t know that I necessarily nailed anything in the audition, but I do remember feeling really calm afterward. Every once in a while, I’ll do an audition and just feel calm and present after the fact. And then you let it go. I think in this case it just had to do with Adira. I saw so many similarities to myself in them right off the bat, so I felt at home playing them.

Star Trek Discovery is their first major acting project. Not only did Blu have to deal with the nuances of joining a hit show already in its third season, but they also had to learn about the Star Trek Universe. Decades worth of canon, with multiple spinoffs, novels, comics, and even animation would seem daunting all on its own, then add the unforgiving Trekkie fandom who remember every factoid and storyline.

Prior to auditioning, I hadn’t watched a lot of Star Trek at all. But as soon as I was cast, I got recommendations left and right from friends who are Trekkies! They told me which series to watch, which character arcs I should follow, what their favorite storylines are. It was very eye-opening as to how

rich and caring the Star Trek community is.

On top of 55 years of material to catch up on, Blu was given a complex character. Adira is the first human known to become a “permanent” host to a Trill symbiont, an alien species that also happens to be their boyfriend.

To research for the role of Adira, I watched Deep Space Nine. Specifically, to follow the storyline of Jadzia Dax (now one of my favorite characters). There’s not a whole lot of information about the Trill species elsewhere in the other series, so I spent a lot of time with DS9.

It may sound odd, but the resulting storyline is beautifully poetic and reflects our own journey to feel complete, to feel loved, even in the void of isolation and loss. Double history was made with Blu’s storyline as Ian Alexander was cast as Adira’s boyfriend, marking the first openly trans actor cast in the Star Trek Universe, playing the first trans character of any franchise. The two were immediately celebrated by the LGBTQ community and swept up in a media frenzy. Blu did not just get an acting role; they became a spokesperson for the community.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

39

40

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

When I was young, I adored the improvisational aspects of theater. I loved bouncing off someone else and making people laugh. Coming to work on Star Trek, I was so terrified to misstep. But my first episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes who is quite possibly the most playful person I’ve ever met. He encouraged that side of me, and I’m so grateful for it.

The on-screen chemistry with the Discovery cast is palpable. Del Barrio joins other actors from our community, including Wilson Cruz, Anthony Rapp, Tig Notaro, and co-star Alexander, as well as other actors from the show who have come out as staunch allies.

I know this is simple and sort of sounds too good to be true, but I just got lucky. This cast is full of the most caring, inspiring, hilarious people I have ever met. They feel like family to me. The chemistry we have on screen, we don’t have to work for. I am so insanely grateful that I get to work with people who I consider some of my closest friends.

Favorite part about filming in the Star Trek universe?

This might be a simple answer, but the fantasy. I get to play a character in a fantastical universe that has been built and built upon for years. A world in which almost anything is possible. I walk on set and there’s a spaceship.

I walk outside and there’s an alien smoking a cigarette. It is absolutely the coolest job in the world. There are moments on set sometimes where one of us will turn to another and just say in disbelief, “We’re on Star Trek.”

The most challenging part about acting in the Star Trek universe?

Ironically, the same answer: the fantasy. The most difficult parts for me are when we’re discussing the science of this universe. If I can’t fully understand what I’m talking about, it’s hard for me to memorize my lines. When it comes to the technical and scientific jargon we use, I really need to sit down and make it make sense in my mind in order to learn it.

With consummate acting training from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the focus on Blu’s career is their identity as non-binary.

Does the media attention regarding their identity overshadow their acting skills?

Yes and No. This is an interesting and very important question. I remember what it was like being an actor before I came out. Yes, there was more focus on my acting, but binary gender roles still exist. Problematic ones. Especially in this industry. The only people we really don’t seem to put boundaries on are cis straight white

men. They win awards for playing anything and everything.

In terms of my career now, yes, I do feel that there is a much larger focus on my gender identity, but I believe it’s necessary.

There are still very few visible non-binary actors in this industry. So, it’s imperative that I talk about my experience and share with the world who I am. The goal is to have countless more trans and nonbinary actors working in the film industry and being seen, especially actors of color. That won’t happen if we stay quiet. Once there are more of us in the media, the focus will be centered on our art rather than our identities.

THIS PAGE: BLUE DEL BARRIO PORTRAIT BY PHIL SHARP

I am an introverted person, so I was honestly terrified when Ian and I were announced. I don’t know that I could have ever been ready for it.

