Fresh Fruit Creative Director Dylan Damm reconnects with Red Hot superstar Charles Auclair for a candid conversation about their recent experience on Fire Island. From exploring the island’s vibrant queer culture to posing nude for the first time, Charles reflects on breaking personal boundaries while embracing the liberating energy of Fire Is-land. The two dive into their shared nostalgia for the early days of blogging, the evolution of self-expression, and how finding joy in creative work continues to shape their careers.
CHARLES: Do you have a filter to blur your background?
DYLAN: I do. It might seem a bit excessive, but I’ve been caught out before with weird things on my shelves.
CHARLES: Like dildos?
DYLAN: You might be right... When was the last time we saw each other? Almost two months ago?
CHARLES: I think last time you were heading to New York Pride.
DYLAN: Yes, New York Pride and the torrential rain. It felt like home.
What time is it in Vancouver?
CHARLES: 7:30 in the morning, and I’m having my coffee.
DYLAN: What would you normally be doing at 7:30 in the morning if we weren’t talking?
CHARLES: Probably on my way to the gym or something like that. What about you at 3:30 in London? Would you be having a little catnap?
DYLAN: 3:30 is usually when I have my afternoon coffee, which I immediately regret.
CHARLES: Why aren’t you drinking tea?
DYLAN: Because I’m English, it should be tea, right?
CHARLES: Exactly.
DYLAN: What kind of tea do you drink?
CHARLES: I have a few favourites, but recently, my friend got me some turmeric tea from the Philippines. It makes me feel like a beacon of health.
“ONE SIP AND ALL THE SINS WASH AWAY”
DYLAN: Sh*t I need that… So, let’s get to Fire Island. Did you have any expectations before our shoot?
CHARLES: I didn’t have specific expectations about Fire Island. I was curious because people often ask what it’s like. Most imagine it’s all about house parties and the beach.
I was excited to be on the East Coast, where I’m from. The people there are often a bit bolder, and Fire Island had that vibe. When I arrived, it felt like stepping into a queer cartoon—everyone was fully themselves and embraced for it. It was amazing to see people express who they really are.
“WHAT STOOD OUT WAS HOW UNIQUE EVERYONE WAS”
It was fascinating to see different outfits, body types, and personalities all in one place. It felt like a space where individuality was celebrated, which was really cool.
DYLAN: I agree with you. I’ve known about Fire Island for years because it was relevant to some of my studies. You’ve explained it perfectly. It feels like stepping out of the ‘normal’ world.
Once you’re there, it’s like you’re in a different universe, where being gay is the norm, and being straight feels unusual.
CHARLES: Totally. In cities, you can feel a solid gay presence, but it’s not always dominant. On Fire Island, it was different. It was fantastic to see that, and seeing the big community of queer women in Cherry Grove was something new and cool.
DYLAN: We were there shooting for Red Hot’s nude 2025 calendar and the upcoming Red Hot Desire art book. I know you’ve done a lot of modelling, but you mentioned you had never posed fully nude before. What made you decide to do it now?
CHARLES: I really liked Thomas’s photography—it was of romantic quality. Many nudes can feel too exposing, but his work celebrates the person.
At first, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea, but my friend David, who starred in Red Hot X, showed me that the crew was fun, safe, and cool to work with. Life is short, and…
“I REALISED I SHOULD EMBRACE MOMENTS RATHER THAN HOLD BACK”
This felt like fully embracing where I am right now.
DYLAN: I love that you mentioned ‘romance’ because part of my job is to focus on character and world-building. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s worth it, but seeing the photos and how people respond, I realise it’s more than just taking a naked picture. It’s about contributing to a narrative, it’s storytelling.
How did you find shooting with the other guys?
CHARLES: My memories of the guys are just the sweetest. I wish we had more time to enjoy each other’s presence. We were all a bit outside of our comfort zones, and everyone wondered if they were doing it right. It was comforting to know that we all felt the same way.
We were all so different, coming from entirely different backgrounds and walks of life, but somehow, we ended up there together, and our unique skills made the shoot work. Like Macaulay doing makeup, it felt like we were all meant to be there.
DYLAN: And you and Finn had a nice little bromance going on…
CHARLES: Yeah, it was healing for my masculine side. Sometimes, I use my femininity as a way to avoid coming across as a threat, especially since I’m quite large.
“WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS HOW COMFORTABLE HE WAS FLEXING AND BEING CONFIDENT”
It made me realize that I also need to be comfortable with myself, knowing I’m not harming anyone. It was nice to see and taught me something.
DYLAN: The chemistry was there. I’ve been working on putting the book together, and I’ve been looking at a lot of the images. Thomas took many photos of the two of you. They’re probably some of my favourites from the Fire chapter. I can’t wait to share them with you—they’re not quite ready to be released yet, but they feel authentic.
All the pictures in this chapter and the book are incredible, but the relationships in Fire stand out. You can see the connection between you two and some of the other guys in such a unique way. I don’t think we’ve captured that level of realness before.
CHARLES: It felt playful, like lion cubs or puppies—just having fun and being best friends. It was lovely.
