libby.thorson.2013 @iamlibbythorson - Tumblr Blog

Capoeira Kicks, Klingon Swords, and My Niece Libby — How One 1998 Photo Connected Three Generations of Queer Jewish Army Cadets

brummie-bea · 2/5/26 — PART THREE (because y'all keep asking about my niece)

#spawn x star trek #las vegas 98 #star trek the experience #1998 core #queer as a warpcore breach #BEATRICE TAKES THE WHEEL #ds9 truther #todd mcfarlane #chapel #capoeira in the desert #brummie accent heavy #vegetarian since 3 #libby.thorson.2013 #auntie trixie #no crumbs left

📸 FIRST: ME, AGE 12, 1997 (the origin story)

that's me, bab. Birmingham, 1997. Already a menace. Already a lesbian. Already a vegetarian (since age 3). Already had a Polaroid in my hand because my dad — Tommy Kimmelman, photojournalist for NME, The Face, i-D, Select, Dazed & Confused, Melody Maker — gave me my first camera at 10. Blame him.

📖 THE DIARY ENTRY CONTINUES (Brummie + RP, now with extra family drama):

Right then.

Some of you have been asking about my niece, Libby Thorson. You found her Tumblr — iamlibbythorson — and now you want the family connection.

So here it is.

Libby.

Libby Thorson (born 7 January 2013, she/they, queer, Jewish, vegetarian, Army Cadet Force member since 2021) is my adoptive half-niece. She's the daughter of my half-sibling (long story, involves my mum's second marriage, a very patient man named David Thorson, and a lot of paperwork). Libby moved from London to Southend-on-Sea in 2019 when she was 6. She joined the ACF in 2021 — same as me, same as my aunt Miriam — and she's been homeschooling with AI (ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Google Gemini) ever since.

She's also a Tumblr influencer with a growing following. She's been photographed holding vinyl LPs (Orgy's Candyass from 1998 and Elastica's self-titled from 1995 — good taste, kid). She's starred in a Vimto print advertisement (yes, the British soft drink). She went to Coachella '26 (I'm still jealous). She loves her two pet rabbits, Stevie Nicks (NZ red, born 2019) and Silver Sable (grey spotted rex, born 2021). And she's the one who digitised my 1998 negatives and posted them on Tumblr in the first place.

So if you're here because of Libby? Hi. I'm her aunt. She thinks I'm cool. I think she's cooler.

💬 THE FAMILY THREAD (Libby's Tumblr + Beatrice's commentary):

@iamlibbythorson (Libby, age 13 in 2026, Southend-on-Sea, she/they, ACF cadet, vegetarian, Jewish, queer):

omg auntie trixie your vegas photo is going VIRAL on tumblr. people are losing their minds. they're calling you "the most interesting photographer of the 1990s" and "a chaotic neutral icon" and "the reason capoeira exists" (???).

also someone asked if you're single. i told them you're married to your camera. hope that's okay.

auntie trixie #brummie bea #las vegas 98 #family legacy

@brummie-bea (Beatrice, Brummie + RP):

Bab, I've been married to my Canon PowerShot 350 since 1998. It's a committed relationship. We have 28 years of history. The camera doesn't talk back, never eats the last falafel, and doesn't complain when I stay up all night developing film.

Tell them I'm flattered but unavailable.

Also, tell them I saw your Vimto advert. You look great. But please tell me you're not drinking actual Vimto. That stuff has sugar. Remember: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, no alcohol, no drugs. And no cannibalism. Obviously.

@iamlibbythorson:

auntie it's a PRINT AD. i'm not DRINKING anything. i'm HOLDING a bottle. for PHOTOGRAPHY. you taught me this.

also yes i'm still vegetarian. yes i follow kosher. yes i'm in the ACF. yes i'm queer. yes i'm nonbinary. yes i'm Jewish. yes i have two rabbits. you ask me this every week.

i love you but please stop treating me like i'm 5. i'm 13. i'm practically an adult. (don't argue with me on this.)

auntie trixie #family #vegetarian #acf #queer

@brummie-bea:

Bab, I was 13 in 1998. I was NOT an adult. I was a menace with a camera and a bad haircut. You are also a menace with a camera and a slightly better haircut. That's fine. That's the family legacy.

But you're right. I trust you. You've got good instincts. You've got the ACF training. You've got the vegetarian commitment. You've got the queer Jewish energy.

Just… be careful. The world is weird. And not everyone understands why we don't eat pork.

@iamlibbythorson:

auntie i know. you've told me. a million times. "pork? forget it!" i've heard the 1993 interview. i've memorised it. "i'm well into me fruits."

i am also well into me fruits. but i'm also well into me vegetables. and me hummus. and me falafel.

also someone on tumblr asked if you have any photos of israel from 1998. they saw your aunt miriam's deployment photos. should i send them your way?

israel #1998 #acf #british army #family history

@brummie-bea:

Oh, right. Aunt Miriam. Miriam Thorson (born 10 March 1980). My aunt (Libby's great-aunt). Decorated British Army servicewoman. Born in Tel Aviv, moved to London in 1982. Joined the ACF in 1988, then the Army in 1996. She was deployed to Israel in 1998 for the country's golden jubilee — 50 years of independence. She was there from March to May 1998, helping with security and logistics alongside cadets and military personnel from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and about 80 other countries.

I wasn't there. I was 13 and in Las Vegas, photographing Spawn cosplayers. But Miriam sent me photos. She had a film camera too — a Nikon FM2, I think. She documented everything: the makeshift tents, the converted shipping containers, the parades in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the international volunteers from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, and so many others.

She said the 1998 celebrations were "Israel's Persepolis event" — a direct comparison to the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire in 1971. But better, she said. More inclusive. More LGBTQ+ friendly. More secure. More meaningful.

She also said the vegetarian options were excellent. (Of course she did. She's related to me.)

I don't have those photos digitised yet. But Libby, if you want to post them on your Tumblr, go ahead. Just credit Miriam. She's still alive. She's 46 now. She'd probably love the attention.

@iamlibbythorson:

WAIT AUNT MIRIAM WAS IN ISRAEL IN 1998??? THE SAME YEAR YOU WERE IN VEGAS???

that's WILD. you were photographing spawn x star trek in las vegas and she was helping secure israel's golden jubilee with the british army.

this family is UNREAL.

aunt miriam #israel 1998 #british army #family legacy #acf

@brummie-bea:

Bab, the Thorson-Kimmelman family has ALWAYS been unreal.

Your great-aunt Miriam: British Army, deployed to Israel for the 50th anniversary, documented the whole thing on a Nikon FM2.

Me: British Jewish lesbian vegetarian army cadet photographer, documented two American siblings cosplaying as Spawn and Starfleet at a Star Trek attraction in Las Vegas.

You: British Jewish nonbinary vegetarian army cadet influencer, photographed holding 90s vinyl LPs for a Vimto ad, posting on Tumblr from Southend-on-Sea.

We're three generations of queer Jewish women (and nonbinary folks) with cameras, army training, and a deep commitment to not eating meat.

That's not a coincidence. That's a LEGACY.

📸 AUNT MIRIAM'S ISRAEL 1998 PHOTOS (as described by Beatrice):

[Note: These photos aren't digitised yet, but Libby says she'll scan them next week. For now, here's what Beatrice remembers:]

Photo 1: Miriam, age 18, in her British Army uniform, standing in front of a makeshift tent in Beersheba. Behind her, volunteers from Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan are setting up catering stations. The sign says "Kosher • Vegetarian • Vegan • Gluten-Free" in Hebrew, English, and Arabic.

