Some people create because they want attention. Others create because they have no choice.
For Paulina Autumn, poetry, fashion, beauty, and lesbianism are not separate identities — they are all part of the same emotional language. Based in Syracuse, New York, Paulina’s work explores desire, identity, vulnerability, and the things people are often taught to silence.
Their writing feels intimate and cinematic at the same time, pulling readers into worlds that feel both deeply personal and universally understood.
“I truly love print media and magazines, I think it’s unfortunate that we’ve moved away from collections of articles and art and information. The idea of having a queer centered magazine is very exciting to me. A place where people can share life experience, stories, and creative expression. I love to learn from other peoples experience and I would love to be apart of that. Magazines and media in this form helps make culture and curate community, being apart of this feels so special.”
At the center of Paulina’s work is storytelling that refuses to flatten queer experiences into something digestible or performative. Instead, their art embraces complexity, longing, softness, sensuality, and contradiction all at once.
One of the pieces they shared, Forbidden Taste, explores hidden desire and reclaiming what was once considered off-limits.
“There’s a taste that’s never touched my tongue,
A flavor that has not ever passed my lips,
Yet I have desired so inherently–”
The poem unfolds like a confession, weaving together imagery of gardens, roses, worship, fantasy, and yearning.
“An acolyte bowing before the altar,
I kneel nightly while my body writhes”
Another poem, Sacrament, challenges the idea that identity and divinity must exist separately.
“My body is no temple,
No holy cup or sacred sky
My body is my own, a living
Testament to the true divine.”
For Paulina, taking themselves seriously was never about suddenly becoming fearless. It was about recognizing that uncertainty exists alongside confidence.
“I think because I can often come across as very confident and charming people assume I’m not afraid or not awkward. I never know what I’m doing I’m actually just pretending, but I’ve gotten very good at acting like I belong.”
That honesty carries into the kind of media they hope to see more of moving forward.
“Definitely women and queer centered stories. Art from people who aren’t always given a chance in the mainstream and the life experience of many different people. Something authentic and different from everything we see so often.”
Beyond content, aesthetics, or platforms, Paulina hopes their work leaves behind something lasting.
“I want to be known for my words whether that be poetry and writing, or my comedy. I want to be known as a source of love and encouragement, making the world a more positive place.”
Follow Paulina Autumn here:
TikTok: @ditavontitz96
Instagram: @paulinaautumn
