Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, Author at Autostraddle

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Managing Editor

Articles written: 433

autostraddle member profile

About Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya is the managing editor of Autostraddle and a lesbian writer of essays, short stories, and pop culture criticism living in Miami. She is the assistant managing editor of TriQuarterly, and her short stories appear or are forthcoming in McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Joyland, Catapult, The Offing, and more. Some of her pop culture writing can be found at The A.V. Club, Vulture, The Cut, and others. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram and learn more about her work on her website.

All Posts on Autostraddle

How to DIY an “A League of Their Own” Halloween Costume

A smoky background with the text HORROR IS SO GAY in the style of a retro horror movie poster.

Culture

TV Reviews

Very Queer New Series “Heartbreak High” Is an Excellent Entry Into the Friendship Breakup Canon

Jo DeLuca from A League of Their Own rocking classic butch style.

Style Thief: How To Harness the Fly Butch Style of League of Their Own’s Jo

Maya Hawke and Camila Mendes in Do Revenge lay in a bed together, snuggling.

Movie Reviews

Maya Hawke’s Gay Chaos Makes “Do Revenge” a Twisted Romp

TV Reviews

Bravo’s “Real Girlfriends in Paris” Says Bonjour to Bisexuality

Style Thief: How To Catch Hearts by Dressing Like League of Their Own’s Carson

Kayla Watts played by DeWanda Wise in Jurassic World Dominion wears a cropped gray tanktop while standing in an elevator.

Movie Reviews

8 Other Ways Pilot Kayla Watts of Jurassic World: Dominion Could Have Come Out As Bisexual

Photo 1: Max Chapman in A League of Their Own wears a navy short sleeved buttondown with a blue ball cap with red brim and jeans. Photo 2: Max wears a white tank and unbuttoned long sleeve shirt and newsie cap. Photo 3: Max wears a burgundy short sleeved buttondown with a blue ball cap with red brim and a baseball mitt. Photo 4: Max wears a yellow silk blouse with a black vest and smiles.

Style Thief: How To Dress Like League of Their Own’s Heartthrob Pitcher Max

Two lovebirds hugging on a tree branch, and one looking at them in a distance. The birds are cute and small and green with yellow faces.

Friendship

You Need Help: How Do I Ask My Couple Friends To Hang Out With Me One-on-One?

Photo 1: Greta from A League Of Their Own in a cream cropped polo, red and cream bomber varsity jacket, and high waisted red track pants with a white belt. Photo2: Greta in a red floral dress. Photo 3: Greta in a cream floral dress. Photo 4: Greta in a red wool dress with matching jacket.

Style Thief: How To Dress Like League Of Their Own’s Resident Femme Jock Greta

Tig Notaro takes mirror selfies in a trailer while wearing a three-piece suit.

TV News & Trailers

In Continued Efforts To Become Gayer and Gayer, “The Morning Show” Casts Tig Notaro

The antler queer around the fire in Yellowjackets season 1

TV News & Trailers

“Yellowjackets” Season 2 Is Officially in Production

LGBT Book Reviews

Rather Than a Coming Out Story, “Body Grammar” Is About Queer Characters Coming Into Themselves

Jasmin Savoy Brown (Yellowjackets), Javicia Leslie (Batwoman), Bilal Baig (Sort Of), Gentleman Jack, The L Word, Zendaya (Euphoria)

TV Feature

Vote Now in the 2022 Autostraddle TV Awards!

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

LGBT Book Reviews

“All This Could Be Different” Review: A Novel So Good I Dreaded Finishing It

TV News & Trailers

“Yellowjackets” Casts Adult Lottie, Answering the Very Important Question: Who the F*ck Is Lottie Matthews?

Bee and Sophie in Bodies Bodies Bodies embrace outside, and Bee is holding wrapped zucchini bread.

Movie Reviews

Rich Friends Turn on Each Other in Queer Horror-Meets-Comedy-of-Errors “Bodies Bodies Bodies”

a white napkin with red print that reads AUTOSTRADDLE Diner Week

A+

Editor’s Notes: On Diner Week

Photo 1: Liv Hewson wears a maroon blouse on a red carpet. Photo 2: Lauren Ambrose wears a green shirt on a red carpet.

TV News & Trailers

“Yellowjackets” Casts Lauren Ambrose as Adult Van, Promotes Liv Hewson to Series Regular

A League of their Own review: Chante Adams, playing Max, and Abbi Jacobson, playing Carson, share a beer by the baseball diamond under nightfall.

TV Reviews

“A League of Their Own” Reboot Turns Queer Subtext of the Original Into Bold F*cking Text

Jodi Balfour wears a pink dress and holds hands with Abbi Jacobson, who she is engaged to and who is wearing a red dress at the League of Their Own premiere red carpet.

