Dress by Megan O’Cain
Faux Fur Beret by N A R C I S S A
Necklace by Rock’N’Karma

ALOK is an internationally acclaimed author, poet, comedian, and public speaker whose work focuses on themes such as gend#DeGenderFashion, race, belonging, and the human condition. ALOK has written several books, including “Femme in Public” (2017), “Beyond the Gender Binary” (2020), and “Your Wound/My Garden” (2021). ALOK also created DeGenderFashion, an initiative to de-gender the fashion and beauty industries. You also may know ALOK from appearances on Hulu’s “Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne;” ABC’s “PRIDE: To Be Seen; A Soul of A Nation,” Netflix’s “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness,” as well as HBO’s “Random Acts of Flyness” and “The Trans List.” In addition to acting and writing, ALOK is a stand-up comedian, has toured in more than 40 countries, and did a comedy and poetry tour in South America this July. ALOK can also be seen in Emmie Lichtenberg’s short film “Complicated Order” with Midori Francis, which premieres July 21 at the Outfest LA Film Festival.

Graphic Tee by HYSTERIC GLAMOUR STORE
Necklaces by Rory Alvarez
Tartan Yellow Skirt by TRIPP NYC
Silver Skirt by Zara
Earrings by Betsy Johnson
Shoes by SYRO

Tell us about your background and how you career started.
Somehow, by the stretch of my imagination, I managed to survive in a world that wasn’t designed for me. I learned how to be creative, to observe the coordinates of reality that were drawn around me as merely suggestive, not everlasting. I found delight in the process of giving birth to my own truth, my own beauty, my own life. And I learned that this is the only life I wanted to live: a creative one. So, I pursued it stubbornly. I found other people society calls “artists” (I prefer the title – “humans”) both dead and alive and I became their student. I’m still figuring it out, I’m still becoming. And I always will be. And that’s the thrill of it, I think.

What is your favorite part about performing stand-up comedy and poetry on stage?
Performance is a ritual that continually returns me back to myself. It’s my homeland – the stage. Like when my feet are on it I feel rooted to the earth. Both of these art forms are embodied vulnerability: how do you keep people’s attention while reading a poem? What do you do if no one laughs? You have to pay close attention to every inch in the room. So even if I’m doing the same show, each iteration is unique. This room of people will never be assembled again in the future of the universe, How incredibly special is that?

Gown and Pants by Megan O’Cain
Cropped Blazer by Rory Alvarez

What inspired you to write your poetry and books?
I needed somewhere to put the pain. All the things I wanted to talk about – grief, loneliness, fear, the meaning of life – were things I wasn’t allowed to talk about at the lunch table at school. So, I wrote poems – letters to the world -- asking, “Does anyone else feel the same way?” It turns out that they did. That keeps me going today: that profound recognition that there are other people in the world who experience our deepest ambivalences and hesitations. That internally – beneath our masks – we feel similar. Poetry is the practice of connection.

You are the author of three books. How was the process of writing each one?
I’m amazed by every author. Writing a book is such a remarkable feat in a world where there are so many delicious distractions. It’s difficult to sit down and do it. It requires time, focus, discipline, self-esteem. Looking back at each of mine I’m still like, “How did I do that?” For me: writing is not like riding a bicycle. It feels like each time I have to re-learn how to do it. And then once it’s over I’m like, “Will I ever be able to do it that again?” I hope so. ( I’m trying to get to a place where that can become “I know so”).

Faux Fur Hat by Kat and Clarese
Gown by Haleia
Jacket by Monday Blues
Shoes by SYRO

What do you enjoy most about being on your comedy and poetry tour?
Touring is my favorite activity. I say “yes” to everything. I want to go out after the show, “why not!” I want to add three more countries. I don’t just do shows on tours, I’m meeting with artists and activists, I’m collaborating with designers and makeup artists, I’m immersed. Every hour is scheduled. It’s so hard to communicate the impact all of these experiences have on me. They fundamentally shift who I am. I am infinitely grateful for the ability to meet people from all over the world. It creates my sweetest memories. It creates me.

What do you hope audiences take away from your comedy and poetry shows?
Emotion. Our society is dissociated. People are often numb to their ability to feel. The best form of applause is people laughing, people crying. To be moved is to be human.

You acted in the short film, “Complicated Order,” which is premiering at this year’s Outfest LA Festival. Tell us about the film.
It’s a cute queer, short film about the reckless pursuit of love. I resonated with the script because it reminded me about my friends and myself.

**Left:**
Dress by Megan O’Cain
Faux Fur Beret by N A R C I S S A
Necklace by Rock’N’Karma
Shoes by SYRO
**Right:**
Faux Fur Hat by Kat and Clarese
Gown by Haleia
Jacket by Monday Blues
Shoes by SYRO

Tell us about your character, ‘Alex,’ in “Complicated Order?”
Alex is my best friend, who knows me the best. He is the one who holds you to the standard of the highest version of yourself, even if I don’t want to hear it. We all need an Alex in our lives.

What was it like working with the cast of “Complicated Order?”
Everyone was so lovely. Being able to watch the magic of Heather Matarazzo, listening to her stories and her love of the craft of acting will stay with me forever. Midori Francis is incredibly talented and hard working. Every scene was a masterclass, I learned so much from her.

What motivated you to focus on themes such as gender and belonging throughout your work?
I believe that the imagination gender non-conforming people are putting out into the world is not just more expansive definitions of gender, but of belonging. Our society has taught us that to belong we have to betray ourselves, but I believe we get to become ourselves. And that’s threatening for people, because they’ve been socialized to feel like they will be punished for expressing themselves.

Dress and Airbrushed Tights by Megan O’Cain
Shoes by SYRO
Choker by Sultry Affair

Tell us about the initiative you started, #DeGenderFashion.
It’s rather embarrassing that our society keeps on labeling clothes as “men’s clothes” or “women’s clothes.” Those don’t exist. Everyone, regardless of their gender, gets to wear exactly what they want. The same arguments that are being used now to demonize people assumed to be men for wearing dresses were levied against women wearing pants just a century prior. Eventually most of society recognized that pants were gender neutral. #DeGenderFashion is a continuation of this effort, all clothes are gender neutral. It’s up for individuals to decide what clothes mean to them, not brands.

What advice would you give to your past self?
You are on the right path. It might not feel like it now but have faith in the journey.

Who are your biggest inspirations and motivators?
Artists. How lucky are we to be alive at the same time as so many magnificent artists. I recently wrapped up my South American tour and spent time with the brilliant trans musicians Liniker and Linn da Quebrada in Brazil, who rocked my world.

What do you enjoy most about acting?
Ironically, character work has helped me better understand myself. Acting helped me feel more present in my body and helped me learn how to listen to my body. I’m so excited to continue to grow my practice.

What is next for you? Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
I see myself laughing. I hope I continue to make decisions that maximize my ability to experience that kind of joy.

Social Media.
Instagram: @alokvmenon

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Producer: Zapman Creative Haus
Photographer: Felipe Zapata-Valencia
Cinematographer: Peter Chapman
Talent: ALOK
Fashion Stylist & Lead MUA: Rory Alvarez
Hair Stylist: Francheska Nieves
MUA Assistant: Yunqi Ying
Nail Artist: Stephanie Hernandez
Stylist Assistant: David Goldberg
Video Music: Last Time by Lovpune
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Mariana Apostolatos, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine