Queer Eye is a reboot of an Emmy-winning show and an amazing Netflix original. It is about five gay men, each in charge of a different aspect of a lifestyle, seeking to help elevate one individual’s (who is called a “hero”) life per episode. This five man team, also known as the Fab 5, is an eclectic mix of personalities. The experts in their respective fields are Antoni Porowski, food and wine; Tan France, fashion; Karamo Brown, culture; Jonathan van Ness, grooming; Bobby Berk, design. The mission is to help people become better versions of themselves as well as spreading a message of acceptance and positivity.

Some may be skeptical when they first hear about the show. I admittedly was hesitant that it would consist of 40-minute long episodes of inaccurate gay stereotypes in an effort to over-compensate for straight culture. But what I found was something entirely different. While the Fab 5’s sexuality did shape who they are, as everyone’s does, it was not at the forefront of their self-image. They were able to take the struggles they’ve faced in a society that can be unaccepting at times to make them stronger and use them to help others. The Fab 5 has helped men find the self-worth to propose to their wives, as well as give others the confidence they need to come out to their family. At the same time, the team’s friendliness and willingness to create intimate relationships with the southern communities they interact with allow both sides to know more about the other. They are able to spread the message of overall acceptance, whether it’s of yourself or of others’ sexuality.

This approach to the different lifestyle is what makes the show unique and pioneering. The team is there to “evolve”, as one hero put it, someone’s life—aiming to help others become the person they want to be rather than completely change the way they live. This is reflected in the things they teach the heroes; for example, Porowski coaches them on how to better their diet and finds recipes that suit their lifestyle instead of forcing them to learn to cook a gourmet meal. Their goal is to elevate the inside, and show that unique sparkle we have in all of us on the outside.

One of the quotes that stuck out to me was when France said “fashion is not style. Fashion is ‘not trending after a season’. Frankly, I couldn’t [care less] about fashion.” It shows the focus the team has on the individual and making him or her feel comfortable about themselves, which is becoming increasingly important, especially since rates of depression and insecurity are rising due to the digital age. It doesn’t matter if the rest of the world is doing something one way and you are doing it in another, as long as you’re striving to become the best ‘you’ possible. Societal standards on things such as masculinity or sexuality shouldn’t affect the way one lives his or her life. That’s the message and appeal of Queer Eye. Throw caution to the wind. Be yourself. Love everyone.

After the explosion of support for Season 1 (which premiered in February), Season 2 was quickly filmed and premiered in June, this time expanding beyond cis-men (a male who is assigned male at birth) to help women and transgender men as well. While the first two seasons are set in Georgia, Season 3 is currently filming in Missouri and will premiere in 2019.