Velour Beauty is proud to be a safe space and ally for the LGBTQI+ community. To celebrate Pride Month, we reached out to our Velour Society members and asked what Pride means to them. They also shared their advice on how to get more involved in the LGBTQI+ community all-year round - here’s what they had to say! 

Sevonna Lathormvang  
she/her 

Sevonna is wearing Sinful lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“Being a member of the LGBTQI+ community means more than just rainbow flags; it gives us a sense of belonging and being there to support each other. Pride is a way to showcase and give knowledge for the hard work we had to pay for equal rights and how we’re still continuing that fight.” 

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“My favorite way to celebrate Pride is with the people who love and support me. I love being able to go to a Pride parade and see everyone being their true authentic selves! 🏳️‍🌈” 

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community? 

“One piece of advice for someone wanting to get more involved within the community is by just going for it! Whether you’re just there listening, observing, or participating you can start small and with whatever you’re comfortable with! Take the time to learn the knowledge and the history behind Pride and that’s the best way to support the LGBTQI+ community.” 

 
Dee Sikora  
They/them he/him 
 

Dee is wearing Poker Face lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“Pride means to me as a member, learning about who I am, finding out there’s a community of people who are just like me, and that we’re beautiful and deserving of love and respect and joy and human rights, year-round.” 

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“I celebrate by unapologetically and authentically loving my life for me. Be it dressing loud, not being afraid of displaying rainbows and other queer tokens, and spending as much time as possible in safe spaces with safe people and making new friends!” 

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community? 

“Don’t assume people's gender even if they are wearing certain clothes or makeup etc. Expression isn’t the same as identity, as comp het (compulsory heterosexuality) is so ingrained in our society that we should start breaking down the default settings of cis and het. Disclose pronouns on zoom calls, work name tags, email handles etc to normalize language and show you’re an ally who will be respectful. Peridot!” 

Brent Kostyniuk  
he/him 

 
Brent is wearing She-E-O lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“Pride means being accepted for being my true self anywhere I go. It means I am viewed just like any other person no matter my sexual orientation. It allows me to love life as freely and open as I want to be.” 

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“My favourite way of celebrating is teaching and helping people understand what pride is and who I am. Also doing a cute little rainbow look doesn’t hurt either :) “ 

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community? 

“Don’t be afraid of exploring all genres of the LGBTQ2+ Community. Find Facebook or TikTok groups. If you are a makeup lover, don’t be afraid to express yourself in a fun look to show your support or your most authentic self.”

Crystal Cortez  
she/her 

 
Crystal is wearing A New Leaf lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“As a member of the LQBTQIA community, pride means being unapologetically yourself and being able to express yourself in ways without limitations, also showing love and support to other people in this community.”  

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“My favorite way to celebrate is by doing looks inspired by pride, sharing and supporting content from others, especially my friends. I love to use my platform to highlight the LQBTQIA community whenever I can, I always want to show my support.” 

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community? 

“Be an ally and always show love to the community! Use your social media platform for support, you can do your research on legitimate organizations and donate to people who are in need of assistance. It can also be as simple as being a friend to someone who is in need of some kindness and acceptance.”  

Kate Giannoumis  
she/her 

 
Kate is wearing Sinful lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“To me, pride means embracing who you are and learning to love every aspect of yourself. As an ally, pride means the full acceptance of others, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and loving people for every part of them.”  

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“My favourite way to celebrate pride is by uplifting members of the LGBTQ+ community around me, not only during pride month, but year-round, by providing a safe space for them to be themselves. Pride-inspired makeup looks during pride month are a great way to celebrate the community and to get people talking about why pride is so important.”  

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community?  

“One piece of advice I’d give for someone looking to get more involved in the community is to not be afraid to be yourself, and to surround yourself will loving, open-hearted people. Educating yourself about the various gender identities and sexual orientations is a great start to accepting anyone you may meet. Kindness is the key to happy and healthy individuals and relationships!” 

Katie Hanick  
she/her 

 
Katie is wearing Can’t Be Tamed lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“Pride means acceptance and love as a member of the LGBTQA+ Community. It gives a sense of belonging when others may not have fully accepted me when I came out as a bi female to my family initially (26 years ago). Being part of Pride Month means I have a loving community of people who I don't even know but will never turn their backs on me as a member and ally of the community.” 

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“My favorite way to celebrate Pride Month is to continue to be supportive of friends and family who are in the community. It's also a moment and time to reflect and share experiences within and outside of the community to share awareness and educate others. I love to donate my time to the LGBTQA+ community with my son as well so he can ask questions without being judged (he's Autistic) and everyone is always so open and helpful for the both of us!”  

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community? 

“Check out your local community as everyone has different events going on. Ask questions! It's important to become more educated on the issues that lie within the LGBTQA+ community and support your friends and family well. Always keep an open mind and heart, everyone's experiences will vary, but being supportive is the best thing you can do within the community and the events and people it serves!” 

Anastasia Neganova  
she/her 

Anastasia is wearing Lash Next Door lashes 

What does Pride mean to you as a member or an ally? 

“Pride means not only celebrating the people of 2SLQBTQIA+ community, but also remembering those who still are not able to come out/ or are unsure of their gender/sexual identity.”  

What's your favourite way to celebrate? 

“Even though I love everything rainbow and the makeup industry during the month of Pride, as an ally, my priority is to help those in need: Donate, reach out, help in any way/shape or form.” 

What’s one piece of advice for someone looking to get more involved within the community? 

“Get to know the people of the community. Attend the events, festivals. At the end of the day, people are what the community is all about.”