Trust. Freedom. Happiness. Joy. There is a place where it all exists. Harmoniously. Beautifully. Effortlessly.
Community has always been at the heart of what we do at Milk Makeup. In that spirit, we invited Z Walsh (he/him), Milk muse and photographer, to explore the beauty of the LGBTQIA+ community, togetherness, and self-expression in his new campaign: There Is a Place.
“These past two years have given me an even deeper appreciation of community and the joy it brings,” says Z. “I was always looking for somewhere where I could feel fully myself. Where I felt like I belonged and could bring along other people who felt like they belonged too.”
Belonging looks different for everyone, but through Z’s lens, that place begins to take shape. Read on to hear from Z and his community about what it means to them.
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Z Walsh (he/him)
What is the meaning behind There Is a Place?
The pandemic has given me an even deeper appreciation of community and the joy it brings. I was always looking for somewhere I could feel fully myself. Where I felt like I belonged and could bring along other people who felt like they belonged too. I finally found that place and want everyone to know that joy is also out there for them.
Why was this project important to you?
This was really important to me because coming into nightlife and starting to go out in the last four months I’ve felt more seen as a man and as a person than four years being out. It really made me notice more than ever that there’s a disparity between how I feel seen by my community and how I see myself represented as a trans model in media. I still feel this way, with the privilege that I hold, so it’s very much like the tip of the iceberg.
How did you choose the beauty looks for the shoot?
I wanted the beauty to be elegant. We bring this very refined, very subtle, beautiful aesthetic sensibility to everything we do, and I wanted to show that. Everyone looked so good. How did everybody get hotter? I didn’t think that was possible.
Where did you do the shoot?
At my apartment in NYC. It’s where we support each other and gas each other up. Where people can crash or chill while I go to work. Where we make our little cocktails and dress up to go out. It’s safe. We can be together and not worry about any other external influences we have to deal with.
What do you want the Milk Fam to know about joy?
I hope anyone who sees these images knows that there’s joy and community out there for them. People who will celebrate you for you and make you feel like you belong. If you haven’t found that joy, keep looking. Leave no stone unturned.
Follow Z Walsh on Instagram @zthebug.
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Ebon (she/her)
What does There Is a Place mean to you?
Inclusion of everyone. Everyone fits into any kind of box, any kind of standard, any kind of definition of beauty.
How do you stay feeling creative and inspired?
My creative process is very much inspired by my life at the moment. It has a lot to do with where I’m at and who I’m with at the time.
How do you celebrate joy in your life?
I celebrate joy by relaxing. Usually, when I feel joy, it’s because I did something that took a lot out of me. What’s joyful for me is being able to sit at home and be like, Wow, I did something so good, I didn’t even know I could do this. So it happens in my bed. Probably still in my pajamas. Joyful as hell.
What advice do you wish you were given when you were younger?
Don’t do it alone. I had a lot of anger built up when I was younger and that forced me to do things myself. Find that family—that core group—and tell them everything because it helps.
Follow Ebon on Instagram @ebonnights.
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Violet (they/she)
What does There Is a Place mean to you?
Knowing that there is a place for me to show up fully, and I think this shoot was a perfect example. I felt like I belonged on set and like I could show up fully as myself.
What’s your favorite way to express yourself?
I’ve made a lot of connections and friendships from expressing myself through a dance floor. I’ve also gotten more comfortable expressing myself through my clothing and makeup recently. It’s helped having a community that tells me not to doubt myself.
What’s your creative process?
I think it’s really important to approach it in a way that’s more explorative. Like in DJing, when I first started, I was very concerned about it being perfect or sounding a certain way, and then as soon as I was able to let go of control to some degree, and approach it as more of exploration, that’s where the new sounds came in. Instead of seeing it as a chore, it was more like my playtime.
What does community mean to you?
Before the pandemic, I would have said things like nightlife, getting coffee, or cooking together. That’s still important, but now I also think community means helping people out. Whether that’s financially or emotionally supporting others. Life is tough. You need people who can help you out and vice versa.
What excites you about the future?
There’s so much of my potential I haven’t really tapped into. I’m excited to push the boundaries of my own abilities.
Follow Violet on Instagram @violet_flux.
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Sejung (they/them)
What does There Is a Place mean to you?
Queer utopia. Somewhere where you can be you. It doesn't matter who you are. You can just be yourself.
Tell us about your beauty look for the shoot.
My beauty look was a little bit more natural. We were going for a dewy skin vibe, which I love because I’m a skincare king. We love nice moisturized skin, right?
What’s been the happiest moment of your life so far?
This might be a little cliche, but right now. I'm surrounded by beautiful friends. I'm working towards my dreams. I’m healthy, which is always number one priority. I’m currently living the happiest moments of my life.
What are some of the ways that you celebrate joy in your life?
I think I celebrate joy by dancing. I like moving my body. It just makes me feel very present. I also feel that when I dance, I give energy to others as well. For me dancing with my friends is how I celebrate joy. I've often been told by people on the dance floor that I gave them that extra little bit of energy to keep going.
What does community mean to you?
Community at its best means love, however that's expressed. At its limits, community means respect. You can't always have love for everyone in your community. That's a fact. But you need to respect everyone.
Follow Sejung on Instagram @KhuntyKharax.
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Silas (he/they)
What does There Is a Place mean to you?
I feel like “There Is a Place” refers to the homes we create together through chosen family. Also the present tense of the phrase evokes the hope behind there being a place that already exists right now. It’s the community we build together.
How did you feel during the photoshoot?
I enjoyed working with a really good cast and crew on this project. I love working among trans and queer people. I’ve never modeled before, but I felt comfortable trusting another trans person to photograph me and to create images we both feel good about. I believe trans people’s beauty is best captured when seen through the lens of other trans people.
How do you express yourself through beauty?
I express beauty through trusting my gut and following the things I like, even if it’s not what everyone else is doing. If you like it, it’s beautiful, even if it doesn’t look good to other people. Beauty is aesthetic, but it should also be fun and make you feel good. If you’re not having fun then what’s the point?
What advice do you have for others trying to find joy?
Try to remember to believe in yourself as much as you believe in others and vice versa. If you’re out there living your truth and believing in other people, the right people will see that and support you. But you have to believe in your own magic first.
Follow Silas on Instagram @Mullet4Mullet.
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