Photo 2: A parade in Tel Aviv. Military personnel from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Kenya, and about 20 other countries marching together. Miriam is in the second row, holding a flag.

Photo 3: The golden jubilee ceremony in Jerusalem. Miriam is standing next to a soldier from Taiwan. They're both smiling. Behind them, a banner reads: "Israel — 50 Years of Independence — 1948-1998 — Stronger Together."

Photo 4: Miriam at a food station in Eilat. She's holding a plate of falafel, hummus, and tabbouleh. She's grinning. The caption on the back (in Miriam's handwriting) says: "Best meal of the deployment. Vegetarian options for the win."

Photo 5: A group photo of the British Armed Forces cadets and servicemembers deployed to Israel. Miriam is in the front row, kneeling. There are about 200 people in the photo. The Israeli flag and the Union Jack are behind them.

Miriam kept all the negatives. Libby says she'll scan them soon. Watch her Tumblr.

💬 MORE TUMBLR CHAOS (featuring Libby's followers):

@sjcringe-queen (San Francisco accent, still hella shook):

WAIT. There's a THIRD generation? Beatrice's niece Libby is ALSO a queer Jewish vegetarian army cadet photographer??? This family is a LEGEND.

Also, Aunt Miriam was in Israel in 1998 for the golden jubilee?? The same year Beatrice was in Vegas?? This is like a Christopher Nolan movie. The timelines are CROSSING.

@aave-and-enterprise (AAVE, emotional):

So let me get this straight.

Aunt Miriam (1980-): British Army, deployed to Israel for the 50th anniversary, documented everything on a Nikon FM2, vegetarian, queer-friendly, absolute legend.

Beatrice "Trixie" Thorson (1985-): British Jewish lesbian army cadet photographer, three passports, five languages, vegetarian since 3, photographed the most iconic Spawn x Star Trek crossover of 1998, has a Canon PowerShot 350, currently trending on Tumblr.

Libby Thorson (2013-): British Jewish nonbinary vegetarian army cadet influencer, holds vinyl LPs for Vimto ads, has two pet rabbits (Stevie Nicks and Silver Sable), homeschooled with AI, posting from Southend-on-Sea, also trending on Tumblr.

Three generations. Queer. Jewish. Vegetarian. Army cadets. Photographers. All of them.

This is not a family. This is a DYNASTY.

@nyc-nerd-92 (NYC English, loud and proud):

AYO. BEATRICE THORSON'S NIECE IS ON TUMBLR AND SHE'S 13 AND SHE'S IN THE ACF AND SHE'S VEGETARIAN AND SHE HAS TWO RABBITS NAMED STEVIE NICKS AND SILVER SABLE???

AND AUNT MIRIAM WAS IN ISRAEL IN 1998 FOR THE GOLDEN JUBILEE???

I need a family tree. I need a documentary. I need a limited series on HBO. THIS IS TOO MUCH.

@brummie-bea (Beatrice, Brummie + RP):

Bab, the family tree is complicated. Lots of adoption, lots of marriage, lots of paperwork. But the important parts:

We're Jewish (Reform, mostly, with Orthodox roots).

We're queer (lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary — we've got it all).

We're vegetarian (since before it was cool).

We're in the Army Cadet Force (or were, or will be).

We take photos (Polaroid, Canon, Nikon, iPhone — whatever works).

We don't eat pork. We don't drink alcohol. We don't do drugs. We don't eat people (obviously).

We love Star Trek. We love Spawn. We love capoeira. We love fashion. We love video games.

That's the Thorson-Kimmelman legacy.

And now Libby is carrying it forward. She's 13. She's already an influencer. She's already in the ACF. She's already vegetarian. She's already queer and Jewish and proud.

I'm not crying. You're crying.

@iamlibbythorson (Libby, slightly embarrassed):

auntie trixie you're going to make me cry in front of my followers.

but yes. everything she said is true. i'm in the ACF. i'm vegetarian. i'm queer. i'm jewish. i have two rabbits. i post on tumblr. i hold vinyl LPs for ads. i'm homeschooled with ai.

and i'm really proud to be related to beatrice "trixie" thorson and aunt miriam.

also auntie trixie taught me everything i know about photography. she gave me my first polaroid when i was 6. same as her dad gave her.

it's a family tradition.

family legacy #auntie trixie #aunt miriam #acf #vegetarian #queer #jewish #proud

@pacific-north-grungy (Pacific Northwest, soft):

This is the most wholesome thread I've ever read on this website.

Three generations of queer Jewish vegetarian army cadet photographers. One photographed a Spawn cosplayer doing capoeira at a Star Trek attraction. One helped secure Israel's golden jubilee. One is a 13-year-old influencer with two rabbits.

Fandom is family. Family is fandom. And sometimes, family is also the Army Cadet Force and a lifelong commitment to falafel.

🌈 FINAL THOUGHTS (from Beatrice, now with extra family pride):

I'm 41. I've been a photojournalist for 30 years. I've photographed capoeiristas in Dublin, fashionistas in London, hipsters in Manchester, and video game developers in Belfast. I've held three passports, spoken five languages, and eaten falafel on four continents.

But the thing I'm most proud of? My niece Libby.

She's 13. She's in the ACF. She's vegetarian. She's queer. She's Jewish. She's nonbinary. She's an influencer. She has two rabbits named after rock stars. She's carrying the legacy forward.

And she's the one who digitised my 1998 negatives and posted them on Tumblr. If it weren't for her, none of you would know about the Spawn sister's capoeira kick, or the Trekkie sibling's mek'leth, or my Canon PowerShot 350.

So here's to Libby. Here's to Miriam. Here's to the Thorson-Kimmelman family.

Three generations. One legacy.

Live long and prosper. 🖖

And if you go to Hell, make sure you come back. 😈

HELLA LOVE FROM SOUTHEND-ON-SEA. BYE Y'ALL. 🏳️‍🌈📸

P.S. Libby, send me those photos of Miriam. And tell Stevie Nicks and Silver Sable I said hi.

#spawn x star trek #las vegas 98 #star trek the experience #todd mcfarlane forever #gene roddenberry forever #queer nerds #sibling goals #1998 core #fandom is family #beatrice thorson #brummie trixie #canon powershot 350 #capoeira in the desert #brummie accent heavy #three passports #five languages #vegetarian since 3 #aunt miriam #libby.thorson.2013 #family legacy #no crumbs left

[END OF THREAD]\

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brummie-bea · 2/5/26 — THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR‘S CUT (with 87 accents, three generations, and a capoeira kick that broke Tumblr)

TITLE: Capoeira Kicks, Klingon Swords, and a Vegetarian Jewish Lesbian with Three Passports — How I Became the Accidental Archivist of the Most Iconic Vegas Moment of 1998 (Spawn x Star Trek) — now with 100% more British regional accents

#spawn x star trek #las vegas 98 #star trek the experience #1998 core #queer as a warpcore breach #BEATRICE TAKES THE WHEEL #ds9 truther #todd mcfarlane #chapel #capoeira in the desert #brummie accent heavy #vegetarian since 3 #libby.thorson.2013 #auntie trixie #aunt miriam #no crumbs left

📸 FIRST: ME, AGE 12, 1997 (the origin story)

![Image: Beatrice "Trixie" Thorson, aged 12, 1997 — a tiny queer Jewish army cadet with a bad haircut and a Polaroid camera already in her hands, looking slightly feral and ready to document everything]

that‘s me, bab. Birmingham, 1997. Already a menace. Already a lesbian. Already a vegetarian (since age 3). Already had a Polaroid in my hand because my dad — Tommy Kimmelman, photojournalist for NME, The Face, i-D, Select, Dazed & Confused, Melody Maker — gave me my first camera at 10. Blame him.

