Your favorite pornstar — first name that comes to mind. I tend to have favorite scenes rather than favorite performers… If pressed for a name, I’d say Skip Ransom. What turns you off? People making assumptions about what I like in bed. Ask what I’m into, don’t project. Something you tried once and would not repeat. Diving off a cliff into water. Terrifying. I did get one of my favorite photographs that same day—of someone else jumping—but I have no interest in repeating the experience myself. Some lessons don’t need reinforcement. Which work by a gay artist would you want at home, and why? Single Rower in Cattails by Mark Beard. His work feels early 20th century, but with subtle gay motifs that I love. As far as the figure goes, it’s everything I’m drawn to: muscular, potentially short, set in nature. The isolation interests me on a very personal level. It’s a beautiful piece—gorgeous palette, and a really lovely use of brushwork. What is your happiest memory? Sunset in Brooklyn Bridge Park, alone, listening to music. What are you actually looking for right now To finally do the things I’ve postponed for over a decade. That means stabilizing my career, moving beyond a month-to-month mentality, and building a comfortable, sustainable life. Less scramble. More intention. What is considered normal in Mexico that outsiders consistently misunderstand? Direct, call-out marketing. People announcing themselves, actively competing for attention. It’s not very common in the U.S., but it’s everywhere here. In many ways, it’s one of the earliest forms of marketing: people shouting or announcing what they offer—often simply to say what the competitor next door doesn’t. What do you now know about Mexico that guidebooks never bothered to mention? You can reach incredible places very close to Mexico City just by taking public transport. We (my Mexican boyfriend Jona and I) do weekly adventure days every Friday and see some of the most amazing things I’ve ever encountered for around 300 pesos. These places are often overlooked because they’re not the most popular destinations and aren’t always the easiest to reach. Which is exactly why they’re worth it. What quietly excellent thing have most visitors missed entirely? There are so many, but I’d choose one that’s actually right here in Mexico City: Museo Anahuacalli. The heart of what would’ve been Diego Rivera’s City of the Arts, near places everyone visits, yet it rarely makes the list. The campus is beautiful, the museum itself exceptional—and almost no one I recommend it to has been. Even friends who’ve visited the city several times haven’t seen it. What daily ritual anchors you when you’re far from home? Living rather than visiting. Staying in, going to the gym, walking my neighborhood. Ordinary routines are what make a place feel like home. That’s the trick. Where is home for you now—and where do you go when you don’t want to be seen, but don’t want to be alone? Home is in the south of the city, in San José Insurgentes. When I want quiet company without attention, I go to Los Pinos. I can get there easily on the orange Metro line. There’s a small koi pond—people pass through, but no one lingers. It’s calm without being isolating. When have you behaved badly abroad? (Laughs) Not so long ago, I explored more of a botanical garden than I should have—with my boyfriend. We got caught exploring… I’m constantly learning the value of discretion when curiosity gets the better of you. What pleasure do you defend without apology? Enjoying time in the great outdoors with someone I love. I do find myself apologizing for many things, but this is one I try to hold onto. What fantasy of yours should stay a fantasy? Well… that's gonna stay both a fantasy and in the deeper reaches of my imagination where it belongs. What boundary did you learn to enforce in Mexico—and why? Through meeting and talking with a lot of people, I’ve learned to keep my heart focused on my art. I don’t indulge people who want to take things to another level in exchange for buying it. It’s a boundary I’ve had to enforce more than once—and it matters. What do you want more of in bed—and what are you doing about it? A consistent eight hours of sleep. Wink-wink. Trying alarms at night now too! What is the most adult decision you’ve ever made? Making coffee at home in the morning instead of going out and spending ten dollars at a café every day. What has Mexico given you that you didn’t know to ask for? An adventurous rhythm to life. I’ve learned to treat free time as essential rather than optional. Weekly excursions with my boyfriend have become a reset that improves everything else. Those Friday adventure days are now a ritual—one that grounds the rest of the week. What has it taken from you that you no longer needed? The belief that rest or time off has to be justified by productivity. What should newcomers learn quickly—or suffer for ignoring it? You’re more likely to get food poisoning from restaurants or delivery apps than from street food. If you had to explain Mexico to someone you love, what would you say? That Mexico—and Mexico City in particular—is one of the new art capitals of the world. If this chapter of your life were a footnote, what would it read? The Big Reset. Pretty much every aspect of my life—career, relationship, where I live, my art—is starting over. It feels like a full refresh, and I’m genuinely enjoying this chapter. ■