Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, Author at Autostraddle

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Managing Editor

Articles written: 394

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

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

Hayley Kiyoko sings at a mic at the Teen Vogue Summit & Block Party

Celebrities (Vapid Fluff)

No Filter: Hayley Kiyoko’s New Single Drops Soon and I’m READY

Basil against a blue background

You Could Be Growing Basil Right Now

Natasha Lyonne as Nadia stands on a train platform wearing a white button down blouse with a black tie accent in Russian Doll season two.

TV Reviews

I Didn’t Think “Russian Doll” Season 2 Should Exist — I Was Wrong

Mason jars full of carrots, green beans, and peppers

Food Lists

It’s Time To Get Into Alt Pickles

Four chilly, ice-filled glasses of fruity mocktails

Food Lists

18 Fruity, Spritzy, Bright Mocktails for Spring

Photo 1: Cynthia Erivo is in a green workout set and is sweating while taking a post-run mirror selfie. Photo 2: Stephanie Beatriz holds an axe while wearing a Grateful Dead shirt and flannel. Photo 3: Javicia Leslie is wearing an orange bikini and standing in grass.

Movie News & Trailers

Kristen Stewart Will Star in Bodybuilding Romance “Love Lies Bleeding” — Who Should Play Her Swole Love Interest?

Eve and Villanelle kiss in the middle of the street in the Killing Eve finale.

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” Series Finale Recap: Goodbye, Lovers

Movie Reviews

“Moonshot” Review: I Wish I Had Just Rewatched Zenon

Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) sings karaoke into a microphone on Killing Eve

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” 407 Recap: What Now?

Hélène grabs Villanelle by the collar as Villanelle hovers over her with a knife

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” 406 Recap: The Villanelle/Eve/Hélène Love Triangle Comes to a Head

Kristen Arnett, a white queer person in sunglasses and a tanktop that says Dad, leans toward her girlfriend, Autostraddle Managing Editor Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, who is a South Asian and white lesbian with her brown curly hair in a ponytail and wearing glue glasses and white overalls over a white t-shirt. They are at Orlando Pride, and Kristen is holding a cup that says Orlando Pride Party on it.

A+

Things I’ve Never Asked My Girlfriend of Three Years About Age Gaps, Topping, and Our First Date

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” 405 Recap: Carolyn’s Flashback Episode Is a Mixed Bag

Photo 1: Villanelle and Eve's faces are very close together while they fight on a bus. Photo 2: Eve stabs Villanelle in bed. Photo 3: Eve and Villanelle stand back-to-back on a bridge. Photo 4: Villanelle holds a blade against Eve's chest in the kitchen.

Quizzes

Quiz: Which Villanelle/Eve Moment Are You?

A stack of books with stars bursting out of it

Literature

Rainbow Reading: It’s Queer Lit Awards Season!

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” 404 Recap: Eve and Hélène Share a Bath, Some Soup, and Spit

Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) from Glee wears a cheerleading uniform while rolling her eyes and pulling at a string of her pom-pom

TV Feature

The Essay I Wrote About Santana Lopez When I Was 19 and Closeted, Annotated by My Present Self

Beef jerky against a blue background

Food Lists

It’s Time To Get Into Jerky

Julia Lemigova is wearing a blue dress and holding her arms out in a shrug during a Real Housewives Of Miami testimonial

TV Reviews

Real Housewives of Miami Is a Strong Argument Against Having Straight Friends

Eve (Sandra Oh) sits next to Villanelle (Jodie Comer) on a couch. Eve looks serious. Villanelle leans toward her and is wearing a suit.

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” 403 Recap: Villanelle Wants To Smell Eve’s Skin

Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is serving Eve some shepherd's pie out of a tupperware

Food Lists

22 Savory Pies to Eat With Your Nemesis

Movie Reviews

The 30 Gayest Things About the Supposedly Straight Rom-Com “13 Going On 30”

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya at age 13 wears a green bejeweled dress for her 8th grade dance. A piece of notebook paper reads: Will you go to the dance with me? Yes, no, maybe.