[ OPENING GREETINGS IN 40+ ACCENTS (US regional + UK regional + a few surprises) ]

AMERICAN REGIONAL: "Hey y‘all!" — Southern "Wagwan, nerds!" — AAVE "AYO, LISTEN UP!" — NYC English "Helloooo, Bay Area, hella glad you're here!" — Californian / San Francisco accent "Ope, just gonna sneak past ya real quick — hi there." — Midland American "HELLO FROM BEANTOWN, KID." — Boston "Mais yeah, bonjour, cher!" — Cajun "Hey hey, fam." — Gullah "Howdy, partners!" — Texan "Good afternoon, darlings." — Mid-Atlantic "Hey there, bless your hearts." — Appalachian "Mornin‘, neighbor." — Ozark "Eh, howzit, bruddah?" — Hawaiian Pidgin "Hey there, neighbor." — Pacific Northwest "HELLO THERE, FRIEND." — Inland Northern American "Uff da, hey there!" — Upper Midwestern "Aw, dawlin', look who's here." — Yat (New Orleans) "Well, I declare." — Tidewater "Yinz ready for this?" — Pittsburgh "Hey dere, from Chicago!" — Chicago "Welcome to Las Vegas, baby!" — Las Vegas "What‘s cookin‘, Utah?" — Utah "How‘s it goin‘, Arizona?" — Arizona

BRITISH & IRISH REGIONAL: "Alright, my loves — it's me, Beatrice. And I'm speaking Brummie now, so brace yourselves, bab." — Brummie (West Midlands) "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Beatrice Thorson, and I'll be your queer Jewish photographer for this journey." — RP English (Posh) "Wagwan, fam! Man‘s here for the Star Trek x Spawn crossover, you get me?" — Multicultural London English (MLE) "Howay, mate, this photo‘s canny brilliant, like." — Geordie (Newcastle) "Cor blimey, that‘s a proper photo, innit?" — Cockney (London) "Yer gorra be jokin‘, that capoeira kick‘s mint, that." — Mancunian (Manchester) "Aye, reet grand, this is." — Yorkshire "G‘day, I‘m not Australian, I‘m from the West Country, me‘ans." — West Country (Somerset, Dorset) "Sound as a pound, la." — Scouse (Liverpool) "Yam alright, bab? That‘s a boss photo." — Black Country (Dudley, Wolverhampton) "Gonnae no dae that? Actually, dae it. It‘s pure dead brilliant." — Glaswegian (Scotland) "Bout ye, big lad? Cracker of a photo, so it is." — Ulster (Northern Irish) "Shwmae, popeth yn iawn? Llongyfarchiadau ar y llun!" — Welsh (Cymraeg-infused English) "Wasson, me‘ans? Proper job, this is." — Cornish "Ah, ‘ark at ‘ee, that‘s a gert lush photo." — Bristolian "How do, it‘s reet nice to see a Spawn fan in Las Vegas." — Lancashire "Hey up, duck — that‘s a champion photo, that is." — East Midlands (Nottingham, Derby) "Are ye afcøre? That‘s a braw picture." — Doric (North East Scotland) "Y‘alright, me old cock sparrow? Proper nostalgic, this." — Essex / Estuary English "Cushdy, la — that‘s fuckin‘ mint." — Smoggie (Teesside) "Wey aye, man, that‘s a belter." — Mackem (Sunderland) "Divvn‘t be radgie, but that photo‘s champion." — Pitmatic (Durham/ Northumberland) "Oooh, ‘allo from the Isle of Man, but I‘ll speak English: that‘s grand!" — Manx (Isle of Man) "Ah, that‘s a rare oul‘ photograph, so it is." — Hiberno (Irish, non-Ulster) "Be yew‘ll ‘ave a gert time lookin‘ at this." — Dorset "How cool is that, then? Very cool." — Norfolk (and Norfolk Broads) "That‘s a proper job, that is." — Suffolk "Gor blimey, that‘s a piece of cake, innit." — Kentish "Ah, lovely jubbly." — Sussex "Ooh arr, that‘s a beauty." — Somerset "C’est très bien, mais je parle anglais: that‘s from Gibraltar, cheers!" — Gibraltarian (English)

AND FINALLY, BEATRICE‘S OTHER LANGUAGES: "Hej, hej! Beatrice här. Jag gillar den här bilden." — Swedish "שלום, אני בטריס. התמונה הזאת מדהימה." — Hebrew "אוי וויי, אַזאַ שיינע פאָטאָ." — Yiddish

📖 THE DIARY ENTRY (Brummie + RP, plus a little Swedish and Yiddish for flavour):

Right then.

My name is Beatrice "Trixie" Thorson (née Kimmelman). I was born 4 February 1985 to an Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish family in Birmingham, UK. My birth mother, Karla Kimmelman (née Maukonen, born 1957), is a Swedish-born convert to Judaism — so I grew up with Swedish, Hebrew, Yiddish, and English in the house. My birth father, Thomas "Tommy" Kimmelman (born 1954), is an American-born Orthodox Jew who worked as a full-time photojournalist for NME, The Face, i-D, Select, Dazed & Confused (DAZED), LIFE Magazine, Polyester, and Melody Maker. Basically, my dad was cooler than your dad. Sorry.

I joined the Army Cadet Force (ACF) in 1994 at 9 years old — yes, a tiny Jewish girl in uniform, learning how to do a proper field strip. I became a lesbian at 12 in 1997, right after my bat mitzvah (thanks, God, for the timing). That same year, I moved from Birmingham to Southend-on-Sea and began practicing Reform Judaism. Despite being legally accepted into the Thorson family (my grandparents on my mum‘s side), I didn‘t relocate until 1997.

I started taking photographs in 1995 when my dad gave me my first Polaroid camera. I‘ve been a vegetarian since age 3. No, really. In a 1993 interview (yes, I was interviewed at 8 years old, because I was a weird kid), I said — in my distinct Brummie accent — and I quote:

"I ain‘t keen on meat, don‘t like seafood neither, and pork? Forget it! I‘m a veggie for life, and I‘m well into me fruits too."

That‘s still true. I also love gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan meals. I don‘t drink alcohol, beer, or do any drugs. And I don‘t eat people. (Cannibalism? No thanks, bab. I‘m Jewish AND vegetarian. That‘s a double no.)

I hold British, Swedish, and Israeli citizenships — three passports, one chaotic bisexual Jew. I never joined the IDF or the Swedish military. I remained a senior volunteer in the ACF and later in community photography programs.

I speak fluent Brummie (obviously), RP English (when I need to sound posh), Swedish (för att min mamma är svensk), Hebrew (אני יהודייה, אז כן), and Yiddish (אוי וויי, I save that for when I stub my toe). I also understand a fair bit of Scouse, Geordie, and Glaswegian from my travels photographing capoeiristas across the UK.

