Finn Barrett
⤏ IN CONVERSATION WITH FAYE ORLOVE
⤏ PHOTOS BY MICHAEL TYRONE DELANEY | STYLING BY LINDSEY HARTMAN
⤏ ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2018
FAYE ORLOVE: Finn! Where did you grow up?
FINN BARRETT: I grew up in some tiny ass retirement town in Florida.
FO: How was your city in relation to queer identities?
FB: There was very little acceptance for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, but hopefully progressive ideologies are continuing to push through those oppressive barriers.
FO: When did you move to Los Angeles?
FB: I moved to LA at the end of Summer 2016. After graduating, I was searching for more artistic opportunities and general acceptance as a young transgender person.
FO: When we met you were just finding footing here. It’s hard to move to LA. It’s a really big city! But you have legions of fans now. It’s so nice to see people enthusiastic about your work! How has having this influx of “fans” affected you?
FB: It helped me realize that there are a lot of people like me out there in the world, and people doing what I do. It’s made me push myself to think on an even bigger scale. I want to make sure that my message and influence is always true to who I am, and also offering something for the progression and benefit of all queer people.
FO: You’re kinda amazing at everything. I feel like people know you as a “model” but you’re an amazing illustrator and musician, too. Do you have any big plans for your visual art?
FB: I’m writing a play at the moment, that you know about! And I’m possibly releasing some new clothes soonish.
FO: How did you get signed to Wilhelmina? Are they respectful to your identity and pronouns and aesthetics?
FB: I got signed to Wilhelmina after doing my first magazine cover for Galore. My agencies do their best to make me feel safe and comfortable and welcome. But there are always other people you run into in this line of work that still just don’t get it. I wish open communication and understanding were more common in humans. In fashion and modeling, but also like, in general.
“I wished for this sort of life when I was 14 and it feels unreal.”
FO: I feel that. You’re helping that though! You probably hate it, but you are a role model for trans youth. Does that feel like a big responsibility?
FB: I don’t hate it! I love seeing other people be able to find themselves. It is sort of a big responsibility, but I have been looking for this type of role model my whole life, so of course I’m honored to be one of the many trans men people can look up to.
FO: You’re a role model and a male model. Did you ever think you’d say that?
FB: No, I truthfully never did. I wished for this sort of life when I was 14 and it feels unreal. I still have a long way to go and a lot of things I want to see myself do before I can really feel the right to claim that title.
FO: How does your family feel about your career trajectory since moving to LA?
FB: They are very supportive of me.
FO: So, you have a good relationship with your parents?
FB: I’ve actually been rebuilding/strengthening relationships with my family in the past year. Life is really crazy and feels like it consumes you at some points, but it’s extremely important to take time to remind the ones who love you that you love them right back.
“Buy originals. Don’t lowball.”
FO: When we first met I was in awe of your self-confidence. In general it’s so refreshing to see someone love the skin they’re in. It’s even more rad to see a young trans person so sure of himself. Did it take you long to get there or have you always had a strong sense of self?
FB: When I was first actually coming out into the world, I was terrified. I would find myself crying anytime I had to speak up for myself because I was just so afraid to be ridiculed for who I am. But as time pushes on, I came to realize that nobody in this world has the right or the actual power to take your identity from you. Smile as you speak about being trans, instead of letting someone take your happiness out of fear.
FO: You’re scary talkative. Like you make friends so easily. I’m very the opposite. How do you find people so easy to talk to? What makes you so loving!?
FB: Maybe my dimples might hypnotize people [laughs]. Nah, but really I just like making people laugh and being introspective. It’s easy to talk to people when you can bring up the insanity of day-to-day life in these weird times of 2018.
FO: Tell me about your girlfriend. She’s surprisingly soft-spoken, but I feel like that’s a good match for you. What do y’all like doing together?
FB: We take care of each other, make amazing food, go for walks and hikes. I’d like to think we also sort of style each other.
FO: I love that. Tell me something I don’t know about you!
FB: I lied to everyone in my high school for all four years and told them I didn’t know how to swim just cause I didn’t wanna swim with them
FO: [Laughs] You’re so weird. Okay, how can people support you/your artwork?
FB: Buy originals. Don’t lowball. My website is finnbrrtt.com!
FO: Who is someone you’d love to work with? Musically or artistically. However! Just a dream collaboration?
FB: Buck Angel.
FO: What is your favorite thing about yourself? What’s something about yourself you’d like to change?
FB: My favorite thing about myself is my brain’s ability to create things that make me feel good. I’d like to make myself a little less stubborn.
FO: I’d like to be less stubborn too. And lastly, you’re in fucking Los Angeles! What’s your best celeb sighting story? The people need to know!
FB: Um, I saw James Franco for five days in a row one week. He was just standing around. That was pretty fucked.
⤏ BUY THE PRINT EDITION OF JR HI THE MAGAZINE | ISSUE 003 HERE.
⤏ FAYE ORLOVE (SHE/HER) IS AN ILLUSTRATOR, ANIMATOR AND ACTIVIST ORIGINALLY FROM THE EAST COAST. IN 2015, SHE BEGAN THE NON-PROFIT SPACE JUNIOR HIGH IN EAST HOLLYWOOD. FAYE LOVES POP-CULTURE, THE FACT THAT KIM KARDASHIAN IS STUDYING TO BE A LAWYER, AND THE JONAS BROTHERS COMEBACK. SHE DESCRIBES HERSELF AS A VIRGO, A JEWISH AMERICAN PRINCESS AND SOMEONE JUST TRYING REALLY, REALLY HARD.