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Willy Chavarria
Matt Projects
Artists

Willy Chavarria

Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.

Willy Chavarria is a force in fashion. Last year, he was named the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, one of the industry’s top honors.

But the queer California native (now a New York resident) threads heart and activism into his apparel. “I tell a story of great human dignity through the lens of fashion,” he describes. His runways are must-see events for their sartorial challenge of racism, xenophobia, and rigid gender norms. In fact, the now-ubiquitous baggy trouser can be traced to the designs of Chavarria, who paid homage to the zoot suit favored by men of color in midcentury America.

Chavarria is proud of the release of his SS25 collection. (“It is very salable on a global level,” he notes.) He recently released his XXX zine filled with Marco Ovando photographs celebrating the male form. And don’t miss his luxe “Dirty Willy” underwear line.

“I love to share a message of queer power in my work. I love incorporating queer and trans people into all my work. It's empowering and shares a message of strength and unity,” he says. @willychavarrianewyork

Katy O'Brian
Daniel Prakopcyk
Artists

Katy O'Brian

Meet some of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.

Daniel Prakopcyk

Before her starring role in this year’s Love Lies Bleeding, Katy O’Brian, 35, acted in many beloved superhero and sci-fi productions, including The Mandalorian, Westworld, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Clearly, she had the superpowers needed to carry (on her very strong shoulders!) the hit romantic thriller alongside Kristen Stewart.

O’Brian auditioned six times for the new queer classic. Yet it seems as though the role of the driven strongwoman Jackie was written specifically for her. But the real-life bodybuilder needed more than physical strength to get through the challenges of 2024.

“I lost a dear family member unexpectedly, totaled my car, and I had to have surgery…it seemed like one disaster after another,” O’Brian shares. What helped her cope? She and wife Kylie Chi set aside time for mindfulness exercises to “refresh a positive mindset.” The queer star is seeing fruitful dividends ahead: She has upcoming roles in Mission Impossible 8 and the zombie movie Queens of the Dead, with more projects to be announced soon. @thekatyo