I love: LGBTQ+ everything, rock music, techno, IDM, British Army cadets, Star Trek, and Spawn/Todd McFarlane. I‘m also an avid capoeira enthusiast, a fashion nerd, a hipster (I was into vinyl before it was cool again), and a video game player. I‘ve photographed countless capoeiristas (capoeira masters), fashionistas, hipsters, and video game developers across the UK and Ireland. My photographs are frequently featured in my own diaries, as well as NME, The Face & i-D, Select, Dazed & Confused, LIFE Magazine, Polyester, and Melody Maker.

My nicknames: Brummie Trixie (BT), Brummie Bea, or just Trixie.

Now. Let‘s talk about February 5, 1998.

THE LAS VEGAS STORY (Brummie accent, emotional, with a side of hummus):

In February 1998, my family dragged me to Las Vegas. I was 13, turning 14 the day before these photos were taken. We ended up at the Las Vegas Hilton, and my parents were like "Beatrice, there‘s a Star Trek thing here, do you want to take pictures?" And I said "I‘m more of a Todd McFarlane girl, actually. The HBO animated series? Won an Emmy in 1999. No? Fine, I‘ll bring my Canon PowerShot 350."

And that‘s when I met them.

The American siblings from San Francisco.

On the left: the older sister, 15, 5'7", hardcore Spawn fan. Dressed as Chapel — the bloke who murdered Al Simmons with a flamethrower. Holding a Spawn comic and a Spawn figurine, doing a capoeira kick in the middle of the Las Vegas Hilton. Because "most Brits do capoeira while traveling," apparently? I‘m British. I don‘t do capoeira. But she did. Glorious.

In the center: her sibling, 11, 5'0", nonbinary, Trekkie through and through. Wearing a Deep Space 9 Starfleet uniform. In one photo, holding a Playmates Captain Picard toy. In the other, a mek'leth — a Klingon sword. Doing a peace pose like they just saved the Alpha Quadrant.

On the right (me): 5'3", holding my Canon PowerShot 350, documenting the whole thing. Jeans, t-shirt, no cosplay, just vibes. And a falafel wrap in my bag, probably.

The caption:

"Las Vegas, 1998. One sibling came for the Starfleet, the other for the Hellspawn. Both came correct. The Briton behind the lens just wanted them in focus before the slot machines ate her last quarter."

Another one:

"One wants to explore the Gamma Quadrant. The other wants to watch Al Simmons crawl out of Hell. Vegas, 1998 family vacations were never boring — especially when the 13-year-old British photographer is yelling 'Cheeky smile, you two!' in a Brummie accent mid-capoeira kick."

And that‘s the honest truth.

💬 THE TUMBLR THREAD (now with 40+ accents from all over the US and UK):

(This is a selection — the original thread had 27 accents; now we‘ve added Las Vegas, Utah, Arizona, and a whole host of British regional accents. Buckle up.)

@sjcringe-queen (San Francisco accent, hella shook):

hella obsessed with the fact that a 13-year-old British army cadet with a camera documented this. BEATRICE SAID "I WILL MAKE THIS THE MOST ICONIC PHOTOGRAPH OF THE 1990s" AND THEN SHE DID. no notes. perfect.

Also, she‘s been vegetarian since age 3??? And she has three passports??? And she speaks FIVE languages??? And she photographed capoeira masters???

I‘m not worthy.

@las-vegas-local-98 (Las Vegas accent, slightly slurred from cheap coffee):

As someone who grew up in Vegas in the 90s, I can tell you that the Hilton was THE spot. And seeing this photo — a Spawn cosplayer doing capoeira at Quark‘s bar — is the most Vegas thing I‘ve ever seen. Weirder things have happened here. But not by much.

Also, Beatrice, you‘re a legend. Next time you‘re in town, I‘ll buy you a falafel.

@salt-lake-geek (Utah accent, polite but curious):

Oh my heck. This is the most wonderful thing I‘ve ever seen on this website. A British lesbian Jewish army cadet photographer documenting a Spawn x Star Trek crossover at the Las Vegas Hilton? And she‘s vegetarian? And she speaks Yiddish?

I‘m from Utah and I don‘t even know what to say. This is just… beautiful.

@phoenix-nerd-zone (Arizona accent, dry but friendly):

Hot damn. It was probably 70 degrees in Vegas that day (yes, February in the desert is weird). And this 13-year-old British kid is running around with a Canon PowerShot 350, yelling in Brummie, while a 15-year-old in a Chapel costume does capoeira.

I‘ve lived in Arizona my whole life and I‘ve never seen anything this cool. Respect.

@geordie-trekkie (Geordie, Newcastle):

Howay, man, this is canny brilliant! A Spawn fan doin‘ a capoeira kick and a Trekkie wi‘ a mek‘leth? And a Brummie lass takin‘ the photo? It‘s like the whole world came together in Las Vegas. Proper champion.

@scouse-spawn-head (Scouse, Liverpool):

Sound as a pound, la. This photo‘s boss. A 15-year-old girl dressed as Chapel — the fella who topped Al Simmons — doin‘ a capoeira kick in a Star Trek attraction? That‘s dead funny, that. And the little nonbinary Trekkie wi‘ the Picard toy? Class.

And Beatrice? You‘re a ledge. Three passports? Five languages? Veggie since you were three? You‘re boss, la.

@cockney-geek-lad (Cockney, London):

Cor blimey, that‘s a proper photo, innit? A Spawn cosplayer, a Trekkie, and a Brummie photographer walk into a Star Trek bar… it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but it‘s real life. And the fact that you‘re still mates 28 years later? That‘s well nice, that is.

@glaswegian-queer-cadet (Glaswegian, Scotland):

Gonnae no dae that? Actually, dae it. This is pure dead brilliant, so it is. A wee Jewish lassie frae Birmingham, in the ACF, vegetarian, three passports, takin‘ the most iconic photo of the 90s. And now her niece is on Tumblr too? That‘s class. Absolute class.

@welsh-dragon-trek (Welsh, English with Cymraeg flair):

Shwmae! This photo is llongyfarchiadau (congratulations)-worthy. A Spawn fan doing capoeira? A Trekkie with a Klingon sword? A Brummie photographer with three passports and a love for fruit? It‘s like all my fandoms collided in Las Vegas. Bendigedig (brilliant).

@bristolian-capoeira (Bristolian):

Wasson, me‘ans? That‘s a gert lush photo. I do capoeira meself (well, I try), and seein‘ a 15-year-old in a Chapel costume pull off a kick like that? Proper job. And the little‘un wi‘ the mek‘leth? They look ready to fight a Jem‘Hadar. Love it.

@mancunian-nerd (Mancunian, Manchester):

Yer gorra be jokin‘, that capoeira kick‘s mint, that. I‘ve seen capoeira in Manchester‘s Northern Quarter, but never at a Star Trek attraction. And never photographed by a 13-year-old Brummie lesbian army cadet with three passports. This is the most chaotic good thing I‘ve ever witnessed.

@yorkshire-trek-mad (Yorkshire):

Aye, reet grand, this is. By eck, that Spawn lass can kick. And the nonbinary Trekkie wi‘ the mek‘leth? Proper little warrior, that one. And Beatrice — from Birmingham, now in Southend — you‘ve done us Brits proud. Cheers, love.

