It's Pride season in the United States, which means brands are falling over themselves to secure LGBTIQ+ influencers and add rainbows to their packaging.
One such influencer is 11-year-old drag queen Desmond is Amazing, real name Desmond Napoles, who has been featured in a Pride campaign by shoe brand Converse.
Desmond, who has over 165,000 followers on Instagram, joins the likes of Out magazine deputy editor Fran Tirado and writer Ayishat A. Akanbi in the campaign, which features the brand's classic high-cut shoes, camped up with rainbow soles.
While there has apparently been some backlash to Desmond's appearance in the shoot, his mother, Wendylou, couldn't be prouder.
"He is spreading the message that it is okay for kids to drag," she told Gay Star News. "Explore their identity and express themselves, without shame, without hiding."
She added: "We always think about the young people out there Desmond helps. We receive dozens of messages each day thanking Desmond for being an inspiration, for allowing people to be themselves, to give people the courage to come out to their family.
"Desmond is a pure example of living your truth unapologetically."
