We had the good fortune of connecting with NiK Kacy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve had a very interesting career path that is diverse and filled with intersectionalities. I have always been a creative artist at heart but had to balance between my desire to be creative and my passion for solving problems and being of service. In addition, my need to love what I do love and believe in what I’m doing overrides any position or wealth. At the end of the day, I want to go to bed feeling fulfilled and rich in my soul. I took my skills as a producer and turned it into entrepreneurship. I used my love of troubleshooting to create the first genderequal footwear and accessories brand in order to solve the issue I experienced in not being able to find shoes that fit my feet and gender identity. In that journey, I also created Equality Fashion Week (EFW), the first LGBTQ+ focused fashion week in LA. Due to the lack of funding and my desire to create financial equity for our QTBIPOC community, I created Queer Prom in order to raise more funds to help EFW hire and compensate more LGBTQ+ individuals.

Along the way of doing all these “firsts” I have faced countless challenges from homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny, hate, sexism and much more. However, as Trans and Nonbinary people of color, we have had to grow in our resilience and determination in order to just exist… which in all honesty, has helped me become the person I am today because I can face anything that is thrown my way. When I see a problem due to lack of representation, accessibility, visibility and equality, I don’t sit and complain. I take action and find ways to create a better future. I want to leave the world better than I found it so that others do not have to experience the same struggles as I did and continue to today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
On any given day, I love taking people to my favorite sushi spot called Tsuri Sushi on Melrose Ave. The sushi is delicious and the staff is like family. I have also recently found OrBar on Santa Monica Blvd, a newly renovated bar space where Gold Coast used to be. The decor is beautiful and the space is intimate. The staff is super nice and welcoming as well and a wonderful place for happy hour! For nightlife, I would hit up Sunset at Edition, a space created by Ian Schrager, co-founder of the original Studio54. The dance floor sits under a ceiling covered in disco balls that help you wanna just dance the night away. For a more active daytime workout, I would take someone to Runyon Canyon for a hike up the mountain, look at the beautiful landscape that is Los Angeles from up top while soaking in the LA sunshine and people watching along the way. After a nice hike, I would drive over to Larchmont and grab a tasty beverage at The Great Boba shop, a newly opened boba beverage spot with some tasty, homemade beverages sure to delight your palate. For a next meal, I would head over to Koreatown and check out my favorite korean hotspot with the best fried chicken in town! My favorite is the chili garlic flavor and wash it down with some soju! The next day I would go for a drive down to Malibu or the Southbay for some fresh seafood by the beach where you can sit on picnic tables and eat your fresh crab or lobster on newspaper! Honestly, the list of things to do in LA is endless and just about something for everyone! From museum row to Little Tokyo, there’s so much to explore and enjoy. I love LA so much!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to every human I’ve crossed paths with, from folks who loved and supported me to those who taught me valuable lessons on my boundaries and to stay authentic to myself. In particular, I want to shoutout the Translatin@ Coalition and it’s founder, Bamby Salcedo for being a mentor and champion for me as a human and as an advocate for our Trans and Gender Expansive community. She inspires me to keep doing the work that helps positively impact those who are most under-represented and be the voice for those unheard.

Website: www.nikkacy.com

Instagram: @nikkacy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkacy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NiKKacy/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/nikkacyfootwear

Other: www.equalityfashionweek.com www.instagram.com/equalityfashionweek www.instagram.com/nikkacypresents

Image Credits
Black boots and me modeling orange holster – Nicolette J-Pownall rest of shoes shots – Kelly Balch me and two models posing on a couch – Kelly Balch shot of “break the binary” sole shot – NiK Kacy Queer Prom photos – Roxie Fuller Equality Fashion Week photo of models on runway – Roxie Fuller Equality Fashion Week shot of 3 hosts on stage – Ottavia D’Alelio

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.