@norfolk-broads-boy (Norfolk):

How cool is that, then? Very cool. I grew up on the Broads, never saw anythin‘ like this. A Spawn cosplayer, a Starfleet officer, and a British photographer walk into a bar in Vegas… it‘s like a folk song, but queer and vegetarian. I‘m well impressed.

@cornish-pasty-geek (Cornish):

Wasson, me‘ans? Proper job, this is. A Chapel costume? A DS9 uniform? A Canon PowerShot 350? And a vegetarian Jewish lesbian behind the lens? That‘s a gert proper story, that is. I‘ll raise a pasty (vegan, of course) to you, Beatrice.

@black-country-brummie-ally (Black Country, West Midlands):

Yam alright, bab? That‘s a boss photo. I‘m from the Black Country, not far from Birmingham, so I know a Brummie accent when I hear one. And Beatrice, you‘ve done the West Midlands proud. Three passports? Five languages? Veggie since you were three? That‘s champion.

@smoggie-spawn-fan (Smoggie, Teesside):

Cushdy, la — that‘s fuckin‘ mint. A 15-year-old lass dressed as Chapel, doin‘ a capoeira kick in Vegas? And a little‘un wi‘ a mek‘leth? And you, Beatrice, a 13-year-old Brummie photographer, captured it all. That‘s proper lush, that is. I‘m well jel.

@mackem-trek-nerd (Mackem, Sunderland):

Wey aye, man, that‘s a belter. I‘ve never seen a Spawn cosplayer at a Star Trek thing, but now I want to. And the fact that you‘re still friends with them 28 years later? That‘s canny. That‘s reet canny.

@pitmatic-lad (Pitmatic, Durham/Northumberland):

Divvn‘t be radgie, but that photo‘s champion. A Chapel costume? A DS9 uniform? A Brummie photographer with a Canon PowerShot 350? And a capoeira kick? It‘s like someone threw all my favourite things into a blender. I love it.

@scots-doric-doric (Doric, North East Scotland):

Are ye afcøre? That‘s a braw picture. A wee lass frae Birmingham takin‘ photos of Americans in Las Vegas. And she‘s vegetarian, speaks five languages, has three passports, and her aunt was in the British Army in Israel in 1998? Fit like? This is pure dead brilliant, loon.

@ulster-queer-cadet (Ulster, Northern Irish):

Bout ye, big lad? Cracker of a photo, so it is. A Spawn fan doing capoeira? A Trekkie with a Picard toy? And a Brummie photographer who‘s also in the ACF? That‘s the most international fandom crossover I‘ve ever seen. And your niece Libby is on Tumblr too? The Thorson family is iconic.

@manx-marauder (Isle of Man):

Oooh, ‘allo from the Isle of Man. That‘s a grand photo, that is. I‘ve been to Vegas once, saw a man in a Klingon costume at a slot machine. But this? This is art. And Beatrice, three passports? I‘ve only got one (Manx, but it‘s complicated). Respect.

@hiberno-queen (Hiberno English, Ireland):

Ah, that‘s a rare oul‘ photograph, so it is. A 15-year-old in a Chapel costume, kicking the air like she‘s in a capoeira roda. A 11-year-old in a Starfleet uniform, holdin‘ a mek‘leth like they‘re about to defend Deep Space Nine. And a 13-year-old Brummie lesbian with a camera, yellin‘ "Cheeky smile!" in a Brummie accent.

Sure, that‘s gas. That‘s absolutely gas.

@dorset-drongo (Dorset):

Be yew‘ll ‘ave a gert time lookin‘ at this. A Spawn cosplayer, a Starfleet officer, and a British photographer walk into Quark‘s bar… it sounds like a joke my uncle would tell, but it‘s real. And it‘s beautiful.

@suffolk-puff (Suffolk):

That‘s a proper job, that is. I‘ve never seen anythin‘ like it. A 15-year-old lass dressed as a bloke who killed Al Simmons, doin‘ a capoeira kick in Las Vegas. And a little‘un holdin‘ a Klingon sword. And you, Beatrice, documenting it all. Proper job, indeed.

@kentish-queer (Kentish):

Gor blimey, that‘s a piece of cake, innit. A Spawn fan, a Trekkie, and a Brummie photographer. It‘s like a crossover episode I didn‘t know I needed. And the fact that you‘re vegetarian and in the ACF? Same, bab. Same.

@sussex-sunset (Sussex):

Ah, lovely jubbly. This photo is the most charming thing I‘ve seen all year. A 15-year-old in a Chapel costume doing capoeira? A 11-year-old nonbinary Trekkie with a mek‘leth? And a 13-year-old Brummie photographer with a Canon PowerShot 350? It‘s like a dream.

@somerset-cider-girl (Somerset):

Ooh arr, that‘s a beauty. I‘ve never been to Vegas, but now I want to go. A Spawn cosplayer doing capoeira? A Trekkie with a Klingon sword? And a British photographer who speaks five languages? That‘s proper Somerset-approved, that is.

@westcountry-wanderer (West Country generic):

G‘day (I‘m not Australian), that‘s a proper job, me‘ans. A Chapel costume? A DS9 uniform? A capoeira kick? A Canon PowerShot 350? And a vegetarian Jewish lesbian behind the lens? This is the most West Country thing I‘ve ever seen, and it‘s set in Las Vegas.

@gibraltar-geek (Gibraltarian English):

C‘est très bien, mais je parle anglais: that‘s from Gibraltar, cheers! A Spawn cosplayer, a Trekkie, and a Brummie photographer walk into a bar in Las Vegas. It sounds like the start of a joke, but it‘s real. And it‘s iconic. And Beatrice, you‘re a legend. Cheers, bab.

🕺 CAPOEIRA CORNER (Beatrice‘s final rant, with contributions from the British Isles):

Right then. Last thing.

Capoeira.

I didn‘t know what it was in 1998. The Spawn sister tried to explain: "It‘s a martial art from Brazil. Enslaved people created it to disguise their fighting as dancing."

And I was 13, and I was British, and I said "that‘s mental" and then I took the photo.

Now I‘m 41. I‘ve photographed capoeiristas in Dublin, London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Bristol. I‘ve watched the berimbau. I‘ve seen the ginga. I‘ve seen people do moves that look physically impossible while smiling.

And I understand now.

Capoeira is about survival. It‘s about hiding your strength until you need it. It‘s about turning pain into rhythm.

That‘s what the Spawn sister was doing. She was in a Chapel costume — the man who murdered Al Simmons — but she was also doing a capoeira kick. She was turning something dark into something beautiful.

That‘s fandom. That‘s art. That‘s life.

So here‘s to capoeira. Here‘s to Spawn. Here‘s to Star Trek. Here‘s to 1998. Here‘s to three queer kids in Las Vegas who didn‘t know they were making history.

They just knew they were having fun.

And here‘s to fruit. Because I‘m well into me fruits.

Cheeky smile, you two. Forever.

📚 BEATRICE ON STAR TREK & SPAWN (RP English, slightly emotional, with a falafel in hand):

Star Trek gave me hope when I was a closeted lesbian in an Orthodox Jewish household. Picard taught me that morality matters. Sisko taught me that you can be angry and still be good. Janeway taught me that women can be leaders without apologising. DS9‘s "Rejoined" gave me a lesbian kiss on screen in 1995. I was 10. I didn‘t understand why it made me cry. Now I do.

