muse

Creative Direction Scott Studenberg and Shea Couleè

Production Ashley Gutierrez

Production Assistant Paris Nelson

Styling Kat Typaldos and Shea Couleè

Stylist Assistant Sam Cook

Scott/Grooming Florido Basallo

Grooming Make Up Sarah Tanno

Drag Make Up Shea Couleè

Shea/Hair Edward Sizzahandz

Assistant Tony Soto

Photographer Assistant Aaron Morgenstein

Retoucher/Retouching Bast Digital

Shot At The Dream Factory LA Studio

We were thrilled when these two visionaries agreed to take part in this series conceptualized by Scott Studenberg. Of course, Shea Couleé, a fixture in Chicago nightlife and the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 5 (they first appeared in Season 9 of Drag Race), showed up and showed out.

Channeling Cindy Crawford and k.d. lang’s 1993 iconic Vanity Fair shoot for our second cover in this issue, the two creatives collaborated in their own series (seen here) to convey everything Baja East is about: empowerment, strength, and rebirth. In between sessions, Studenberg and Couleé sat down to discuss their creative process.

SHEA: Hey, my beauty queen.

SCOTT: Let’s start with the concept for the shoot.

SHEA: Yes! Give us the story how all of this came about. Where were you when this Aha! moment came to you?

SCOTT: So, I’m taking the first real vacation that I’ve had in years, flying back to LA…and I get a text from my PR that Out wants me to guest edit their issue, they want me on the cover, they want to see a men’s fashion story, I can do whatever I want.

So, I really considered what I can do and there’s too much going on in the world right now to take this opportunity — which I never thought in my life I would get — for granted.