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Get Ready for the 2026 Mx. Joining Hearts Pageant

Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Photos by: Russ Youngblood

Preston Woods @pplanetphotography

Atlanta’s queer community is once again preparing for one of the most anticipated charity pageants on the city’s social calendar — the 2026 Mx. Joining Hearts Pageant, taking place Sunday March 8 at the iconic Atlanta Eagle. This signature event celebrates charisma, community leadership, and ﬁerce fundraising spirit as contestants vie for the chance to wear the coveted Joining Hearts crown, sash, and scepter while representing the organization throughout the 2026 season. More than just a competition of beauty and talent, the pageant showcases a diverse lineup of performers and advocates, each bringing pride, personality, and purpose to the stage. With categories ranging from fundraising to interview, presentation, talent, and onstage Q&A, it’s a night that blends pageantry tradition with a modern, community-driven twist.

A Legacy of Impact and Representation

Since its inception, the Mx. Joining Hearts Pageant has become much more than a single event — it’s a platform for leaders who uplift Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community while raising crucial funds for HIV/AIDS-related services. Past titleholders have used their year of service to advocate for health equity, host community gatherings, and amplify Joining Hearts’ mission at events large and small across the city. In 2025, for example, Miss Joining Hearts Coco Iman Star reigned with dedication, engaging in outreach that strengthened visibility for HIV prevention and support services throughout Atlanta.

Looking forward to 2026, contestants are already campaigning — both in terms of fundraising and in building community support — with the winner expected to be a visible ambassador for inclusion, positivity, and activism over the coming year. The title comes with a substantial prize package, including VIP tickets to Joining Hearts’ major events, a professional photoshoot courtesy of Just Toby©, and priority access to appearances across the organization’s bustling calendar.

What to Expect This Year

As beﬁtting warmup, Joining Hearts will be hosting a pre-Mx Joining Hearts beer bust at the Atlanta Eagle on Saturday March 7 to kick off the fundraising efforts. On Sunday night, doors open early to welcome guests for a dynamic program that blends competition with meaningful storytelling and entertainment. Finalists will have spent the weeks leading up to the show engaging in fundraising efforts, public appearances, and interviews — all part of the judged criteria that goes beyond glamour to honor those who show dedication to the cause. Following the crowning, the new Mx. Joining Hearts titleholder will immediately begin their role as an ambassador at subsequent celebrations, including signature events like the annual Joining Hearts Main Event Weekend pool party tea dances, and more.

More Than a Pageant

At the heart of the Mx. Joining Hearts Pageant lies the mission of Joining Hearts, an allvolunteer nonproﬁt that has been raising awareness and vital funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and housing assistance in

Atlanta since 1987. What began as a small fundraising effort has grown into one of the city’s most beloved charitable institutions, having donated millions of dollars to local beneﬁciaries that provide frontline services to those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Every dollar raised by the organization goes directly toward supporting community partners that offer medical care, housing stability programs, and prevention education — efforts that have a direct impact on people’s lives across Atlanta. The Joining Hearts calendar includes a range of events designed to bring people together in celebration while keeping the focus on service; from themed dances and seasonal parties to the highlight of the year — the Main Event pool party, a gathering and large-scale party that draw participants from near and far. To witness world-class DJs, and incredible venue, and the signature ﬁreworks spectacular at the culmination of the night.

WHAT: Joining Hearts Pre-Pageant Beer Bust

WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 3-6 pm

WHERE: Atlanta Eagle

WHAT: 2026 Mx. Joining Hearts Pageant

WHEN: Sunday, March 8, 5-9 pm

WHERE: Atlanta Eagle

A Queer Guide to Stepping Into Spring

Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt

Winter has a way of lingering – on our skin, in our routines, and sometimes deep in our mood. For LGBTQ+ folks especially, winter can feel heavy: fewer daylight hours, more time spent inside our own heads, and often a backdrop of political or social stress that doesn’t hibernate just because it’s cold outside. As spring approaches, it offers more than just warmer weather – it invites recalibration. This is the season to gently ask yourself: What am I ready to leave behind so I can move forward lighter?

Reassess Your Wardrobe and Your Identity Signals

Seasonal wardrobe changes are a perfect metaphor for personal growth. Spring is about layers, experimentation, and transition. As you rotate out heavy coats and sweaters, pay attention to how your clothes make you feel. Do they energize you? Do they feel authentic? Or are you holding onto pieces that belong to an older version of you?