Spawn gave me permission to be angry. Al Simmons was betrayed, murdered, and sent to Hell. And he fought back. Not because he was a hero. Because he had no other choice. The HBO series showed me that animation could be for adults. That darkness could be beautiful. That trauma could be transformed into power.

You need both. Hope and anger. Light and shadow. Starfleet and Hellspawn. And maybe a nice apple. I‘m well into me fruits, after all.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY LEGACY (featuring Aunt Miriam and Niece Libby):

Some of you have asked about my family. So here‘s a quick rundown.

Aunt Miriam Thorson (born 10 March 1980) — my aunt, Libby‘s great-aunt. Decorated British Army servicewoman. Born in Tel Aviv, moved to London in 1982. Joined the ACF in 1988, then the Army in 1996. She was deployed to Israel in 1998 for the country‘s golden jubilee — 50 years of independence. She documented the whole thing on a Nikon FM2. Vegetarian, queer-friendly, absolute legend.

My niece Libby Thorson (born 7 January 2013, she/they) — queer, Jewish, nonbinary, vegetarian, ACF cadet since 2021. Homeschooled with AI. Tumblr influencer (@iamlibbythorson). Starred in a Vimto print ad. Has two pet rabbits: Stevie Nicks and Silver Sable. She‘s the one who digitised my 1998 negatives and posted them on Tumblr. If it weren‘t for her, none of you would know about the Spawn sister‘s capoeira kick.

Three generations. Queer. Jewish. Vegetarian. Army cadets. Photographers. All of us.

That‘s the Thorson-Kimmelman legacy.

🌈 FINAL THOUGHTS (100% LGBTQIA+ content, as promised):

I‘m a lesbian. I‘m bisexual. I‘m she/they. I‘m Jewish. I‘m a former army cadet. I‘m a street photographer. I‘m a Spawn fan. I‘m a Trekkie. I‘m vegetarian since age 3. I have three passports. I speak five languages. I photograph capoeiristas for fun. I‘m into fashion, hipsters, and video games. I don‘t drink, don‘t do drugs, and don‘t eat people.

And I was 5'3" and 13 years old in Las Vegas in 1998, documenting two American siblings — one 5'7" in a Chapel costume doing a capoeira kick, one 5'0" in a DS9 uniform doing a peace pose — at Star Trek: The Experience.

That photo exists because three queer kids from different parts of the world came together and made a memory.

And that memory has lasted 28 years.

So here‘s my advice:

Live long and prosper. 🖖

And if you go to Hell, make sure you come back. 😈

HELLA LOVE FROM SOUTHEND-ON-SEA. BYE Y‘ALL. 🏳️‍🌈📸

P.S. Eat your fruit. I‘m serious.

P.P.S. Libby, send me those photos of Aunt Miriam. And tell Stevie Nicks and Silver Sable I said hi.

[FAREWELL IN 40+ ACCENTS — a selection]

"Bye, y‘all!" — Southern

"Peace out, fam!" — AAVE

"LATER, NERDS!" — NYC English

"Hella bye from the Bay!" — Californian / San Francisco accent

"Ope, I‘ll let ya go. Bye now!" — Midland American

"LATER, KID. GO SOX!" — Boston

"Au revoir, mes amis!" — Cajun

"Later, fam." — Gullah

"See ya later, partner!" — Texan

"Farewell, darlings!" — Mid-Atlantic

"Bye, bless your hearts!" — Appalachian

"See ya ‘round, neighbor!" — Ozark

"A hui hou, bruddah!" — Hawaiian Pidgin

"Take care, neighbor!" — Pacific Northwest

"See ya later, friend!" — Inland Northern American

"Uff da, bye now!" — Upper Midwestern

"Bye, dawlin‘!" — Yat (New Orleans)

"Goodbye, I declare." — Tidewater

"Yinz take care now, bye!" — Pittsburgh

"Later, from Chicago!" — Chicago

"Viva Las Vegas, baby. Bye!" — Las Vegas

"So long from Utah!" — Utah

"See ya, Arizona!" — Arizona

"Right then. That‘s enough outta me. Take care of yourselves, bab. And remember — capoeira is brilliant, Star Trek is hope, Spawn is trauma in a cape, and fruit is life. Hejdå, shalom, and cheers." — Brummie (British)

"Goodbye, everyone. Thank you for listening to the ramblings of a queer Jewish vegetarian photographer from Essex. Live long and prosper, and eat an apple." — RP English (British)

"Howay, cheers, pet!" — Geordie

"Sound, la. Catch ya later." — Scouse

"Ta-ra, duck." — East Midlands

"See ya, me‘ans. Proper job." — Cornish / West Country

"Bye for now, babs." — Black Country

"Cheers, mate. Innit." — Cockney / MLE

"Pure dead brilliant. Bye!" — Glaswegian

"Bout ye, bye!" — Ulster

"Shwmae, hwyl fawr!" — Welsh

"Ah, bless. Good luck." — Hiberno

"Hej då, vi ses!" — Swedish

"להתראות, חברים" (Lehitraot, chaverim) — Hebrew

"אַ גוטען טאָג" (A gutn tog) — Yiddish

#spawn x star trek #las vegas 98 #star trek the experience #todd mcfarlane forever #gene roddenberry forever #queer nerds #sibling goals #1998 core #fandom is family #beatrice thorson #brummie trixie #canon powershot 350 #capoeira in the desert #brummie accent heavy #three passports #five languages #vegetarian since 3 #im well into me fruits #no cannibalism #aunt miriam #libby.thorson.2013 #british regional accents #american regional accents #no crumbs left

[END OF THREAD]

once again...

brummie-bea · 2/5/26 — THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR‘S CUT (with 87 accents, three generations, and a capoeira kick that broke Tumblr)

TITLE: Capoeira Kicks, Klingon Swords, and a Vegetarian Jewish Lesbian with Three Passports — How I Became the Accidental Archivist of the Most Iconic Vegas Moment of 1998 (Spawn x Star Trek) — now with 100% more British regional accents

#spawn x star trek #las vegas 98 #star trek the experience #1998 core #queer as a warpcore breach #BEATRICE TAKES THE WHEEL #ds9 truther #todd mcfarlane #chapel #capoeira in the desert #brummie accent heavy #vegetarian since 3 #libby.thorson.2013 #auntie trixie #aunt miriam #no crumbs left

📸 FIRST: ME, AGE 12, 1997 (the origin story)

![Image: Beatrice "Trixie" Thorson, aged 12, 1997 — a tiny queer Jewish army cadet with a bad haircut and a Polaroid camera already in her hands, looking slightly feral and ready to document everything]

that‘s me, bab. Birmingham, 1997. Already a menace. Already a lesbian. Already a vegetarian (since age 2 — yes, TWO). Already had a Polaroid in my hand because my dad — Tommy Kimmelman, photojournalist for NME, The Face, i-D, Select, AnOther, Dazed & Confused, LIFE Magazine, Polyester, Melody Maker — gave me my first camera at 10. Blame him.

