"LAY ME DOWN”: LAYERED COVER STORY

STARRING BIMINI - WORDS CHARLIE CRAGGS - PHOTOGRAPHY PARTI BLU - STYLIST HARPER CELESTE - PRODUCTION MAISIE JANE DANIELS - MAKEUP BYRON LONDON - HAIR ALEXI KRUIZ - YO - NAILS IONA DELVES-MCGUIRE AT SWAMP FAIRY NAILS - PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT CRISTINA FAZZI - STYLIST ASSISTANT CEDAR MULLINS - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT RACHEL EDWARDS  - SET ASSISTANT WYATT LEMAY - LOCATION MASH CREATIVE STUDIO - SPECIAL THANKS TOAD BAKERY

LAYERED was created in memory of Leia, to hold space for trans and non‑binary creativity. Our print cover story, Lay Me Down, brings that intention to life through an editorial led by trans and non‑binary creatives, capturing all the depth, humour, grit, and tenderness that come with that lived experience.

At the heart of this issue is a conversation between two cultural forces who embody the intersection of art and activism: Bimini and Charlie Craggs. Charlie’s profile of Bimini reads like a love letter to political drag that refuses to be softened for brand safety or filtered into palatable soundbites. It explores Bimini as a “queen of drag” - someone who has transcended the stage by merging performance with purpose, glamour with grit, and humour with hard truths.

In their conversation, they revisit East London’s DIY drag roots, the working-class realities that shaped their politics, and the tension between speaking up and staying “brand-friendly.” It’s raw, sharp, and funny in the way only two people who’ve lived it can be. Together, they strip away the layers of identity, vulnerability, resilience, and reinvention—themes that inspired this first issue of LAYERED.

Lay Me Down is a snapshot of where queer culture, political drag, and community-led creativity are today - and where they’re pushing us to go next.

We’re proud to share the full editorial here on F Word Online, giving this story a permanent digital home now that the print issue is nearly gone. To hold one of the last remaining copies in your hands, you can purchase it HERE.