“I WENT TO FIRE ISLAND EXPECTING A WILD TIME; I DIDN’T ANTICIPATE IT BEING SO WHOLESOME”
DYLAN: Any highlights from the shooting experience?
CHARLES: Each person was essential—Samuel, Taylor, and you all played important parts. I felt a special connection with you all, as you brought a cheeky, engaging energy that was nice. Everyone was there to contribute to the project rather than take away from it, which made me want to give back to the project as well.
DYLAN: That’s very sweet. Have you ever been in a book before? Are you in print anywhere?
CHARLES: I don’t think I’m in print anywhere yet—this would be my first time.
DYLAN: Are you excited about that?
CHARLES: Yeah, it’s a bit strange not having been in print before, but I’ve actually been featured in quite a few artworks because people have used me as a reference. It’s been incredible, and it makes me feel that my presence has been meaningful and inspiring. Being in print feels pretty cool.
DYLAN: It’s another form of media you’ve conquered.
We were chatting in the pool about the good old Tumblr days. Do you look back fondly?
CHARLES: Oh, definitely.
“I LOVE EXPLAINING HOW I GOT HERE AND WHY I’M THE PERSON I AM TODAY”
I come from a time when the internet felt really wholesome, with a strong community. Even now, I feel connected with people I met online, and it’s great. I’m not constantly binge-scrolling, but I still have meaningful connections through social media. Many people have negative experiences with social media, feeling like they have to perform, but for me, it’s a stage where I can interact with people who care about what I do.
“IT’S BEEN A NATURAL EVOLUTION, REFLECTING MY DESIRE TO BE A VESSEL FOR BEAUTY AND SOMETHING GREATER.”
DYLAN: I agree. Tumblr was where it all started for me. And yes, it’s true that things have changed on the internet.
CHARLES: We had tagged self-pictures, not necessarily nudes but artistic. We were encouraged to see ourselves in those pictures. It was healing to feel part of a larger community.
DYLAN: I used to be very active on Tumblr and had a bit of a following. I felt part of a community and even went to Tumblr meetups. When the internet changed, I lost touch with that community, but I’ve found similar connections through my work with Red Hot and other projects. It’s nice to reconnect with that feeling. You can always spot another Tumblr person; there are telltale signs.
CHARLES: Absolutely. It’s about confidence and appreciating what we both do. Tumblr was a space where you could just be yourself without comparing yourself to others. It was such a vulnerable time, and while we might not get back to exactly that, we can still find magic in what we do now. Working with other people and engaging in bigger projects is part of that evolution. It’s like moving to the next level, with its own chaos, but it still has that special something.
DYLAN: You seem pretty grounded in your thoughts.
CHARLES: I see myself as a beacon of change and chaos for those around me.
“I’M ALWAYS CHANGING THINGS-PEOPLE’S HAIR, THEIR LIVES, AND MYSELF.”
I bring evolution, but it all comes from a grounded place of wanting to enjoy life, rather than just seeing it as a means to an end.
DYLAN: So you encourage playfulness?
CHARLES: Yes, exactly. We were doing that on Fire Island, too—just playing. We approached making the book like a fun game.
DYLAN: Sometimes I have to take a step back and remind myself that while I take my work seriously and it’s important to me, it’s also okay to see it as fun. That’s important.
CHARLES: Definitely. It’s still work, but you’re doing a lot of the same things you did as a kid, just on a bigger scale. It’s an excellent way to ensure you’re on a path to an enjoyable life—by sticking to what comes naturally and instinctively.
DYLAN: I love that. I’ve had some tough jobs where I didn’t enjoy what I was doing. While there are always things we might not want, I’m on the right track if life feels playful.
CHARLES: Exactly. There’s satisfaction in being good at something challenging when it feels like a game.
DYLAN: Thank you so much, Charles; speaking with you again has been amazing.
CHARLES: Well, thank you. Wait, can I ask you questions?
DYLAN: I think you can. We can make up the rules here.
CHARLES: Where do you see your talent taking you?
“DO YOU FEEL RECOGNISED FOR WHAT YOU DO?”
DYLAN: Sh*t, that’s better than any of the questions I asked you. I’m starting to feel that way for the first time in my life. I feel like I’m on a path that I enjoy and that will be fruitful in many ways.
For a long time, I didn’t feel this way. I’ve tried a few different things, but now it feels like everything is heading in a direction I’m happy with. Even though I don’t have all the details figured out, just knowing that things feel right is a positive sign.
CHARLES: Yeah, you’re one of the coolest people I know. Do you ever question that?
DYLAN: I’ve never really thought about it. I feel more relaxed than I ever have, and I think that energy comes across. It takes a lot to startle me or throw me off. In school, people used to say I was just ‘cruising’, which was always meant as a negative.
CHARLES: It was written in my graduation book that I was just ‘cruising here on holiday.’
DYLAN: I get that. It sounds like we had similar experiences or at least similar reactions from people.
CHARLES: I think it annoyed people that I was just enjoying myself.
DYLAN: Totally. I’ve always tried to enjoy what I do, even if I look back with rose-tinted glasses. For the most part, I’ve just tried to make the best of things and enjoy them.
CHARLES: Sounds like we’ve found some inner peace.
DYLAN: You could say that.