BE-U | Qs&As with East Africa’s bright, bold and beautiful. 

Kween Nkatha is a Kenyan fashion model and dynamic individual. A self described ‘country girl in the hood’, she is ever spreading that country girl sunshine! A brand ambassador, creative innovator and love advocate, a queen (Kween). 

WHERE DID YOU QUARANTINE? 

At Home. 

At my mums or dads. 

In Studio too. 

2020 IN ONE WORD? 

A-Fucking-Mind-Trip! 

WHAT ARE YOUR PRONOUNS?

sHe/ Mx.

WHERE DOES YOUR MODELLING JOURNEY BEGIN? 

Back in Primary when I was around 8yrs. I used to do pageants until High School. Became Miss Busara 2015/2016. Walked my first professional runway in 2014. Had more professional training in 2017. Collectively this is my 7th year as a Professional Runway Model. The learning never stops tho. 

YOU RECENTLY JOINED AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL COMPETITION. TALK A LITTLE ON THIS.

Hah! You will be surprised to know that the competition I was in and the actual ANTM (Africa) Reality Show are not in any way related. Let's just say some opportunists tried to blind sight me among other models but the truth always comes to light. I appreciate the chance to showcase my work but I had to withdraw from the 'competition'. 

YOUR SERIES *AFRICAN TOMBOY PRINCESS* IS BEAUTIFUL. WHAT INSPIRED THIS PROJECT?

Thank you so much! Hmm! One it was my birthday week. I was turning 21 so I had to come through with a mbanger. 

What inspired the shoot is figuring out my balance within. Understanding my Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine without suppressing one or giving one more attention than the other. My MUA, @creativelykinyagia, helped me bring this to life with the face art and my photographer @jantejuma said *African Tomboy Princess* was the vibe. And as brand Ambassador of @shanga_na_kanga_designs the jewellery pieces just made the project so much sweeter. If I could just wear ONLY jewellery everyday I would do that. But I don't make the rules so it felt absolutely beautiful doing this particular project. And then the sun was in our favour for a couple of minutes there. Till there was a downpour on the final project (RAM RULES) Hakuna Matata. Shukran Tena.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE KENYAN FASHION BRAND? 

Oh My Goodness! Just one? 

There's like thousands of fashion brands in Kenya!

Okay fine! @RayashDesigns They are absolutely phenomenal with their designs. Their genuinely different and know how to put together African prints without making it look "normal". 

Who is your favorite Kenyan Photographer? 

Again with the fave thing, mnataka tu kunieka fix! 

Anyway, I will list:

- Egara Nneka 

- Wayne Shmurda 

- Maria Besie 

- Shem Obara 

What's on Your Playlist Right Now? 

For someone who listens to a variety of genres, depending on my mood. I've got Bob Marley and The Wailers and the ENTIRE Marley family among other Reggae artists like Protoje, Lila Ike, Shenseea Mortimer, Jah9, Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid, Buju Banton, Popcaan, Culture, Chronixx, Raging Fyah, Steel Pulse among others that remind me of Life, Love, Service and High lol. I've got Mereba, she reminds me to remain calm through triggers. I've got the Zulu Man, Nasty C is FUCKING LEGENDARY! I've got Cassie Chantel. MetaSlime Album is fire. She reminds me that everyone goes through shit you just gotta be humble through it all. And when you rise, NOT TO FORGET YOUR TRIBE!! And by tribe I mean the people who helped you get to where you got! 

Tierra Whack reminds me anything is possible and her video concepts are crazy! I'd wanna direct music videos like that.

In the Kenyan Music Scene, WAKADINALIIIIII. Idc what people say but I fw their music! Period! 

Octo-P-I double Z- O 

Ochungulo Family. Just Imagine AfricaLIOOOON>>>> 

Music really is my biggest motivation. You know how you always have a song playing in your head? I have playlists in my head, I just need to activate and boom So yeah believe it or not all the artists mentioned are on my Playlist either could be a song or an entire album. I just love to press Shuffle and be surprised 

DO YOU HAVE A SKINCARE ROUTINE? ANY TOP TIPS… 

Wow! Naah! No skin care routine. But I use rice soap, turmeric soap or black soap for face cleanse. And chocolate indulgence for Face/Hand/Body Lotion. 