Celebrities (Vapid Fluff)

Abbi Jacobson Is Engaged! Happy “A League of Their Own” Week to All Who Celebrate

An old television screen shows an image of eggs and bacon. Behind it are planets and rock formations. There is a meatball with red onion for its rings, looking like Saturn. A hand holds a remote.

First Person

Welcome to Diner Week — What Are You Having?

Patricia Wants To Cuddle by Samantha Allen features a furry arm with painted red nails holding a white woman with blonde hair, sun hat, and sunglasses who is taking a selfie.

LGBT Book Reviews

Did Somebody Say Lesbian Sasquatch Horror-Comedy “Bachelor” Parody?

Photo 1: A tuna nicoise on a blue and white plate. The salad features green beans, pickled asparagus, medium boiled eggs, pickled red onions, baby potatoes with dill, sliced cucumber, sliced multicolor cherry tomatoes, green beans, romaine lettuce, and a pile of tuna. There is a candle lit on the table and a coupe glass of wine. Photo 2: A tuna nicoise on a blue and white plate. The salad features green beans, pickled asparagus, medium boiled eggs, pickled red onions, baby potatoes with dill, sliced cucumber, sliced multicolor cherry tomatoes, green beans, romaine lettuce, and a pile of tuna. There is a candle lit on the table and a coupe glass of wine. A blurry view of Miami is visible in the background. Photo 3: A tuna nicoise on a wood board and blue plate. On the blue plate, there are potatoes dressed in parsley, medium boiled eggs, and green beans. On the wood board, there's romaine lettuce, raw red onion, sliced cucumber, sliced multicolor cherry tomatoes, pickled asparagus, pickled okra, and a pile of tuna with jalapeño. There's also a small measuring cup full of dressing.

Food and Drink

The Hottest Salad This Summer Is a Niçoise

Taylor Armstrong and Brandi Glanville make out on Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club

TV Reviews

“Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club” Is Real Housewives At Its Most Homoerotic

Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress features a painting of a woman with her arm covering her face.

LGBT Book Reviews

In the Sexy and Smart New Novel “Sirens & Muses,” the Art World Is Hell

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield features an ocean against a pink background.

LGBT Book Reviews

This Gay Ocean Horror Book Is So Good I Want To Scream

Vera Kelly: Lost and Found by Rosalie Knecht features a cartoon woman with black curly hair pulled back, red lips, and red framed glasses. She's holding a steering wheel.

LGBT Book Reviews

Gay History, Mystery, and Romance Abound in Latest Thrilling Vera Kelly Adventure

A tweet from @KaylaKumari that reads: watching all these mainstream publications do their 2-3 token pride pieces that are mostly just seo grabs and meanwhile we're out here at @autostraddle with a dynamic pride package with TWENTY FIVE pieces planned even tho we're queer all fucking year and not corporate-backed. The tweet is against a floral backdrop.

Editor’s Notes: On Pride 2022

TV Feature

What Are Lesbian Eyebrows? A Housewives Investigation

A blue mocktail, a red mocktail, and a green mocktail against a wavy striped background.

20 Mocktails for Pride Parties in Every Color of the Rainbow

Beanie Feldstein and Bonnie Chance Roberts, who are now engaged, pose at the World Premiere of the new film "Cats"

Celebrities (Vapid Fluff)

Happy Pride to Beanie Feldstein, Who Just Got Engaged!

The cover of How To Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann features a large image of a wolf and a small image of Little Red Riding Hood

LGBT Book Reviews

In “How To Be Eaten,” Fairytales and Reality TV Are Twisted Sisters

The cover of "Exalted" by Anna Dorn features an illustration of hands holding a moon and a sun and illustrated stars against a purple background. The image is repeated three times.

LGBT Book Reviews

“Exalted” Review: A Delusional Astrologer and a Bad Gay Mom’s Stars Collide, Chaos Ensues

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, a brown lesbian with brown hair and eyes, throughout her twenties

First Person

The Gayest Things I Did in My Twenties

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, when she was 22-years-old. Her hair is dark and down, and she's wearing a black backpack and a teal sleeveless buttondown. There's pink glitter on the lower left and upper right corners of the image.

Playlists

Playlist: I’m Turning 30 Tomorrow — Here Are 20 Songs From My Twenties

Photo 1: Hayley Kiyoko wears a sparkly sequin neon orange mini dress with a plunge neckline and lime green heels. She is holding a metallic clutch and has a blonde long ponytail. Photo 2: Kayley Kiyoko has her hands in the air while standing at a mic onstage. She is wearing an oversized alien graphic tee and graphic printed retro pants and sneakers. Photo 3: Hayley Kiyoko is singing at a mic onstage and wearing a silver sparkly fringe cowboy jacket, a pink top, pink short shorts, and pink calf-high boots. Photo 4: Hayley Kiyoko is wearing a plaid oversized blazer over a plunge neckline bodysuit and matching plaid wide leg trousers. She is wearing pointy heels.

