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Playful & Proud: Celebrating Pride 2023

Playful & Proud: Celebrating Pride 2023
To celebrate Pride this year we put out a casting call to our LGBTQI+ customers to apply for a shoot that celebrates queer joy. With hundreds of entries from fierce individuals that we are proud to call our customers, we managed to narrow it down to just seven incredible individuals!
This campaign celebrates love, authenticity, and self-expression. The final 7 featured are Aamani (she/her), Chanai (she/her), couple Mia (they/them) and Marta (she/her), Reka (she/her), Sadie (she/they) and seana (she/her), who all joined our team for a day of joyful vibes!
Pride Month traces its origins back to the stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in LGBTQI+ history that marked a turning point in the fight for civil rights. The riots sparked a wave of activism and united the community in the pursuit of liberation and equal rights. Today, pride month serves as a reminder of the progress made and the battles that still lie ahead.
Pride is a celebration of love and acceptance, embracing diversity in all its forms, it provides an opportunity for individuals to express their authentic selves, free from judgement or discrimination. Whether you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or any other sexual orientation or gender identity. Diversity is a central theme of Pride, the LGBTQI+ community compromises individuals from all walks of life, diverse in identities, backgrounds, cultures and experiences.
 Pride Month highlights the strength that arises from embracing our differences and offers a safe and inclusive space to be proud of who you are, it fosters a sense of belonging and encourages self-acceptance, empowering individuals to embrace their unique identities, recognise the value of inclusivity and to actively dismantle prejudice and discrimination.

Meet our campaign stars

Sadie
Age: 32
Location: London
Pronouns: (she/they)  
Identifies as: Lesbian, Queer, Queer Black Femme and Queer Black Femme Lesbian
 As founder of The Cocoa Butter Club – a multidisciplinary cabaret troupe of queer performers of colour – I’m lucky enough to be able to use my platform to showcase and celebrate Queer Black and POC talent year-round. This Pride, I’m particularly proud to take up space and celebrate the community I am part of and the talent it holds – always making sure the melanated are celebrated.
 
Aamani
Age: 20
Location:  London
Pronouns: she/her
Identifies as: Pansexual
 It is a massive privilege to represent my queer community in the Playful & Proud campaign this Pride Month. The campaign authentically celebrates and supports all the beautiful gays, girls and enby’s and it was especially refreshing to be part of a lingerie shoot that is taken from the female gaze. That made it such a comfortable and empowering experience.
 
Chanai
Age: 24
Location: London
Pronouns: she/her
Identifies as: Bisexual
I am a body positivity actress, model and influencer. Through my work, and in every aspect of my life, I am driven by embracing and supporting other plus size and queer women, who like myself, deserve to live their truth. It was amazing to work with a wonderful cast of sexy goddesses on this campaign and give some real representation to the LGBTQI+ community.
 
Mia & Marta
Age: 35 & 37
Location: Brighton
Pronouns: Mia (they/them), Marta (she/her),
Identifies as: Mia (queer non-binary), Marta (queer)
 Originally from Poland, we have been a couple for over 18 years. We now live in the UK and count ourselves lucky to be able to celebrate Pride by freely being who we are, without the need to hide our true selves.
 Pride is a reminder of how fortunate we are to live somewhere where we can live our everyday lives freely and openly, and how important it is to continue to fight for greater inclusivity and acceptance for all LGBTQI+ individuals.
 
Seana
Age: 23
Location: Birmingham
Pronouns: she/her
Identifies as: Straight Asian Transgender Woman
 I am very proud to be a part of a community that celebrates differences and that we have the opportunity to all come together as one for Pride – basically our big Gay Christmas!
 As a minority still, being Asian and trans, I think it is vital and important to represent my community on as many platforms as possible. I am incredibly proud to be me.
 
Reka
Age: 22
Location: Darlington
Pronouns: she/her
Identifies as: Bisexual
 As a body positive content creator, I’m super passionate about encouraging others to embrace their sexuality and being confident in the skin that you’re in.
 
Pride isn’t just a word; It is a movement, a celebration and a powerful expression of love and acceptance! Each year, millions of people around the world come together to commemorate Pride Month, a time dedicated to honouring the LGBTQI+ community and its remarkable journey towards equality. At Playful Promises we embrace the vibrant tapestry of the LGBTQI+ community year round, allowing each person to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.