We recently connected with Desi and have shared our conversation below.

Desi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always been drawn to creative expression, but I think my understanding of what ‘creative’ could mean professionally evolved in a unique way through my activism.

Growing up in New York City, I was constantly surrounded by art, fashion, and self-expression in all its forms. While I enjoyed walking runways at New York Fashion Week for designers like Gypsy Sport and The Blonds, I began to see that creativity extends beyond traditional artistic mediums.

The pivotal moment came when I realized that activism itself is a deeply creative pursuit. Designing campaigns, crafting messages that resonate with people, and finding innovative ways to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community—these all require the same creative thinking as fashion design or writing. Whether I was organizing awareness events, developing educational content about HIV/AIDS prevention, or addressing LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, I was essentially creating new pathways for connection and understanding.

Publishing my children’s book, ‘Be Amazing: A History of Pride’ in 2020, further cemented this realization. I saw how creative storytelling could become a powerful tool for advocacy, reaching young people in ways that traditional activism sometimes couldn’t.

Even my fashion brand, Be Amazing NYC, which I ran from 2021 to 2023, became an extension of this creative activism—using clothing as a medium to communicate values of inclusivity and diversity.

Today, my goal is to study political science in college, which might surprise people who know me primarily through fashion or entertainment. But I see political science as another creative arena where I can design solutions to complex social problems. The creative skills I’ve developed through activism—thinking outside conventional boundaries, communicating persuasively, and imagining alternative futures—are precisely what effective political change requires.

Whether through policy development, grassroots organizing, or media campaigns, I’m excited to keep finding creative approaches to advocacy that can make tangible differences in people’s lives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Desi Napoles, a 17-year-old LGBTQ+ youth advocate from New York City. While some might recognize me from media features in outlets like The New York Times or Teen Vogue, or from my runway appearances at New York Fashion Week, my work extends beyond visibility into meaningful advocacy.

My journey began simply through living authentically and finding my voice. What started as personal expression gradually evolved into structured activism addressing issues that directly affect LGBTQ+ youth like myself – from homelessness and healthcare access to representation in education and media.

What I bring to advocacy is a genuine youth perspective grounded in lived experience. Through speaking engagements, social media outreach, and collaborations with organizations like GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Born This Way Foundation, I’ve worked to create spaces where LGBTQ+ young people can feel seen and supported.

My approach differs from others because I focus on meeting people where they are. I published my children’s book, “Be Amazing: A History of Pride,” in 2020 to provide age-appropriate resources about LGBTQ+ history and identity. From 2021 to 2023, I ran my inclusive fashion brand, Be Amazing NYC, creating apparel that celebrated diversity and self-expression, before closing it to concentrate on my education.

I’m particularly proud of my community engagement work through programs like the Teen Activist Program at the New York Civil Liberties Union. These experiences have shown me that effective advocacy happens at multiple levels – from individual conversations to institutional policy change.

Currently, my focus has shifted toward my education as I prepare for college, where I plan to study political science. This academic path represents my commitment to understanding the systems that shape our society and learning how to create change from within those structures.

What I want readers to understand is that youth advocacy isn’t just about visibility – it’s about active participation in creating solutions. Young people shouldn’t have to wait to make meaningful contributions to conversations about issues that directly affect us. We bring valuable perspectives and fresh approaches to long-standing challenges.

The thread connecting all my work is authenticity. My motto, “Be yourself, always,” reflects my belief that embracing who you are isn’t just personally liberating – it can create ripples that help others find their own courage to live authentically.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative advocate is witnessing the direct impact my work has on LGBTQ+ youth, as well as seeing how it elevates youth voices that are often overlooked in broader conversations.

There’s something profoundly moving about connecting with a young person who feels seen or understood through something I’ve created or said. Whether it’s receiving messages from teens who found courage in my story, meeting kids at events who finally feel represented, or seeing the tangible relief on someone’s face when they realize they’re not alone – these moments contain the real power of creative advocacy.

I find deep fulfillment in transforming my own experiences into bridges that help others navigate their journeys. When my creative work – whether through speaking, writing, or other forms of expression – creates space for young people to express themselves authentically, that’s when I feel most accomplished.

I’m particularly energized by challenging the notion that youth voices should be confined to ‘youth issues.’ Through my advocacy, I’ve worked to demonstrate that young people have valuable perspectives on everything from climate policy to healthcare to education reform. Using my creative platform to amplify these diverse youth voices and ensure they’re taken seriously in decision-making spaces brings me tremendous satisfaction.

The most meaningful reward, though, is watching the ripple effect as young people I’ve connected with begin finding their own voices and creating change in their communities. That ongoing cycle of empowerment – seeing youth not just receive support but become advocates themselves – is what makes all the challenges worthwhile.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Honestly, when I was younger, I felt completely invisible in almost every space. There were basically no resources for LGBTQ+ kids my age – everything was aimed at teenagers or adults. It was like the world didn’t think kids could be questioning their identity until they hit 13 or something.

I really wish I’d had access to simple, age-appropriate books or shows that just normalized different identities and families. Not even anything complex – just stories where kids like me existed without it being a big deal or a “special episode.”

Finding community was nearly impossible too. Most support groups and programs had age restrictions, and there weren’t many spaces where younger kids could safely connect with others having similar experiences or questions.

That’s actually a big reason why creating my children’s book mattered so much to me. I wanted to help fill that gap I experienced – to create something I wish had existed when I was first trying to understand myself and looking for confirmation that I wasn’t alone.

Looking back, even just having one visible role model or mentor who understood what I was going through would have made such a difference. Someone to say ‘I see you, and you’re going to be okay’ before I had to figure it all out on my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.desmondisamazing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desmondisamazing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desmondnapoles
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desmondisamazing/
• Twitter: https://x.com/desmond_amazing
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/desmondisamazing