My routine is drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day and eating fruits before dinner. And of course not over thinking about pimples during that time of the month. 

YOU ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS TO PLAY IN KENYAN FASHION? 

Ah! Yes. I love women 

Any who, My people have taste. Fashion taste. We express ourselves through amazing non con formative Styles. Dressing shouldn't always determine someone's sexuality but you will find that most of us are very gender fluid with clothing. Men and Women alike. I mean clothes don't have a gender. In the Kenyan fashion industry we tend to judge people through what they wear. Shouldn't be the case but it happens. So for the LGBTQ COMMUNITY I think most of us love to wear what makes us comfortable, what's makes us happy as well as what makes us WHOLE in ourselves individually. We don't like copying trends. We are TrendSetters. 

HOW DO YOU REPRESENT AND SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY IN YOUR WORK?

Wow! Isn't my pride flag enough? Jk.

I along side Zaha, an LGBTQ activist, begun Redroom Family to be able to reach out to as many young people who are going through hardships not just in the Queer community but just any persons who've been through so much during this Pandemic, you'd be surprised how so many of these injustices happen Behind closed doors. Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it's the place where we find the deepest heartache. Bruh siku hizi tunaskianga cut your toxic family members off but what happens when you can't coz you're not fully independent? What happens when they start to threaten you because of your sexuality? What happens when family becomes the threat you face everyday? 

For most, Redroom is our safe haven. We encourage each other. Motivate each other and Inspire each other, we allow each to feel, to grow, to be better, and to heal through it all. Especially that healing part but getting to know and figure out that you're not alone is relieving. Like you could be going thru a fucked up day and getting home and speaking about it with the rest of the group will just put you at ease. 

I'm not an activist myself but tuseme tu I’ m a aonfidante. 

Also through content delivery and just supporting our Queer members through what they do. Whether it's art or medicine, architecture or music. Tukumbuke hawa pia ni watu na kila msee akona gifting yake. We identify that, na tunajiHype! Hii ndio MBOGI yangu! 

WHY DO YOU THINK AFRICANS HAVE GROWN SUCH NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY? 

Idk! Religion? 

Wengi husema Homosexuality is un-African na ililetwa na mzungu lakini hawajui History yao. One fact is the increased popularity of fundamental Christianity by way of American televangelists, since the 1980s. While Africans argue that homosexuality is a western import, they in turn used a western religion as the basis of their argument. When anti-gay people are challenged most will argue that it is not our culture. However, if you probe a little further, they argue that homosexuality is forbidden in the Bible. But the Bible is not our historical culture. I tell you there's a real confusion about Africa's Past. True African Culture celebrates diversity and promotes acceptance. African culture is no stranger to homosexual behaviours and acts. Not too far from home, in Uganda, King Mwanga II was openly gay and faced no hate from his subjects until white men brought the Christian Church and its condemnation. 

There's a book called Boy-Wives and Female Husbands, the book examines homosexuality and feminism in Africa, the researchers found "explicit" bushman artwork that depicts men engaging in same sexual activity. There have been other indicators that the transition from boyhood to adulthood within many African ethnic groups involved in same-sex sexual activities. So what accounts for the current dismissal of same sex on this continent? Do your research. Mine is to you show you the door. 

Populist homophobia has kept many politicians in power, if you hate gay people, you get votes. Hiyo statement "Homosexuality is un-African" sio tu maneno. To all African LGBTQ people it puts our lives in imminent danger. It is used in South Africa to rape lesbians. 'Ushoga' will get you molested by your own juu in their own understanding "They're making you straight" *rolls eyes*. It is used to pass laws and to jail, threaten or kill gay rights activists. It is used to dehumanise and treat LGBTQ people across Africa condescendingly. 

To stop all of this we need to start by re-telling our history and remembering our true African Culture, one that celebrates diversity, promotes equality and acceptance and recognises the contribution of everyone, whatever their sexuality. I feel like each time an old man dies in Africa, a library is lost to humankind, for within the memories of the old man lies the history of an entire people. 

So again you ask me why do I think Africans are negative towards LGBTQ+? It's because they’re blinded to learning history that's only meant to enslave them and don't bother to think outside of what they "know". 

