KAT BARRELL TALKS TO ROXY BOURDILLON ABOUT QUEER REPRESENTATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE RETURN OF WYNONNA

A warrior queen is chatting to a teenage girl wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan, “Representation matters”. There’s a stall selling miniature models of scenes from queer TV shows, painstakingly recreated in Lego. And, oh look, Natasha Negovan lis and Elise Bauman, from hit lesbian vampire dramedy Carmilla, are posing for selfies at the DIVA stand.

I’m at ClexaCon London and everywhere I turn, queer folk are fizzing with excitement. I overhear one person proudly announce they just got a new tattoo on impulse, in honour of their favourite web series. Close by, someone else is crying happy, heart felt tears, overcome by the emotional enormity of being in this uniquely queer space and seeing their beloved onscreen idols IRL. And then, in the midst of all the mayhem, I spot Wynonna Earp star Kat Barrell.

Photography Yves Bright

Styling Alex Clough

Hair and make-up Nikki Nouvelle

Kat wears Jacket by Vintage Neiman Marcus

Belt worn as a top by Trend Haus Showroom

Trousers by NYLaurent Vintage

Shoes by Trend Haus Showroom

Nicole makes queer women feel seen. That’s the most beautiful thing a character can do”

Incredibly poised and implausibly pretty, she’s sat behind a table, meeting-and-greeting like a pro.

One by one, fans shyly approach her, clutching photos for her to sign. They nervously tell her how her performance as Nicole makes them feel less alone. Some confess it was her who gave them the courage to finally come out to their families. Others admit their parents have no idea where they are today and would be horrified if they knew. Kat rewards each and every one of them with a radiant smile. She looks directly into their eyes – and possibly their soul – listening attentively to account after account of how the gay sheriff she plays on a cult supernatural TV show has transformed so many queer women’s lives.