by The Cowl Editor on September 30, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
Nikki Idelson ’22
The famous toy company LEGO is making LGBTQ+ history: on Sept. 14, they announced that they will be collaborating with the cast of the hit American television show, Queer Eye.
For those who are unfamiliar with the series, according to Insider, it “stars Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown, and Bobby Berk, who have taken the world by storm, teaching viewers how to cuff their sleeves, apply green concealer, and learn to love and accept yourself for who you are.”
As The Guardian explains, the show’s five cast members offer guests a “whole-life makeover, from style, to interiors, grooming and cooking.” However, the cast goes far beyond this external makeover by helping to instill confidence and self-love in those who come on the show. The ultimate goal is that these guests leave feeling empowered to create and live their best lives. The cast members, who also host the show, help these individuals that appear on the series—who they refer to as “heroes”—learn to accept themselves.
According to LEGO, this dedication to helping everyone love themselves for who they are is one of the main reasons why the toy company wanted to partner with Queer Eye to create LEGO figurines of the five cast members as well as an official Queer Eye set. In a statement, LEGO applauded how each episode of Queer Eye features a different “hero” “who learns different skills and perspectives from each of the Fab Five which helps rebuild their confidence and has a positive, lasting impact on their lives.” The toy company explained how these “heroes,” as well as the cast members, have become an inspiration for fans who are able to see that they can be their own heroes and find confidence and self-love within themselves.
Per LEGO’s website, the LEGO Queer Eye set will be “launched October 1st, with 974 pieces, and include mini-figure versions of Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, and the show’s loveable dog, Bruley.”
Notably, the set’s design is true to life. According to NBC News, the set will be a model of “their original Atlanta loft,” recreating the location “from Season 1 and 2 of the show.” The set “is packed with authentic details—including the iconic ‘STYLE, TASTE, CLASS’ sign—and accessories to highlight each of the Fab Five’s talents.”
In the past year, LEGO has become increasingly progressive by making room for representation of the LGBTQ+ community in its diverse array of product offerings. According to NBC News, LEGO “kicked off Pride Month with a rainbow set, called “Everyone Is Awesome,” which is the first time in the company’s 72-year history that it released an official LGBTQ Pride set.” This burst in LGBTQ+ representation in LEGO has made waves due to the fact that both children and adults will now be able to see more inclusion in toys. For those who are fans of the show, LEGO, or both, make sure to check out LEGO.com or a local retailer on Oct. 1 to snag this new set!