In the warm glow of her desk lamp, sophomore Kayden Alvarez lines up bottles of nail polish in rows of pink, white and gold — colors that make her feel most like herself. As a transgender girl, Alvarez’s nail art is her way of exploring femininity, confidence and the beauty she once felt afraid to show.
Alvarez has always felt more feminine, but it took time for her to embrace that as she lost friends while coming out. At first, she felt hurt: she believed those relationships were genuine, but she eventually moved past their judgement. The support from her family helped her throughout this process, as her Catholic parents embraced her transition.
“My parents are very open-minded, and they let me express myself truly as my genuine self,” Alvarez said. “Without their support, I would have never experienced life now, and I feel like my life now is way better than if I had just stayed a boy.”
Though she continued finding comfort in her identity, she received negative reactions. When Alvarez transferred to Lynbrook, she saw a chance to start fresh.
“I have occasionally had some issues with people, I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Alvarez said. “I used to let that negativity consume me, until I switched schools. I’ve learned to ignore those people and just focus on myself. It’s really none of their business and doesn’t affect them in any way.”
Being in a new environment helped her realize that others’ opinions had no real impact on her life.
“I believe hate comes from people who just aren’t happy with themselves,” Alvarez said. “It’s okay not to support who I am, but just because that person has different beliefs doesn’t mean they need to try and bring others down.”
Nail art design entered her life in the summer of 2024. Her early attempts were a mix of trial and error, improving through diligent practice and inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok. By October 2024, she felt confident in her skills, turning her hobby into an online business: Clawed by Kay.
“Everybody deserves to have some pretty nails and not pay a fortune,” Alvarez said.
Nail art adds that touch of glam that helps her feel more confident. The colors and designs she uses are a way to present the version of herself she wants to be.
Since she lacked prior experience running a business, her first interactions with clients were awkward. However, she gradually grew more comfortable talking to people over time after gaining more customers.
“She’s determined to make sure every set is perfect and she genuinely cares about what her clients want,” sophomore and customer Monica Pistritto said. “You can tell she’s confident in her work now, and it’s really inspiring to see how far she’s come.”
Balancing school and her small business is not always easy. Alvarez generally prioritizes her schoolwork, though she focuses on her business when sales get busy and she has up to five or six orders at a time.
“It can get a little crazy sometimes, but it all works out in the end,” Alvarez said.
Despite the challenges, she is rewarded by a sense of accomplishment and self-earned money, which goes into new nail equipment. Looking ahead, Alvarez hopes to continue improving her art, experimenting with new designs and growing her business. She hopes her story can inspire other LGBTQ+ teens to be their authentic selves freely.
“Just be yourself,” Alvarez said. “If people are gonna hate, they’re gonna hate. You only live once, so just express yourself.”
