Wikiriot was a participant in “Princess Charming”, is a feminist, influencer and above all: herself. What does she have to say to us?
“Have you ever been looked at in disgust for walking hand in hand with your: m partner?
Have you ever been asked if you are a boy or a girl because you look different?
Has anyone ever told you that you are only a lesbian because you haven’t found the right man yet? “
“Dear straight people” is the title of the video that can be found on Wikiriot’s Instagram channel. The above questions are just a few of many excerpts from it, which are intended to illustrate the discrimination of queer people in everyday life. They are provided by candidates for the TV show “Princess Charming”, which was recently celebrated as an educational rather than a dating format.
Wikiriot, that’s one of them. On the show, she did what she does privately on the Internet: Draw attention to discrimination. Talking about supposed taboos. Fight for a feminist society. But above all: don’t mince your words. We spoke to her about mission and courage.
My educational mission is to address queer feminist issues that have helped me personally to feel comfortable with myself.
Dear Wikiriot, since Princess Charming you have often been spoken to on the street. But what do you answer when people don’t know you and ask: who are you actually and what are you doing?
I am a wiki fucking riot and above all I am myself in everything I do. I fight against all kinds of discrimination – and by the way, I’m a super cool educator.
For many people, reality shows are about portraying themselves. But you talked about fulfilling an educational mandate. What do you mean by that?
My educational mandate was to address queer feminist topics that have helped me personally to feel comfortable with myself and to be more understanding with my fellow human beings. But I also wanted to be seen and I find nothing wrong with admitting that.
Would you call yourself an influencer away from television? What can you see on Instagram – and what not?
My Instagram ‘career’ started because I started reporting on sexual assault. So I was active on Instagram even before Princess Charming. I am mainly concerned with intersectional feminism paired with humor and vulgar language.
For example, “Leek of the Week” is a very popular category that I roast people who are sexist, racist, anti-queer, etc.
You speak your mind, you don’t mince your words – especially when it could bother someone. Who and what helped you to develop your self-confidence?
I think my mom has a very big part in the fact that I can give a “badass-like” fuck to other opinions today. She always supported me with everything I was and am and said that I was good how I am, plus: feminism and the queer-feminist bubble in which I move.
Unintentional discrimination is still discrimination and the people concerned suffer from it. The important thing is how we deal with it.
I also often live in my bubble in such a way that I think it doesn’t matter who loves whom – but let’s be honest: Do you still experience unpleasant situations, clichés or discrimination because of your sexuality?
Constant! From couples who are just looking for an experiment, men who want to write off my homosexuality and ask for evidence, to people who spit on me for kissing my ex-girlfriend.
Uff. I’m sorry for that. On Instagram you also educate people who are not so aggressive and brazen, but rather “accidentally” discriminating against someone without wanting to, for example when they use a wrong pronoun. What do you advise
The rule of power of definition always applies. The person concerned always decides whether it was discriminatory. It doesn’t matter how you mean it. You can always make mistakes, that’s not a problem. The important thing is how we deal with it when we are made aware of it. We can apologize and let the space to listen to the person we discriminated against. They believe that certain things cause pain and try to stop making these mistakes in the future. This is how I deal with discriminating against people.
Here I always think it’s important to mention: unintentional discrimination is still discrimination and the people concerned suffer from it.
I spent two years “healing” myself.
You also talked about coming out at Princess Charming, a very moving poem dedicated to the subject. Would you like to talk about your coming out?
My inner coming out, i.e. the process of accepting my homosexuality, was the most difficult part for me. I noticed very early on that I was polarizing and I didn’t want to attract any additional attention through my sexuality. So I spent two years “healing” myself. I’ve had a lot of sex with men. Spoiler: unsurprisingly, it didn’t work, I’m still a lesbian and now I’m very comfortable with it. I love to love women. My outward appearance is less exciting. Unlike me, those around me had no problem with my homosexuality and I am very grateful for that.
How can we manage to become a society in which it is no longer necessary to come out?
More (anti-capitalist) honest visibility, queer education classes and a new queer-friendly analysis of religion books.
What would your perfect society look like?
One in which every person can be as they are (as long as they do not harm any other person). In which you treat each other with understanding and respect the limits of other people.
Thank you for the talk!