Social and Behavioral Sciences
Kyra Streck
Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Iowa State University
“Trans YouTube content creators: Informal economies for the production, distribution, and consumption of trans-supportive DIY undergarments”
Kyra Streck completed her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 2020 in fashion design and merchandising. She achieved her Master of Science from Iowa State University in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design in 2022. Her research examines the intersections of fashion, culture, and identity, namely how LGBTQIA+ individuals interact with their identities via clothing. In her master’s thesis, Kyra analyzed how some trans YouTubers produced their own gender-affirming undergarments and created video tutorials detailing their process while often addressing various aspects of the trans community and trans identity at large. Arguably, these trans YouTubers engaged in acts of personal and community liberation by sharing product ideas and product knowledge to assist themselves and others in obtaining accessible gender-affirming care. Kyra is currently a product development coordinator at Nike Swim, a division of Perry Ellis International, and at times serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Sociology Department at Post University. She hopes to continue her academic career by pursuing a doctorate.Social and Behavioral Sciences Honorable Mention: Iesha Alspaugh, Ball State University, “’Congratulations, You Played Yourself’: Queen and Slim, And The Consumption Of ‘Authentic’ Black Voice”