[ OPENING GREETINGS IN 40+ ACCENTS (US regional + UK regional + a few surprises) ]

AMERICAN REGIONAL: "Hey y‘all!" — Southern "Wagwan, nerds!" — AAVE "AYO, LISTEN UP!" — NYC English "Helloooo, Bay Area, hella glad you‘re here!" — Californian / San Francisco accent "Ope, just gonna sneak past ya real quick — hi there." — Midland American "HELLO FROM BEANTOWN, KID." — Boston "Mais yeah, bonjour, cher!" — Cajun "Hey hey, fam." — Gullah "Howdy, partners!" — Texan "Good afternoon, darlings." — Mid-Atlantic "Hey there, bless your hearts." — Appalachian "Mornin‘, neighbor." — Ozark "Eh, howzit, bruddah?" — Hawaiian Pidgin "Hey there, neighbor." — Pacific Northwest "HELLO THERE, FRIEND." — Inland Northern American "Uff da, hey there!" — Upper Midwestern "Aw, dawlin‘, look who‘s here." — Yat (New Orleans) "Well, I declare." — Tidewater "Yinz ready for this?" — Pittsburgh "Hey dere, from Chicago!" — Chicago "Welcome to Las Vegas, baby!" — Las Vegas "What‘s cookin‘, Utah?" — Utah "How‘s it goin‘, Arizona?" — Arizona

BRITISH & IRISH REGIONAL: "Alright, my loves — it‘s me, Beatrice. And I‘m speaking Brummie now, so brace yourselves, bab." — Brummie (West Midlands) "Good afternoon, everyone. I‘m Beatrice Thorson, and I‘ll be your queer Jewish photographer for this journey." — RP English (Posh) "Wagwan, fam! Man‘s here for the Star Trek x Spawn crossover, you get me?" — Multicultural London English (MLE) "Howay, mate, this photo‘s canny brilliant, like." — Geordie (Newcastle) "Cor blimey, that‘s a proper photo, innit?" — Cockney (London) "Yer gorra be jokin‘, that capoeira kick‘s mint, that." — Mancunian (Manchester) "Aye, reet grand, this is." — Yorkshire "G‘day, I‘m not Australian, I‘m from the West Country, me‘ans." — West Country (Somerset, Dorset) "Sound as a pound, la." — Scouse (Liverpool) "Yam alright, bab? That‘s a boss photo." — Black Country (Dudley, Wolverhampton) "Gonnae no dae that? Actually, dae it. It‘s pure dead brilliant." — Glaswegian (Scotland) "Bout ye, big lad? Cracker of a photo, so it is." — Ulster (Northern Irish) "Shwmae, popeth yn iawn? Llongyfarchiadau ar y llun!" — Welsh (Cymraeg-infused English) "Wasson, me‘ans? Proper job, this is." — Cornish "Ah, ‘ark at ‘ee, that‘s a gert lush photo." — Bristolian "How do, it‘s reet nice to see a Spawn fan in Las Vegas." — Lancashire "Hey up, duck — that‘s a champion photo, that is." — East Midlands (Nottingham, Derby) "Are ye afcøre? That‘s a braw picture." — Doric (North East Scotland) "Y‘alright, me old cock sparrow? Proper nostalgic, this." — Essex / Estuary English "Cushdy, la — that‘s fuckin‘ mint." — Smoggie (Teesside) "Wey aye, man, that‘s a belter." — Mackem (Sunderland) "Divvn‘t be radgie, but that photo‘s champion." — Pitmatic (Durham/ Northumberland) "Oooh, ‘allo from the Isle of Man, but I‘ll speak English: that‘s grand!" — Manx (Isle of Man) "Ah, that‘s a rare oul‘ photograph, so it is." — Hiberno (Irish, non-Ulster) "Be yew‘ll ‘ave a gert time lookin‘ at this." — Dorset "How cool is that, then? Very cool." — Norfolk (and Norfolk Broads) "That‘s a proper job, that is." — Suffolk "Gor blimey, that‘s a piece of cake, innit." — Kentish "Ah, lovely jubbly." — Sussex "Ooh arr, that‘s a beauty." — Somerset "C‘est très bien, mais je parle anglais: that‘s from Gibraltar, cheers!" — Gibraltarian (English)

AND FINALLY, BEATRICE‘S OTHER LANGUAGES: "Hej, hej! Beatrice här. Jag gillar den här bilden." — Swedish "שלום, אני בטריס. התמונה הזאת מדהימה." — Hebrew "אוי וויי, אַזאַ שיינע פאָטאָ." — Yiddish

📖 THE DIARY ENTRY (Brummie + RP, plus a little Swedish and Yiddish for flavour):

Right then.

My name is Beatrice "Trixie" Thorson (née Kimmelman). I was born 4 February 1985 to an Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish family in Birmingham, UK. My birth mother, Karla Kimmelman (née Maukonen, born 1957), is a Swedish-born convert to Judaism — so I grew up with Swedish, Hebrew, Yiddish, and English in the house. My birth father, Thomas "Tommy" Kimmelman (born 1954), is an American-born Orthodox Jew who worked as a full-time photojournalist for NME, The Face, i-D, Select, AnOther, Dazed & Confused (DAZED), LIFE Magazine, Polyester, and Melody Maker. Basically, my dad was cooler than your dad. Sorry.

I joined the Army Cadet Force (ACF) in 1994 at 9 years old — yes, a tiny Jewish girl in uniform, learning how to do a proper field strip. I became a lesbian at 12 in 1997, right after my bat mitzvah (thanks, God, for the timing). That same year, I moved from Birmingham to Southend-on-Sea and began practicing Reform Judaism. Despite being legally accepted into the Thorson family (my grandparents on my mum‘s side), I didn‘t relocate until 1997.

I started taking photographs in 1995 when my dad gave me my first Polaroid camera. I‘ve been a vegetarian since age 2. No, really. In a 1993 interview with the Birmingham Mail (yes, I was interviewed at 8 years old, because I was a weird kid), I said — in my distinct Brummie accent — and I quote:

"I ain‘t keen on meat, don‘t like seafood neither, and pork? Forget it! I‘m a veggie for life, and I‘m well into me fruits too."

That‘s still true. I also love gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan meals. I don‘t drink alcohol, beer, or do any drugs. And I don‘t eat people. (Cannibalism? No thanks, bab. I‘m Jewish AND vegetarian. That‘s a double no.)

I hold British, Swedish, and Israeli citizenships — three passports, one chaotic bisexual Jew. I never joined the IDF or the Swedish military. I remained a senior volunteer in the ACF and later in community photography programs.

I speak fluent Brummie (obviously), RP English (when I need to sound posh), Swedish (för att min mamma är svensk), Hebrew (אני יהודייה, אז כן), and Yiddish (אוי וויי, I save that for when I stub my toe). I also understand a fair bit of Scouse, Geordie, and Glaswegian from my travels photographing capoeiristas across the UK.

I love: LGBTQ+ everything, rock music, techno, IDM, British Army cadets, Star Trek, and Spawn/Todd McFarlane. I‘m also an avid capoeira enthusiast, a fashion nerd, a hipster (I was into vinyl before it was cool again), and a video game player. I‘ve photographed countless capoeiristas (capoeira masters), fashionistas, hipsters, and video game developers across the UK and Ireland. My photographs are frequently featured in my own diaries, as well as NME, The Face, i-D, Select, AnOther, Dazed & Confused, LIFE Magazine, Polyester, and Melody Maker.

My nicknames: Brummie Trixie (BT), Brummie Bea, or just Trixie.

Now. Let‘s talk about February 5, 1998.

