If you’ve been on TikTok for the past few months, you’ll have noticed that content creator Jools Lebron is having more than a moment. After posting her ultra-viral “demure” video in August, the trans creator shot to stardom, and the world loved to see her winning. But for a minute there, all was not well in demure-ville. After a copyright troll’s trademark case almost came between Jools and her demure empire, things looked dark for a minute. But now with the way cleared, Jools is ready to continue making her dream a reality. With a new line of merch coming out, a GoFundMe collaboration and a possible Netflix deal, she’s just getting started. INTO spoke to Jools Lebron via email about what’s next for the iconic demure diva.

What’s the future of “demure” now that you’ve gotten the copyright? What can we expect to see from the demure extended universe? 

From T-shirts to shirts for your dolls, cell phone cases, and even cease and desist letters, there’s something for everyone with the future of demure.


How has the past month been for you after posting a mega-viral video?
My dreams are finally coming true which feels absolutely unreal, but my life is also relatively exactly the same, which feels about right.

Queer and trans folks everywhere are thrilled to see how you’re using your platform to fund transition with GoFundMe—do you have any advice for trans folks who lack the funds to get gender-confirming care?
So corny, but for most of my transition, I didn’t ever think I was gonna be able to like, medically transition, so I just found comfort in just like accepting and loving the things that I couldn’t change about myself. I’m excited I’m finally able to change them, but at the same time I’ve kind of grown to love them. I’ve grown accustomed to their face.


Where did the idea for “demure” come from and what advice do you have for up and coming creators looking to make their mark?
Demure was kind of like a funny character that I made in order to rebrand myself and break into the mainstream social media influencer market. I felt very boxed and unappreciated and pushed to the side when I was doing only make up content on TikTok, and I just feel like I finally found like my freedom.

What’s your favorite viral gay moment from the past year?
From BRAT to the Sweat tour to Demure, I think that the gays really took over the summer. Like we really were the summer this year. You can’t tell me otherwise.


What’s something that changed in the past month that you never expected?
I was actually able to get one of my siblings rent a house for an entire year, and I was able to fund that with all my brand deals from TikTok. More emotionally, I think I finally felt important for once, and that’s nice.

@joolieannie

Giving back to the divas because the divas gave to me! #gofundme @GoFundMe

♬ original sound – Jools Lebron


What’s your go-to comfort meal at the moment?
I’m deathly addicted to toasted ravioli that you put in the air fryer and you have to eat it with the parmesan ranch from Olive Garden. You can get it in grocery stores. It’s so goood.

What do you hope next year will bring for you?
That it brings even more opportunities. I think that this is a very special and rare kind of viral mega-moment and I’m so appreciative, and I feel so blessed to have experienced it, but I also am excited for like, kind of just to exist on social media and the way that I always wanted it to be my regular job.♦

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