This isn’t about trends – it’s about alignment. Try on outﬁts that feel playful, softer, or bolder than what you wore in winter. Color can shift mood dramatically, so even one brighter piece can make a difference. Donate what no longer ﬁts your body or your spirit.

Spring isn’t about reinvention for reinvention’s sake. It’s about reassessment. About choosing what still serves you and what no longer deserves your energy.

Start With a Mental Thaw

Before you open a single window or closet, take stock of your internal landscape. Winter tends to push us into survival mode – resting more, withdrawing socially, holding onto habits that help us cope but don’t always help us thrive. Ask yourself a few grounding questions: What drained me this winter? What felt necessary then but feels limiting now? What am I craving more of – connection, movement, creativity, rest?

Lighten Your Social Calendar Intentionally

Winter isolation often turns into spring overbooking. Suddenly every brunch, birthday, patio drink, and festival feels urgent. Instead of saying yes to everything, use spring as a chance to be more intentional about social energy.

Ask yourself: Which connections nourish me? Which ones feel obligatory? Spring is ideal for low-pressure socializing – walks, coffee dates, park hangs, daytime events that don’t require staying out until 2 a.m. If winter was about self-protection, spring can be about selective expansion.

Write it down. Naming what you’re carrying is often the ﬁrst step toward putting it down.

Spring Cleaning as Emotional Reset

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be an aggressive purge. Think of it as a ritual rather than a chore. Clearing out physical clutter has a proven effect on mood, but for queer people, it can also be symbolic – letting go of old versions of ourselves we no longer need to perform.

Reconnecting doesn’t have to mean exhausting yourself. It can mean choosing joy over obligation.

Shift Your Mood Toward the Light

To fully step into spring, invite sensory changes into your daily life. Swap heavy comfort foods for lighter meals that still feel satisfying. Change your playlists – more windows-down energy, less brooding ballads. Bring plants or ﬂowers into your space. Adjust your routines to match the longer days: morning walks, sunset check-ins with yourself, more time outside even if it’s brief.

These small shifts signal to your nervous system that it’s safe to emerge again.

Start small. One drawer. One shelf. One corner of your living space. As you sort, notice what holds emotional weight. That hoodie tied to a past relationship? The stack of unread books that make you feel guilty instead of inspired? Release what no longer reﬂects who you are becoming. Make space not just for new things, but for ease.

Pro tip: open the windows while you clean. Fresh air does wonders for stagnant winter energy.

Moving Forward, Unburdened

Letting go of winter doesn’t mean denying what it gave you. It likely offered rest, reﬂection, and resilience. But spring asks you to travel lighter. To choose what comes with you and what stays behind.

As queer people, reinvention is something we know well – but this season isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about returning to yourself, softer, clearer, and more open to what’s next.

The Modern Man’s Skincare Going into Spring

By Calisto Harvalias

Male grooming isn’t about chasing trends — it’s about alignment. When you approach grooming strategically, you don’t just look better — you project conﬁdence, control, and attention to detail. And that’s what modern masculinity looks like. As winter fades, your skin shifts from dryness to oil imbalance and increased sun exposure. Here are some pro-tips on how to care for your skin come spring.

1. SPF Is Non-Negotiable

Daily SPF 30 or higher is critical — even on cloudy days. UV exposure accelerates aging, hyperpigmentation, and collagen breakdown.

Look for:

� Lightweight, non-greasy formulas

� SPF moisturizers for simplicity

� Mineral sunscreens if you have sensitive skin

Spring sun is deceptively strong — make SPF part of your morning routine.

2. Lighten Up Your Moisturizer

Swap heavy winter creams for lighter gel or lotion-based moisturizers. Your skin produces more oil as temperatures rise.

Ingredients to look for:

�

4. Upgrade Your Grooming Game

Spring is about reﬁnement.

� Trim and shape facial hair weekly

�

Deﬁne neckline and cheek lines

� Consider eyebrow grooming (subtle clean-up, not over-plucking)

� Use a lightweight beard oil if you wear facial hair

Small adjustments create a noticeably sharper appearance.