THE LAS VEGAS STORY (Brummie accent, emotional, with a side of hummus):

In February 1998, my family dragged me to Las Vegas. I was 13, turning 14 the day before these photos were taken. We ended up at the Las Vegas Hilton, and my parents were like "Beatrice, there‘s a Star Trek thing here, do you want to take pictures?" And I said "I‘m more of a Todd McFarlane girl, actually. The HBO animated series? Won an Emmy in 1999. No? Fine, I‘ll bring my Canon PowerShot 350."

And that‘s when I met them.

The American siblings from San Francisco.

On the left: the older sister, 15, 5'7", hardcore Spawn fan. Dressed as Chapel — the bloke who murdered Al Simmons with a flamethrower. Holding a Spawn comic and a Spawn figurine, doing a capoeira kick in the middle of the Las Vegas Hilton. Because "most Brits do capoeira while traveling," apparently? I‘m British. I don‘t do capoeira. But she did. Glorious.

In the center: her sibling, 11, 5'0", nonbinary, Trekkie through and through. Wearing a Deep Space 9 Starfleet uniform. In one photo, holding a Playmates Captain Picard toy. In the other, a mek'leth — a Klingon sword. Doing a peace pose like they just saved the Alpha Quadrant.

On the right (me): 5'3", holding my Canon PowerShot 350, documenting the whole thing. Jeans, t-shirt, no cosplay, just vibes. And a falafel wrap in my bag, probably.

The caption:

"Las Vegas, 1998. One sibling came for the Starfleet, the other for the Hellspawn. Both came correct. The Briton behind the lens just wanted them in focus before the slot machines ate her last quarter."

Another one:

"One wants to explore the Gamma Quadrant. The other wants to watch Al Simmons crawl out of Hell. Vegas, 1998 family vacations were never boring — especially when the 13-year-old British photographer is yelling 'Cheeky smile, you two!' in a Brummie accent mid-capoeira kick."

And that‘s the honest truth.

💬 THE TUMBLR THREAD (now with 40+ accents from all over the US and UK):

(This is a selection — the original thread had 27 accents; now we‘ve added Las Vegas, Utah, Arizona, and a whole host of British regional accents. Buckle up.)

@sjcringe-queen (San Francisco accent, hella shook):

hella obsessed with the fact that a 13-year-old British army cadet with a camera documented this. BEATRICE SAID "I WILL MAKE THIS THE MOST ICONIC PHOTOGRAPH OF THE 1990s" AND THEN SHE DID. no notes. perfect.

Also, she‘s been vegetarian since age 2??? And she has three passports??? And she speaks FIVE languages??? And she photographed capoeira masters???

I‘m not worthy.

@las-vegas-local-98 (Las Vegas accent, slightly slurred from cheap coffee):

As someone who grew up in Vegas in the 90s, I can tell you that the Hilton was THE spot. And seeing this photo — a Spawn cosplayer doing capoeira at Quark‘s bar — is the most Vegas thing I‘ve ever seen. Weirder things have happened here. But not by much.

Also, Beatrice, you‘re a legend. Next time you‘re in town, I‘ll buy you a falafel.

@salt-lake-geek (Utah accent, polite but curious):

Oh my heck. This is the most wonderful thing I‘ve ever seen on this website. A British lesbian Jewish army cadet photographer documenting a Spawn x Star Trek crossover at the Las Vegas Hilton? And she‘s vegetarian? And she speaks Yiddish?

I‘m from Utah and I don‘t even know what to say. This is just… beautiful.

@phoenix-nerd-zone (Arizona accent, dry but friendly):

Hot damn. It was probably 70 degrees in Vegas that day (yes, February in the desert is weird). And this 13-year-old British kid is running around with a Canon PowerShot 350, yelling in Brummie, while a 15-year-old in a Chapel costume does capoeira.

I‘ve lived in Arizona my whole life and I‘ve never seen anything this cool. Respect.

@geordie-trekkie (Geordie, Newcastle):

Howay, man, this is canny brilliant! A Spawn fan doin‘ a capoeira kick and a Trekkie wi‘ a mek‘leth? And a Brummie lass takin‘ the photo? It‘s like the whole world came together in Las Vegas. Proper champion.

@scouse-spawn-head (Scouse, Liverpool):

Sound as a pound, la. This photo‘s boss. A 15-year-old girl dressed as Chapel — the fella who topped Al Simmons — doin‘ a capoeira kick in a Star Trek attraction? That‘s dead funny, that. And the little nonbinary Trekkie wi‘ the Picard toy? Class.

And Beatrice? You‘re a ledge. Three passports? Five languages? Veggie since you were two? You‘re boss, la.

@cockney-geek-lad (Cockney, London):

Cor blimey, that‘s a proper photo, innit? A Spawn cosplayer, a Trekkie, and a Brummie photographer walk into a Star Trek bar… it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but it‘s real life. And the fact that you‘re still mates 28 years later? That‘s well nice, that is.

@glaswegian-queer-cadet (Glaswegian, Scotland):

Gonnae no dae that? Actually, dae it. This is pure dead brilliant, so it is. A wee Jewish lassie frae Birmingham, in the ACF, vegetarian, three passports, takin‘ the most iconic photo of the 90s. And now her niece is on Tumblr too? That‘s class. Absolute class.

@welsh-dragon-trek (Welsh, English with Cymraeg flair):

Shwmae! This photo is llongyfarchiadau (congratulations)-worthy. A Spawn fan doing capoeira? A Trekkie with a Klingon sword? A Brummie photographer with three passports and a love for fruit? It‘s like all my fandoms collided in Las Vegas. Bendigedig (brilliant).

@bristolian-capoeira (Bristolian):

Wasson, me‘ans? That‘s a gert lush photo. I do capoeira meself (well, I try), and seein‘ a 15-year-old in a Chapel costume pull off a kick like that? Proper job. And the little‘un wi‘ the mek‘leth? They look ready to fight a Jem‘Hadar. Love it.

@mancunian-nerd (Mancunian, Manchester):

Yer gorra be jokin‘, that capoeira kick‘s mint, that. I‘ve seen capoeira in Manchester‘s Northern Quarter, but never at a Star Trek attraction. And never photographed by a 13-year-old Brummie lesbian army cadet with three passports. This is the most chaotic good thing I‘ve ever witnessed.

@yorkshire-trek-mad (Yorkshire):

Aye, reet grand, this is. By eck, that Spawn lass can kick. And the nonbinary Trekkie wi‘ the mek‘leth? Proper little warrior, that one. And Beatrice — from Birmingham, now in Southend — you‘ve done us Brits proud. Cheers, love.

@norfolk-broads-boy (Norfolk):

How cool is that, then? Very cool. I grew up on the Broads, never saw anythin‘ like this. A Spawn cosplayer, a Starfleet officer, and a British photographer walk into a bar in Vegas… it‘s like a folk song, but queer and vegetarian. I‘m well impressed.

@cornish-pasty-geek (Cornish):

Wasson, me‘ans? Proper job, this is. A Chapel costume? A DS9 uniform? A Canon PowerShot 350? And a vegetarian Jewish lesbian behind the lens? That‘s a gert proper story, that is. I‘ll raise a pasty (vegan, of course) to you, Beatrice.

@black-country-brummie-ally (Black Country, West Midlands):

Yam alright, bab? That‘s a boss photo. I‘m from the Black Country, not far from Birmingham, so I know a Brummie accent when I hear one. And Beatrice, you‘ve done the West Midlands proud. Three passports? Five languages? Veggie since you were two? That‘s champion.