Playlists

Playlist: Let’s Have a Middle School Dance Party

Movie Reviews

“Fresh” Has Cannibals, a Bisexual Character, and Humor but Could Use a Little More Meat

This is a photo of Kayla and Kristen. Kayla embraces Kristen and kisses them on the cheek while Kristen smiles. They both have long brown hair and wear glasses. They're also both wearing sweaters!

A+

Things I’ve Never Asked My Girlfriend of Three Years About Her Childhood and High School Years

Straddleverse

I Lived Two Lives; One in the World, One in Computers

Single woman in a swing on the beach at sunset reaches out to the empty swing beside her, seems sad

Dating

You Need Help: I Hate Not Having a Girlfriend

Notebook paper with hand drawn doodles on it and gem stickers and the words FASHION EMERGENCY!!!! And "dear diary, I can't decide what vest I want to wear today"

Queer Fashion

The Most Baffling Fashion Choices I Made When I Was 13

Helene sucks on Eve's finger on Killing Eve

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” Episode 402 Recap: Dangerously Hot

A pattern of illustrated sardines in green and purple against a blue background

Food Lists

It’s Time To Get Into Tinned Fish

Photo 1: Villanelle holds a blade against Eve in Killing Eve. Photo 2: Sara is holding the knife to Ava's neck on Legends Of Tomorrow. Photo 3: Villanelle holds a knife against Eve's neck on Killing Eve. Photo 4: Taissa holds a letter opener on Yellowjackets. Photo 5: Tamsin holds a circular saw against Bo's neck. Photo 6: Eve holds a lipstick on Killing Eve

TV Lists

The 26 Best Lesbian Knifeplay Scenes in TV History

Photo 1: Villanelle (Jodie Comer) from Killing Eve wears a red robe with a white collar and a cross necklace while standing in a church. Photo 2: Eve from Killing Eve (Sandra Oh) holds a handgun while wearing a white, red, and black motorcycling suit.

TV Show Recaps

“Killing Eve” Episode 401 Recap: Look At Me

A pop art cartoon of a woman with red hair and bangs cries with her mouth open

Playlists

Playlist: The Saddest Songs Ever, According to Cancers

Hand drawn images of human-like figures float around the words Time Zone Week in chalk against a black bacgkround

A+

Editor’s Notes: On Time Zones Week

Photo 1: An African grey parrot is nestled in cherry blossoms. Photo 2: Black leather kink toys. Photo 3: A loaf of white bread is sliced. Photo 4: The ocean against pink-tinted sand. Photo 5: A pile of pink macarons

Book Lists

Short Fiction Playlist: Five Stories With Queer Sex

Cupcakes and a cake are decorated in a queer pastel rainbow color scheme

Food and Drink

20 Queer Bakers To Follow on Instagram

Two Black women dance together while smiling in their home.

Valentine's Day

How To Surprise Your Partner for Valentine’s Day When You’ve Spent Every Day Together for Two Pandemic Years

A black and white image of a woman with pale skin and chin-length brown hair driving while screaming is surrounded by a black border with yellow dots and scalloped edges.

Dating

You Have Road Rage? That’s a Red Flag!

Artwork for "We Found Love" by Rihanna, "Challengers" by New Pornographers, "Day Dreaming" by Aretha Franklin, "With You" by Jessica Simpson, "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele, "Slow Show" by The National, "The Only Exception" by Paramore, and "Body" by Syd

Playlists

Playlist: I Asked My Friends What the Most Romantic Song of All Time Is, And Now They’re All Mad At Me

A Black woman arranges a bouquet of small pink flowers. She is wearing a mustard colored buttondown and a light brown apron. She is in a floral studio.

House & Garden

18 Queer Florists to Follow on Instagram

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