Bonus: Subtle Enhancements That Elevate Your Look

� Whiten teeth for a brighter smile

� Use a tinted moisturizer for even skin tone

�

Hyaluronic acid (hydration without heaviness)

� Niacinamide (oil control + redness reduction)

� Vitamin C (brightening and antioxidant protection)

3. Exfoliate — But Don’t Overdo It

Winter buildup can dull your complexion. Introduce:

� Gentle chemical exfoliants (AHA or BHA) 1–2x per week

� Avoid harsh scrubs that cause microtears

This helps prevent clogged pores and ingrown hairs.

Hydrate aggressively (moisture impacts skin elasticity)

� Get 7–8 hours of sleep (your skin repairs overnight)

� Choose a haircut that complements your structure.

�

Be proactive about hair loss with ﬁnasteride and minoxidil.

� Wear SPF daily — especially in spring.

� Keep skincare simple, consistent, and seasonal.

Calisto Harvalias is a master cosmetologist & beauty advisor. Book him at merakibysteven.com.

e Lavender Lens

The Year of the Fire Horse: Illumination in an Age of Upheaval

By Tristan Lane

Some Lunar New Year cycles whisper renewal. Others arrive like a drumbeat. The Year of the Fire Horse does not tiptoe into history it gallops straight through it.

In Chinese astrology, the Horse represents momentum, independence, and the refusal to stand still. Fire adds illumination, exposure, and transformation. Together, Fire Horse years are known for one deﬁning trait: what has been hidden will no longer stay hidden.

The last Fire Horse year, sixty years ago, unfolded during a time of profound political and social rupture. Across the globe, long-suppressed tensions erupted into public view. Civil rights movements accelerated. Youth movements challenged entrenched power. Governments were questioned, institutions shaken, and truths long buried forced into the open. It was not a comfortable era but it was a clarifying one.

That historical echo feels unmistakably familiar today.

There is a caution embedded here. Fire Horse years can feel destabilizing. Illumination can be uncomfortable. Momentum can be exhausting. But history shows us that these moments also clarify who we are, what we stand for, and what we are no longer willing to tolerate.

We are living through a period of intense political upheaval: democratic norms strained, courts and constitutions tested, marginalized communities pushed back into defensive postures, and truth itself often treated as negotiable. Around the world and especially here at home people are questioning who holds power, how it is used, and who is being left behind.

Fire Horse energy speaks directly to this moment.

It suggests that the turbulence we are experiencing is not random chaos, but exposure. Systems built on silence, inequity, or performative values are struggling under the weight of their own contradictions. Political theater can no longer fully mask real consequences. Long-standing issues racial injustice, LGBTQ+ equality , economic inequality, erosion of trust in institutions are refusing to retreat quietly into the background.

This is why community matters more than ever.

Gathering in spaces of cultural afﬁrmation including celebrations hosted by groups like the Georgia Asian Paciﬁc American Bar Association is not escapism. It is grounding. Culture reminds us that cycles exist, that upheaval is not new, and that transformation has always followed exposure.

Fire Horse years demand courage not just the courage to speak, but the courage to listen. They ask leaders to lead honestly, institutions to act transparently, and individuals to choose integrity over convenience. They also remind us that ﬁre can warm and guide, not only burn, if we tend it with care.

As we move deeper into this year, perhaps the most ﬁtting Lunar New Year wish is not for calm, but for clarity.

May this be the year when truth outruns spin.

May long-standing injustices lose the protection of silence.

May political noise give way to moral reckoning.

May we move forward not blindly, but boldly.

From The Lavender Lens, wishing you resilience, illumination, and the strength to keep moving when the path becomes visible.

Happy Year of the Fire Horse.

For LGBTQ+ communities, this symbolism cuts especially close. Periods of political backlash often arrive precisely because visibility has increased. Fire Horse years remind us that progress does not move in a straight line but neither does it move backward without resistance. When truths come to light, they provoke reaction. And reaction is often a sign that something real has been revealed.

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MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE

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CHESHIRE

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WESTSIDE

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FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE

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DINING

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CASA ALMENARA 991 Piedmont Ave NE casa-almenara.com

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DEKALB

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RETAIL MIDTOWN

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FITNESS MIDTOWN

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500 Amsterdam Ave N

CHESHIRE

GRAVITY FITNESS

gravity tnessatl.com 2201 Faulkner Rd NE

SPAS/BATHS ADULT

FLEX SPA exspas.com 76 4th St NW

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Photos by: Russ Youngblood

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