HOW IMPACTFUL ARE FILMS LIKE ‘RAFIKI’ IN PORTRAYING THIS MESSAGE?

Oh! So very impactful. This is a bittersweet yet ultimately positive depiction of young, forbidden love that emanates empathy by showing how misguided it is to be against this kind of devotion. Kahiu draws blood with a "pray away the gay" which we call "kuombea mashetani zimtoke" scene that left me frustrated lol but she also portrays a level of understanding through a few secondary characters. To watch a *Kenyan* film by *Kenyans* that warmly represents yourself onscreen is a potentially life-changing emotion and only those who were never in the dark would have a moral problem of it. Of course some only went to watch it when the ban was lifted kujua "Kwani how bad was it ndio ibanniwe?" 

At the end they reunite and their love has not died. 

Rafiki drove this very serious point very effectively, without losing its exuberance. Like it sold more than Black Panther of course it was dope. 

HOW INVOLVED IN THEATRE ARE YOU?

Hah! Actually Rira was my first ever theatre show. It was so intense - damn I loved every minute of it. 

I am studying Film Technology and Theatre Arts in Kenyatta University. So I have been a part of 3 other shows at school. 

One included an absurd theatrical performance that expressed Pain, Passion and Desire all that we as LGBTQ+ face. We were able to step out of ourselves and use some of our own experiences to bring this play to life. The name of the Play is Half of Man is Womxns; Directed by Njoroge Muthoni. 

Being on stage is such an exciting feeling. I intend to continue with Theatre work in the near future. 

Talk a little about Rira? 

Mama 

the torrent of war came and left you standing. 

the shadow of death loomed over you but faded. 

Your sweat watered the roots of a successful generation 

Your tears quenched the thirst of this barren soil. 

Only you understand the pain of war. Only you understand the worth of peace. Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Lives lost in silence speak from their graves, their echo among the living. They are the lesson we should have learnt. #Rira highlighted Post Election Violence, how Tribalism changed our lives in 2007 and how the value of love and peace was truly felt during war. Rira by Khweva. Directed by some of the best: Simwa Morris, Francis Karanja, Michael Karanja and Calvin Ombogo.

WHERE DO YOU SEE KENYAN FASHION IN 5 YEARS? 

Whoooa! I wish I could see the Future. But times are changing and it feels like if we don't catch up we'll be left behind. 

Lol! I have very high hopes and dreams and plans so let me just say Nakujia Indutry na Moto Amen. 

Let's just hope we won't be wearing masks then! Lmao! 

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUPERHERO?

Ahhh! Okay Some of y'all gone be mad but Wonder Woman. She's my fave superhero. And Liam Neeson aka Bryan Mills from Taken - not a superhero but worth the mention. BONUS 

Super Villain - Hela, Goddess of Death. 

IF YOU COULD ERASE ANY ANIMAL FROM THE WORLD, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY

I think every animal serves a purpose in the ecosystem. Honestly tho the mosquito has no contribution to the natural ecosystem. That thing is the most dangerous animal on earth if you ask me. They are more dangerous to humans than humans are to humans. Killing off the entire species would considerably change the ecosystem one way or another thus no animals are actually useless lakini ukiangalia the number of deaths It's caused, sleepless nights ikifly around tu kukunyonya damu ah! Delete btw! 

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE RUNWAY EXPERIENCE

Every runway experience has been memorable. But I would have to go with the Fashion Couture Affair 4th Edition! 

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM RUNWAY? WHO [BRAND] WOULD YOU LIKE TO WALK AND WHERE?

MY BRAND'S RUNWAY IS MY DREAM RUNWAY but before then It would be a dream to walk Savage x Fenty x Puma Runway Show YES PLEASE! Rihanna DOES THE MOST and it's really inspiring to see how she executes her vision. Rihanna is Epic! 

Balmain Fashion for Men would also leave me thrilled. Talk about bending the rules. Their male designs give me such Androgynous Vibes. Did you see the 2020 Fashion Week. Everything was stunning. From the pieces to the choreography to the Runway set designed. Oh My goodness. If you're viewing this Olivier Rousteing I want to be a part of that greatness. Thanks!