One thing it’s brought me that I am infinitely grateful for is a community of queer people who resonate with Adira as much as I did. I get so many messages from trans kids (and parents of trans kids!) just saying hello and how much they loved seeing Adira on TV - and it means more to me than I can put into words.

I had a lot of anxiety at the beginning. I had only just come out and didn’t feel like I deserved a platform. I felt I couldn’t represent everyone. What I’ve come to realize is, I was right. I can’t speak for everyone. What I can do is share my experience, be honest and transparent, and lift the voices of other members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Blu’s character has educated the world of sci-fi as to what the future really looks like and has educated a fandom of Trekkies who are now experiencing the extent of what creator Gene Roddenberry’s intent for the show was. Star Trek would also teach Blu something about their own life.

I’m learning that I am more resilient than I thought I was. I’ve struggled with my mental health for my entire life, and for most of that time, I’ve been told I was weak because of it.

But while being on Star Trek I’ve learned (and am still learning) that it is just the opposite. I’ve fought so hard to stay afloat and keep going, and I’m still fighting. I’m constantly working at 110% to fight against my mental illness. So, for anyone who does struggle with their mental health, know that you are an incredible force.

We’re so much stronger than people perceive us to be.

Blu’s acting career started at the age of seven with theater and short films and was a finalist for the 2016 National YoungArts Foundation awards in the theater category.

I honestly think it was the escapism. Theater for me as a kid was the only place I could explore my identity freely. When I showed up to school looking like a boy, parents wouldn’t look me in the eye. But when I walked on stage as Sebastian in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, no one asked any questions because I was just an eight-year-old “playing a character.” Theater gave me freedom. It’s given me joy, friendship, and love. It has been the most incredible outlet for my whole life. So, if you’re a parent and your child shows interest in the arts, please support them in any way you can!

Something I think I’ve relearned from when I was a kid is how much I love to just play.

Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham, Doug Jones as Saru, Raven Dauda as Doctor Pollard, Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber and Blu del Barrio as Adira of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo by Michael Gibson/CBS

Blu del Barrio as Adira of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo by Michael Gibson/CBS

We are all still learning about the parts that make up our community. There is still resistance in the mainstream world, and even in the LGBTQ community, to accept the uses of pronouns or gender identity outside of the accepted norms. How would Blu describe their identity as non-binary?

I can only speak from my own life since everyone experiences gender (or lack thereof) very differently. I experience being trans and nonbinary in a very fluid way. There is never any stasis. To put it simply: I wasn’t comfortable when I was living and being perceived as “female.” I felt alienated and alone. I had

dysphoria and I knew something needed to change. But when I started thinking more deeply about my identity, I knew I also didn’t feel entirely like a “male.”

Realizing that I am still valid even if I don’t fit into that binary is what finally brought me some comfort. Before, I felt I was stuck in this life. Now, I feel like I’m on a journey.

This isn’t exclusively about nonbinary people, but people need to understand the difference between gender identity and gender expression.

There is such a warped belief that nonbinary people need to look androgynous,

trans men need to “look like men,” and trans women need to “look like women.” GENDER EXPRESSION AND GENDER IDENTITY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Communication is key. I think within our community there is trauma, and a common response to that is to put up walls for safety. I believe that’s the reason there’s some gatekeeping within the LGBTQ+ community. But when it comes down to it, when we listen to each other’s stories, there are so many similarities. It’s what makes us a community in the first place.

And what does the future of non-binary actors in film looks like?

In the future, they’ll just be called actors.

Blu has become a role model for a number of youths, within the Trek family and beyond. Coming out as non-binary can be difficult, not to mention dangerous.

If you are thinking about coming out, the best advice I can give you is: Listen to your gut first. This is your life.

Do not let anyone pressure you into coming out or staying silent. If you can, find at least one person with who you feel totally safe sharing. And if it doesn’t go smoothly, know that your future is still going to be full of other queer people who will empathize and shower you with love.

Found family is a beautiful thing. You’ve got this.

Given the chance, Blu would tell their seven-year-old self, fresh into the acting world: You know exactly who you are. You always have. You don’t need to be like anyone else to be accepted. You’re not alone, you’re special. And deep down, you know that.

Lead with love. (Also, you are absolutely allowed to name yourself Blu).

