Today we’d like to introduce you to Mistress Bruja.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a Sex Educator, Model and Activist. I came into the sexuality field because I noticed there was a need for more Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous people of color and sex work representation. My education is primarily centered around the sex work industry. Historically sex workers are the oldest educators in the book. We’re constantly talking about safe sex methods and de-stigmatizing STI’s. Much of the sexuality field is centered around white cis women and their pleasure. It erases queer and poc pleasure. As a mixed, nonbinary femme I had to navigate queer sexual pleasure on my own and was very lucky to not have had many negative experiences. However for many queer folks they’re often in unsafe or unpleasurable situations due to the lack of queer-focused sexual health. Having an open, safe and welcoming community centered around marginalized folks eliminates those risks. My goal is to empower folks with the knowledge they need to live happier, more fulfilled lives. To fully embrace their bodily autonomy, which is a human right.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been challenges along the way, there will most likely always be challenges. That’s just how life is. However I can say I have received so much support from the community. I’ve connected with folks from all over the globe and been able to collaborate with other educators. The biggest challenge is escaping the stigma around academia. I’m not certified and that can often lead to the narrative that I’m unqualified. Academia has historically been easily available to those with financial privilege. Which tends to be white cis people. It often disregards lived experiences which is crucial when we talk about sex education geared towards queer, poc and sex workers. There is no official handbook on navigating when a John tries to coerce a sex worker into not using a condom with the promise of more pay. In classrooms, they’re talking about the risks with heteronormative sexual practices that lead to pregnancy. They won’t address that gay and bisexual men face a higher risk of STI/HIV spread especially since drug use is often involved in queer and sex work party culture. This is why voices like mine are crucial.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love modeling and playing dress up. I noticed when I combined this with my sexuality work, I get tremendous feedback. People come for the cosplay but stay for the message. It’s almost like a volcano cake. When you take that first bite of chocolate cake, it’s delicious but then the volcano center oozes out and it’s intoxicating. I’ll post a photo of myself as Harley Quinn and the caption will cover queer sexual health. I think it surprises people in a really positive manner. I’m currently working on a reels series incorporating these aspects. I’m extremely proud of the community I’ve created, I notice people are reveling in their sexual agency and that is freedom.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Representation and inclusivity truly matter to me. Too often growing up, I didn’t see myself in media so I internalized my own failure. There were no positive representations of Cuban-Chinese folks, we were always stereotyped. The bisexual representation always painted us as promiscuous cheaters and there certainly weren’t any nonbinary role models I could look to on screen. I’ve only now seen more positive depictions of queer and poc in adulthood. I know when I watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, I became emotional throughout the entire movie. I had never seen a live-action Chinese superhero in American media before. Speaking our language and displaying our culture in such an accurate and positive light. There are Asian American children who got to see that and now they can feel empowered to be anything. To defy stereotypes and negative connotations. It matters not just to me but to every marginalized group globally.
Contact Info:
- Email: cosplaybruja305@gmail.com
- Website: https://305bruja.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/305bruja_/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/305Bruja
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCrDc8EHwaloIv4t-2EH7lw?view_as=subscriber
Image Credits
Personal Photo (bathing suit): Grey C Media Photo 1 (Blackwig): Self shot Photo 2 (Red fan): Jonathan DeCamps Photo 3 (Bi-Pride): Grey C Media Photo 4 (Cash): Grey C Media Photo 5 (Enby-Pride): Grey C Media Photo 6 (Sabrina Spellman cosplay): MyKey2Lyfe Creations Photo 7 (Harley Quinn cosplay): MyKey2Lyfe Creations
