Meet your champions
…And the ‘Trans Animal’ representing them.
Champion 1 - the founder Max, they/them (the trans lion)
Malaika is a non binary person of colour. They are a beloved local Sydney musician, circling many institutions with a voice to die for. They have their own following on the queer scene too, charming audiences as a drag king.
Malaika started socially transitioning in late 2019, prompted by the tragic and sudden death of their partner. After her loss, they decided that it was important to live their truth, without her to share it with.
This is what Malaika says:
"I started wearing boxers and binding my chest, expressing my gender more outwardly and it has been wonderful. I wish (my partner) could see just how happy I am in my skin. She knew how much I struggled with dysphoria, especially around my chest. Which is why I want to get top surgery. This will alleviate my sense of dysphoria, and it's such an important step for me"
Malaika is an incredible member of the Sydney queer community, and a gifted musician. They had been saving a while for their dream of obtaining surgery, or their next album release - which costs about the same. They couldn’t do both. We reckon the world is better with Malaika's music in it, so we wanted to make sure they didn't need to make that sacrifice.
Malaika's design, the trans bull, has one bandaged-on horn, and uses a party hat for another. We reckon it captures Malaika's outgoing and creative personality well.
Malaika raised the full $16,500 with the No Milk bull design, and received top surgery.
The No Milk journey began with Max, a non binary, transmasculine person with Egyptian, Italian and Anglo heritage.
Max was on testosterone for about 15 months, before chest surgery became a pressing need. Chest surgery was a big step to alleviating dysphoria, and an important step for them to align their gender with their sense of self. Chest surgery gave them a whole expression of gender, balancing a diverse feel for gender expression, on a masculine body.
Max's design, the trans lion, was the very first No Milk design, and remains a special one. They raised the full $10,000 needed for top surgery from the lion t-shirt, however seeing the need around them, they decided to launch another No Milk t-shirt design and lend it to another fundraiser in need.
Max is also an experienced fundraiser, a performer, a story teller, and a public speaker for organisations who want to embrace diverse and brave working cultures.
See business training package here.
Champion 2 - Malaika,
they/them (the trans bull)
Champion 3 - Nyx,
they/them (the trans fox)
Nyx is wonderful advocate for the queer, trans and neurodivergent community, and these intersecting identities. They have both won and received nominations in recognition of their work. They are a neurodivergent, white, trans non binary person, leaning towards the masculine.
Here is what they want people to know:
“Queer autistic people exist, the intersectional crossover is bigger than most people are aware of.
I want my community at the intersectional crossover, who may feel that they can’t be out as autistic, to feel safe to exist in all elements of self. A trans person is 25.5 x more likely to be autistic than a cis person.
I hope that being my true self will open up conversations for others, and perhaps even help people be more aware of their own neurodivergency.
Nyx's design, the fox, uses a punk aesthetic. The fox has piercings, a sweet pink 'hawk, a leather jacket and a lightning bolt in his center. The fox carries his moustache on a stick. We reckon he stumbled his way out of a masquerade party at 5am to show up on your tee.
Nyx raised $30,000 from the No Milk Fox design, and was able to have top surgery.
Champion 4 - KL,
they/them (the Trans Shark)
KL (they/them) is No Milk’s latest Champion from Ballarat, Victoria. A grounded, inspiring legend, KL is a 55-year-old person living with a disability. Their journey sends a powerful message of visiblity that as trans people, we know very well who we are.
Here’s what KL said:
“The gender-fuckery I had always embraced within safe spaces and the figures I admired in the 80s music scene, were all part of a broader realisation: I am valid…
As someone living with a disability my entire life, I face financial limitations and as we know, revolutions aren’t cheap!
Visibility Matters to the young who don't see themselves growing older, to the older people who are still in the closet, I want my visibility to be a beacon of hope.
KL’s design, the Trans Shark*, is our most fierce character. It has made itself a dress from upcycled ocean plastics: six-pack beer rings and bottle caps turned into a bold, trans-flag coloured dress.
KL needs to raise $35,000 - the highest amount of any No Milk campaign.
The No Milk ‘Trans Shark Attack’ - get the whole pack!
Follow KL on insta - and learn from them.
*The Trans Shark is a tribute to a beautiful soul and loyal No Milker, Ryan (he/him). Nat, his partner, reached out to No Milk and told us Ryan had passed. Ryan’s favourite animal was a shark. RIP Ryan, this one’s for you <3