Season 4 of Discovery is coming soon, with a slight delay due to COVID, and the actors have been away from their homes for months filming in Canada. Fans are clamoring for more and given the path the show has taken with the storyline and the progression of an inclusive vision, the future is literally an open possibility, where no one has gone before. Del Barrio would love to work on queer independent films with a bigger dream to star in a Tim Burton project. For now, they are enjoying the ride. Their Pride message is clear for this century and into the 32nd century: Happy Pride to ALL of you - those who are out and those who aren’t. Those who are still questioning and those who aren’t. Those who are younger and those who are older. There is no right way to celebrate pride. Love where you are right now. I love you.

Crew member Paul Stamets, played by Anthony Rapp, remarks about Blu’s character, “Their work has been nothing short of stellar. They’re, really something.” Indeed. Warp speed ahead.

■

You can follow Blu on IG: @BluDelB Look for our podcast chat with Blu at www.Metrosource.com METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

41

WHAT’S IN YOUR

GYM BAG?

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES A PROPERLY STOCKED BAG CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEAVING THE GYM LOOKING RUN DOWN OR

glance at anyone’s gym bag might include a jock strap, shorts, tank top, and water bottle, but how are you stepping up your game? Add some top-of-theline skincare products, of course. If you are about to put in some quality time pounding the elliptical, pumping some iron, and doing some heavy lifting, why not add a little post-workout product to look like a million bucks?

BODY

HEALTH

FRESH AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD. A quick

CANNABLISS MINI FOAMING CLEANSER www.cannablissorganic.com $15 We’ve leaned into cannabis skincare products before, and this organic foaming cleanser is chock full of botanicals and natural goodies like CBD paired with Korean herbs. Cleanse, hydrate, and soothe your skin with nature’s astringent properties through herbs like snow parsley and dried burdock root. Snow parsley, a healing herb known to fight skin irritation, provides calming properties while the dried root of the

EVERY MAN JACK CITRUS HAND SANITIZER

bacteria. This cleanser is certified vegan, contains less than

www.everymanjack.com $8/2 pack

0.3% THC, and can help you to feel refreshed and extremely

Every Man Jack’s hand sanitizer spray is perfect to slide

relaxed with each use. Gentle for all skin types.

into the pocket of a gym bag or your track pants for use

burdock plant gently cleanses while soothing and fighting

between weights. The spray, made with natural ethanol, is 99.9% effective against most common germs. What is that great smell? Coconut oil with citrus essential oils work together to refresh and moisturize. Don’t take any chances with bacteria or germs just because you’re determined to lift before dinner. Earlier this year Every Man Jack teamed up with Rainbow Railroad to release a limited-edition Pride Set featuring four of their scented body washes that directly supported the LGBTQ+ community. While it might be too late to snag a Pride Set, we appreciate Every Man Jack’s effort in the community.

42

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 “ULTIMATE MAN” BODY SCRUB SOAP www.kiehls.com $15 Like to use your own soap at the gym? You’re not alone! Kiehl’s Since 1851 “Ultimate Man” Body Scrub Soap is a great option for after cardio. This “highly efficient exfoliating bar soap for men is made with sloughing Bran and Oatmeal and infused with an invigorating aroma. Cleanse your skin and hellp to get rid of any unnecessary roughness (leave that for the kettlebell class!) Gently massage your total body with this bar to cleanse, remove excess oil and dirt, and help soothe tired muscles. Kiehl’s is a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community and donates directly to The Trevor Project, an organization that proivdes free counseling services to LGBTQ youth.

GOODWIPES BODY WIPES www.goodwipes.com $10

LUMIBLOOM LUMISPORT CBD

In 2013 Sam Nebel and Charlie Siciak, self-declared “Crusaders of the Hygiene Revolution,” left their

www.lumibloom.com $21.99

day jobs to start goodwipes, a company that features

Looking for some roll-on muscle relief? LumiBloom’s

premium, wet wipes that are cool, convenient, and

CBD Muscle Relief Stick is a great addition to your

eco-friendly. Formulated with Ginseng, Natural Tea

gym bag. LumiBloom combines arnica, capsaicin,

Tree Oil & Cooling peppermint, these Body Wipes are

rosemary, and 350 mg of premium broad-spectrum

basically a shower in a wipe. Bring a lightweight Ce-

CBD for an excellent post-workout relief and refresh.

dar, Fresh, or Lavender scented pack of singles with

This roll-on can temporarily relieve soreness, muscle

you to the gym to use after spin or a cardio class and

pain, stiffness. CBD is known for its anti-inflamma-

you’ll feel rejuvenated and ready to meet the guys af-

tory properties, and this 2.6 oz sport stick provides

ter working out. goodwipes body wipes are free from

immediate topical relief. What’s that warming feeling?

parabens and alcohol. 100% biodegradable and hy-

It’s capsaicin, a chili pepper extract, that soothes and

poallergenic, so go ahead and wipe it all away.

heats things up.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

43

MALIN + GOETZ EUCALYPTUS DEODORANT www.malinandgoetz.com $22 Stay fresh before and after your workout with Malin +

HEALTH

Goetz’s eucalyptus deodorant, a gentle, odor-neutralizing option to eliminate body odor throughout the day. MALIN + GOETZ is a family-owned and operated apothecary in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. Their mission, simple as it may be, is “to make skincare less complicated and, most importantly, to

BODY

address the needs of irritated and sensitive skin.”Their

OFFCOURT PERFORMANCE BODY SPRAY TRIO PACK

eucalyptus deodorant is synthesized with refreshing natural eucalyptus extract and citronellyl. The deodorant is formulated without aluminum, alcohol or para-

www.offcourt.com $30

bens and absorbs residue-free.

Offcourt is a high-performance men’s personal care brand with products designed for active lifestyles...yes, literally created for you to pack for the gym! The brand launched this past March with a Performance Body Spray, taking on Axe with the first aluminum-free deodorant that doubles as a cologne. The trio pack,

NATURA CHRONOS AQUA AUTO-REPLENISH GEL-HYDRATOR

which includes Fig Leaves + White Musk, Fresh Cit-

www.naturabrasil.com $28

the trio pack so you can match the fragrance to your

Natura, one of the largest Brazilian cosmetics com-

bacterial-slate clean while powerful prebiotics support

panies, has been in operation since 1969 and of their

the growth of “good bacteria” while keeping the unsa-

2,000+ products, the Natura Chronos Aqua Auto-Re-

vory ones at bay.

plenish Gel-Hydrator is a standout for hydrating after your workout. Toss out your tired moisturizers and look no further, this super-concentrated gel repairs hydration levels according to the needs of each region of the face. What is so special about this product? The combination of fevillea extract, hyaluronic acid, and prebiotics, provides immediate hydration, prompting your skin to continue to self-hydrate.

44

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

ron + Driftwood, and Coconut Water + Sandalwood, offers a quick burst of freshness for every mood. Individual bottles of spray retail at $10, so why not opt for overall mood. Cleansing agents in the spray wipe the

WONDERGLOSS BALM ADDICT VEGAN LIP CARE BALM www.wondergloss.com $6 Who wants to kiss dry, cracked lips? Chapped lips might seem like a seasonable issue, but it’s important to keep your lips moist year-round. Wondergloss’ Balm Addict Vegan Lip Care Balm is a craveable Lip Balm that protects and soothes. The balm comes in a variety of organic flavors, including nectarine, cotton candy, cherry, rose, coconut, watermelon, and flavor free including a hint of stevia for sweetness. Moisturize those post-gym puckers with a blend of olive fruit oil, coconut oil, shea butter, palm fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, rosehip seed oil, and sunflower seed oil.

Wondergloss Balm Addict Vegan Lip Care Balm is totally vegan, cruelty free, gluten free, and paraben free. Oh, look, a treadmill just opened. Time to get on it and work up a sweat!

SELF/ISH EXFOLIATING PADS www.selfishskin.com $18

THE FEELIST DO NOT DISTURB EXTRA STRENGTH BODY CREAM

SELF/ish caught our eye as the handsome Jonathan

www.thefeelist.com $78

Bennett, star of Mean Girls, is one of their poster boys.

Do Not Disturb Extra Strength Body Cream, infused

This new collection of high-end men’s products are

with an extra strength dose of 500 mg Broad Spectrum

formulated with the pure power of “Clean Science.”

CBD, is a deeply relaxing and restorative moisturizing

Some of their bestsellers include SELF/ish Beard Oil

body cream. The cream, formulated with a unique blend

and their gentle Facial Cleanser, but their Exfoliating

of essential oils and natural extracts is both calming and

Pads are the perfect quick wipe after workout solu-

moisturizing. This fast acting cream contains hemp de-

tion. Unclog your pores, eliminate blackheads, and

rived cannabinoids, Himalayan pink salt, Maris sal, Ep-

freshen your face in a single swipe. These quick wipe

som salt, and soothing essential oils like cedarwood, lav-

pads are soaked in a natural blend of exfoliating acids

ender, and vanilla. Pulling out this sleek black tube will

and ingredients like witch hazel, willow bark extract,

draw eyes and curiosity in the locker room. Apply gener-

lemon, orange, and sugar maple and free from ingre-

ously to knees, shoulders and all those muscles that may

dients like formaldehyde, mineral oil, and synthetic

need a little extra R&R.

fragrances. Go ahead and be selfish with SELF/ish!

