Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Bryan Kachel

I started my tattoo apprenticeship in Seattle in 2002, a time when tattoos carried a very different cultural perception. There were understandable concerns—like the idea that having visible tattoos could make it harder to get a job—but also a lot of misplaced stigma, often rooted in a sense of moral superiority. Read more>>

Brie Hines

I create hyper-feminine art. Mischaracterization is an understatement, but it’s also part of the reason I paint. When I hear reactions like, “That’s cute,” it mirrors the patronizing way so many women and feminine people are perceived just for existing. My work leans into the stereotypes of femininity—pinks, boldness, motifs of fashion and girlhood—because I want to reflect what it feels like to be seen as a woman. These elements are often dismissed in the art world, and why? Because they reflect the experiences of women? Read more>>

Sophie Mutiara Nova

Oh, baby, when it comes to writing queer work or just being queer in general– I think a lot of really awesome queer creatives can resonate with feeling misunderstood and mischaracterized. Read more>>

Monica Ingles

In the world of cake making and decorating, the common misconception is that it is easy. Why? Because big box stores and grocery stores have incorporated cake making (as well as other desserts) into the catalog of items sold. Read more>>

Ginny Horton

The art of channeling as a psychic medium is often very misunderstood or heavily judged in a negative way. When I tell someone my profession is a Psychic medium and I do work with light magic through candle manifestation they either look at me in fascination, curiosity or pure disbelief. They mischaracterize it as well that I’m surely reading minds however that is simply not true I read energy not minds. This isnt just a personal story this happens to many people who do what I do. I believe this happens due to religious views or just society themselves and also people fearing the unknown ,the movies often portray the spiritual side of things as dark and scary when in reality we are all souls having a human experience essentially we are all spiritual beings. For people that come to me who are bit nervous or skeptical I use that as a time to educate them and to showcase my abilities in a positive way to show them that having a reading can be empowering and healing. However some people are heavily against what I do and I have to respect the beliefs they have. The insight I have taken from experiences of people judging me is this path isn’t for me to get into my ego and try to prove something to these individuals ,my path is about being a guiding light of healing and helping give people deeper insight into their lives. Read more>>

Sl Studios La

In the beauty industry, it’s not uncommon to hear the phrase, “That’s not a real job.” As someone who has transitioned from the structured environment of a law firm to the vibrant world of nails and beauty, The girls from SL Studios LA have faced this skepticism firsthand. I (Sophia) remember when I was just 12 years old, passionately doing nails and dreaming of a future where I could be my own boss. A family member once told me that pursuing nails wouldn’t lead to a stable career with good benefits. That moment stuck with me, planting seeds of doubt about my aspirations. Read more>>

Emily Krueger

Like most artists, I’ve totally felt misunderstood/mischaracterized at the start. I definitely felt the pressure to make music that fit with my appearance to be a package you could easily label and put in a box, to make others comfy. When I started producing I didn’t often get taken serious as a producer, being a feminine in a patriarchal industry. It got to me but I only used it as fuel. I think I wanted to prove to other females especially how we should break that stigma that producers (or even just guitar players) are typically dudes. I can see it normalizing now though which is cool to see. Read more>>

Mary Sette

I read somewhere that a big part of emotional maturity is being okay with being misunderstood. You don’t have to go around explaining yourself all the time, which is sort of funny because that’s basically what you’re asked to do as a creative all the time. You’re constantly reevaluating how you’re pitching yourself and your work to people. Read more>>

Nate Puppets

My puppets are very much my own

My main 3 mediums for making puppets are foam, fur and hot glue. I use these materials for many different reasons, the short answer is, I like them.

The long answer is, why choose to use them. Read more>>

Kaido Lee Roberts

In the past, I’ve taken on many roles as a bully, antagonist, and most notably, Mikey Miller in the Dhar Mann series. Mikey is a mischievous troublemaker who will do anything to get out of doing schoolwork, cheat his way to success, and hustle for a PS5 he definitely doesn’t deserve. His antics have even landed him in juvenile detention. Fans love this character so much that most of them don’t even call me by my real name—they call me Mikey. I constantly get asked if I’ve finally gotten my PS5 or if I’ve made it out of jail. I think my animated and outgoing personality makes it easy for people to believe I am Mikey, rather than an actor playing a role. Read more>>