The Queer Economy23 Heinä 2025

The Kitschy Cactus: Retro Earrings, Queer Joy, and Drag Royalty

In this episode of The Queer Economy, host Ben Ferney chats with Shanna, the Canadian queer entrepreneur and creator behind The Kitchy Cactus — a wildly fun, retro-inspired earring and accessory brand that’s caught the eyes of drag royalty like Trixie Mattel and Marcia Marcia Marcia. 🌵👑✨

Shanna opens up about her journey from a toxic relationship and job burnout to building a brand rooted in nostalgia, creativity, and queer joy. We talk about her love for vintage kitsch, her DIY transition from clay to acrylic designs, and the viral TikTok that landed her in Trixie’s DMs.

This episode is packed with heartfelt reflection, big laughs, and powerful insights on embracing queerness later in life, overcoming imposter syndrome, and turning personal style into a thriving business. 💅🏽

🎧 Topics covered:

Building a queer-owned earring brand from scratch
How Trixie Mattel discovered her earrings
Coming out as queer while already married
Turning a creative passion into a full-time business
Dealing with burnout, skin issues, and pivoting her materials
Advice for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs
The power of showing your face and building community online

👉 Shop her earrings: thekitchycactus.com
📲 Follow Shanna: @thekitchycactus on TikTok, Instagram & YouTube
🎙 Follow the show: @thequeereconomy

Keywords: The Kitchy Cactus, queer entrepreneur, Trixie Mattel earrings, LGBTQ small business, drag queen accessories, retro earrings, handmade jewelry, queer-owned brand, acrylic earrings, coming out late, Canadian queer creator, Marcia Marcia Marcia drag race, queer business podcast.

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