Wipe that post-workout nonsense away.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

45

CURAÇAO OLD AND NEW WORLDS COLLIDE

A FAVORED LOCATION AMONG DUTCH NATIONALS MAY ENTICE AMERICAN TRAVELERS IN SEARCH OF NEW SIGHTS

Klein Curacao

BY MEGAN VENZIN

“DUSHI” HAS MANY MEANINGS. DEPENDING ON THE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT’S USED, THE PAPIAMENTO WORD CAN DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT’S TASTY, SEXY, SWEET, OR JUST PLAIN NICE. The dreamy island of Curaçao, where the language is most often used, deserves all

those complimentary labels and more.

Curacao Carnival

46

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Mention Curaçao and most minds will conjure images of the sweet blue liqueur of the same name.

While many Americans have tasted the drink made from bitter oranges, it seems that less of them frequent the popular European vacation spot. However, that could change as fully vaccinated travelers embark on unfamiliar adventures.

Curaçao doesn’t boast the brand name all-inclusive resorts of the Bahamas or Cancun, and that’s a good thing. The Caribbean escape offers an experience far more complex than that, completed by a vibe that is personal, unique, and charmingly homegrown.

For those who are just now learning that Curaçao is more than the sapphire-colored booze that settles at the bottom of their favorite rum punch, here is the simple introduction: Curaçao is a constituent country part of The Kingdom of the Netherlands, to be specific.

Sitting between Aruba and Bonaire, and just 40 miles north of Venezuela, it is the largest and most populous of the ABC islands.

PAGES 46-50: PHOTOS COURTESY OF CURACAO TOURISM BOARD

Handelskade and Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge

Architecture Pietermaai

Settled first by the Arawak Amerindians who migrated from South America, Curaçao was later inhabited by Spanish colonists in 1499.

The Dutch assumed power about a century later and transformed the island into the commerce center of their West Indian Trade Company.

Simply put, it is a history lover’s dream, and is home to eight masonry forts dating back as early as the 1600s. These towering behemoths were constructed for defensive purposes, mostly to preserve the highly valuable trade routes (which on a darker note also played a major role in facilitating the Dutch slave trade).

Along with downtown Willemstad’s colorful Handelskade - a riverside row of businesses, hotels and residential plots that look like technicolor gingerbread houses - these sights undoubtedly contribute to its status today as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge is

another renowned structure, which floats and opens to allow traffic flow along the capital city’s busy central waterway. (Start running when the bell rings, or you may be waiting on the waves for quite a while. When it is all lit up at night however, tourists hardly seem to mind the delay.)

Aside from its storied past, Curaçao is highly sought after for its energetic and friendly atmosphere. Thrill seekers make the trek to dine on world-class food, engage in watersports and drink in streets lined with casual BBQ stands, or as the locals call them,“trùk’i pan.”

For those who want a taste of both worlds, Avila Beach Hotel is the move. It is the oldest hotel on Curaçao and has served many functions prior to accepting leisure and business stay-overs in 1949. It first housed English governors, and eventually operated as a boarding school for boys and as a private hospital where

the well-off could retreat for emergency care.

The black and white photos that hang on the reception walls, and landmarks such as the on-site Octagon Museum, offer a glimpse into the past. But, honestly, it is difficult to feel anything other than hyper-present when breathing in the serene beauty of the hotel’s two private beaches and vibrant house reef where mid-day snorkeling is a must.

“Our amazing staff is what makes our hotel stand out,”says PR coordinator, Gabriëlla Hoop.

“Over 90% of our staff are locals and we try to offer them a working environment where their growth is an important element. The sunny weather year-round and friendly and welcoming staff is why our slogan is ‘Feel the Warmth’.”

And feel we shall. We kick off our stay with the resort’s own pineapple-kissed “Bon Bini” cocktail, which means “Welcome” in the native tongue. It’s the perfect introduction to several METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

47

days spent snacking on signature bites like the beet and truffle bitterballen at The Pen Restaurant and indulging in open-air total relaxation massages compliments of the magic hands at Cloud Nine Spa. And if you are a hopeless romantic, there are plenty of opportunities to lean into those“feels”, too.