Queer Fashion

Style Thief: How To Rock the Queer Maximalism of Hayley Kiyoko

A piece of multigrain bread has spreadable white soft cheese on top of it. The image is repeated six times against a blue background.

Food Lists

It’s Time To Get Into Soft Cheeses (That Aren’t Brie)

Ava and a bunch of queer women dance on a lesbian cruise in Hacks 204, "The Captain's Wife"

TV Show Recaps

I Am Simply Screaming at This Lesbian Cruise Episode of “Hacks”

A large blue bowl of arugula and lemon dill tinned octopus sits on a table outside on a balcony with the Miami skyline in the background. The image is repeated three times.

Food and Drink

Tinned Octopus Makes Accidental Late-Night Dinners Sexy

Photo 1: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor stand while looking in each other's eyes. Sarah is wearing a long plaid wool coat, and Holland is wearing a black suit with a black and white spotted blouse. Photo 2: Sarah Paulson stands with Holland Taylor, looking at her and smiling. Sarah wears black elbow-length gloves and a yellow evening dress. Holland wears a black suit. Photo 3: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor stand with their arms around each other. Sarah is giving Holland googly eyes. Sarah wears a black dress with a v-neckline, and Holland wears a taupe suit.

Celebrities (Vapid Fluff)

Just a Random Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson Appreciation Post

Pamela Voorhees wears her iconic blue sweater and stares with her mouth open in Friday the 13th

Movie Features

The 13 Gayest Things About the Supposedly Straight Horror Movie “Friday the 13th”

Ava and Deborah sit side-by-side in a car with Deborah in the driver's seat in the Hacks season two premiere.

TV Show Recaps

The Toxic Work Wives of “Hacks” Are Back for a Second Season of Chaos

Ava and Deborah are making out in a bed in Ava's dream in season one of Hacks

TV Reviews

The First Season of “Hacks” Was a Masterclass in Unlikable Characters — I’m READY for Season 2!

Photo 1: Dangly colorful earrings shaped like cuttlefish. Photo 2: A gunmetal colored ear cuff shaped like tentacles. Photo 3: A pearl necklace with a fish pendant. Photo 4: A silver open ring with a mermaid tail and a large gemstone. Photo 5: Five simple friendship bracelets with seashells on them. Photo 6: An enamel pin shaped like a mouth with blue lipstick with tentacles emerging from the teeth. Photo 7: A chunky beaded off-white bracelet. Photo 8: Assorted stud earrings shaped like marine life, including a lobster, a crab, a starfish, a jellyfish, and a fish.

Embrace Your Inner Beach Mommi This Summer With Ocean-Themed Jewelry

Photo 1: A woman looks confused. Photo 2: A woman sings into a karaoke mic. Photo 3: A couple holds a rainbow flag. Photo 4: A woman looks at her phone. Photo 5: A woman holds a martini. Photo 6: A woman looks at her phone, confused. Photo 7: A woman wags her finger. Photo 8: A group of friends are out to brunch.

Quizzes

Quiz: Decorate a House and I’ll Tell You Your Toxic Trait

Fishwife & Fly By Jing's smoked salmon with sichuan chili crisp

Food and Drink

I Tried Instagram’s Latest Favorite Tinned Fish Product and It’s a Perfect Weekend Treat

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Gina On Sarah Thankam Mathews Chatted With Us About Collectivism, Spreadsheets, Queer Sex Scenes and More! "so much fun! and though i’m sad we have to wait until december, i’m SO EXCITED we’ll get to talk…"

cleo On Jinkies! Velma’s Actually Gay in “Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!” "Yay! Gay Velma!"

Northern-Barbarian On Elm Street Was a Nightmare Before Freddy Made It One "How appropriate for Yom Kippur!"

herekitty On Elm Street Was a Nightmare Before Freddy Made It One "Wow wow wow. This was a fantastic essay. And I’m sorry for the trauma you went through (related and unrelated…"

Darcy On You Need Help: Is She in a Bad Place or Is She a Bad Person? "Shelli, this is a perfect detangling of these issues!!!!!"

Liz On You Need Help: Is She in a Bad Place or Is She a Bad Person? "This is all really great advice and this letter sounds like an example of,”how you get them is how you…"

Alexandra On Malinda Lo’s New Coming-of-Age Queer Novel “A Scatter of Light” Shines Brilliantly "I pre-ordered this one so long ago, I had forgotten, can’t wait!"

JP On Elm Street Was a Nightmare Before Freddy Made It One "“Because we’re human beings, it’s completely unrealistic to think there’s a guarantee we’ll always be safe from harm or from…"