“The observer tower is a unique location to enjoy together with your loved one - it’s also a popular occasion and spot to get on one knee,” Hoop adds with a wink. The Blues Restaurant, home of Curacao’s legendary jazz night, was closed to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, so we transformed the tower into our own quiet dancefloor on more than one occasion. Even in the absence of amplified sound, the ambiance is on point and love is in the air.

For those wishing to experience Curaçao with their partner, know that it is considered an incredibly open country where the LGBTQ+ community is embraced. In fact, every September, a seven-day Pride celebration attracts visitors from near and far.

Though 2020’s festivities were postponed due to COVID-19, the Curaçao Pride organization hopes to bring the love back this fall. (Current event information can be found at www.Curaçaopride.com) Late-night beach parties and other mass events like the aforementioned are on hold, but there are still plenty of other sights and sensations to behold.

Not far from Avila’s front steps are several noteworthy restaurants with Caña Bar & Kitchen and Mosa topping that list. The two sit adjacent and share a kitchen and courteous staff who graciously serve up an array of small plates. Caña has an impressive cocktail list that pairs well with its menu of bright ceviches, tender grilled meats and other bold flavors that scream Latin-fusion. Mosa meanwhile, brings the type of breezy, courtyard setting, and a stunning wine list deserving of any date night reservation.

We go twice - once to each location, opting for bites like a flaky snapper steamed in banana leaves, a delicate and creamy burrata garnished with blueberries and tangy balsamic and perhaps one of the best bacon-laced okonomiyaki we have had this side of the Western hemisphere.

48

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Fort Beekenburg

Avila Beach Hotel

Cloud Nine Spa Outdoor Massage Pergola

A stroll through the nearby and eclectic Pietermaai District provides an answer to the existential question: “What would it be like to live inside a box of Chiclets?” Squatty hostels in shades of hotpink, emerald green and baby blue welcome scuba divers from out of town. They sip on espressos and gather their gear before venturing out to sights like the famous Tugboat Beach, where a coral-encrusted shipwreck merits a close-up gander.

METROSOURCE.COM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

49

This is the location where we tackle a day of exploration with Seabob Curaçao. Our tour guide is the spirited Suzy, who runs the business alongside her three siblings. She divulges that she studied psychology before deciding to “dive into” (pun intended) an alternate profession.

“You can understand why it had to be something fun and not that serious!” she jokes, adding that her co-worker siblings have backgrounds in insurance, law, and justice. “The choice was easy. Tourism is one of Curaçao’s main sources of income. With lots of research we found a thrilling activity unique for Curaçao and still new to the world.”After our first go, we can attest that there is life before Seabob, and life after Seabob - we prefer the latter.

The Seabob is a motorized aquatic vehicle that looks a bit like a miniature jet ski. How they differ, is that his little beauty works best when completely submerged underwater. Using one is the closest we have come to connecting with our inner-mermaid selves.

While we get the hang of trying this new apparatus, Suzy wastes no time collecting footage with her GoPro. Wait … are we making a film?

“Let me show you something fun, under water, come now,” she instructs pointing down. Below the surface we watch Suzy effortlessly zip through the sea like a corkscrew.“Now, your turn! Go!” Easier said than done, Suzy. But in time we master the trick (and have the shots to prove it). After an hour of flying over plentiful schools of neon tetras and navigating coral nurseries and long-lost wreckage we make out back to the pebble-covered shore.

The final day is reserved for an outing to Mambo Beach Boulevard, a bustling shopping center full of beach bars, restaurants, and high-end shopping. The refreshing mojitos lend reason for a short respite from the sun as we overlook the shimmering Caribbean Sea. It is hard to believe our trip is already over, but time flies in paradise. We have made so many friends during our stay - Clifton, who works behind the omelet bar at Avila insists we must return for Carnival.

“That’s when we really party,” he says with a laugh.

You don’t have to ask us twice. After all, there wasn’t enough time to explore Christoffel National Park or the Hato Caves where winding paths of stalagmites and stalactites bear a stark contrast to the powder-white beaches of majestic Klein Curacao, a tiny, uninhabited island that is a favorite among sunbathers and divers alike.

Ah, the to-do list upon our return just keeps getting longer. But still there is something quite sweet, or shall we say “dushi,” about having witnessed this hidden gem of a destination during a lesser-traveled moment in time.

■

50

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

METROSOURCE.COM

Snorkel and Explore Avila’s House Reef