The Queer Eye star is honored for his dedication to HIV/AIDS awareness and mental health advocacy in the Black community

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Today, Parade, the premium legacy entertainment and lifestyle brand, named TV host, actor and author Karamo Brown as an honoree in its Changemakers 2025 franchise.

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Actor, Television Host and Author Karamo Brown Named 2025 ‘Changemaker’ by Parade (Photo: Business Wire)

Changemakers 2025 spotlights celebrities, advocates and influencers who actively work to bring solutions to some of the most pressing issues of today. The Parade Editorial Board will continue to reveal additional honorees through the end of the year.

The Parade team chose Brown because of his hands-on involvement in and advocacy for the Black and LGBTQ+ communities.

Brown made his television debut in the 2004 MTV reality show The Real World: Philadelphia, where he became the first openly gay African American to appear on reality TV. He is now one of media’s most successful culture experts, best known as a member of the Fab Five on Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot and as host of his eponymous talk show, Karamo. Though his messages of acceptance and inclusivity now reach millions, Brown struggled with finding his voice as a young Afro-Latino child on the playgrounds of Coral Springs, Fla., where he preferred to be called K.K.

“I grew up in predominantly white neighborhoods, and unfortunately, [people] would act as if they didn't know how to pronounce my name,” Brown recalls. “So out of frustration and out of embarrassment, I just decided to go by my initials because it was easier.” As Brown grew up, however, he found the courage to embrace his birthname, Karamo, which in his culture translates to “educated.”

In 2015, Brown co-founded 6in10.org, an organization dedicated to addressing HIV stigma and providing mental health support and education to the Black LGBTQ+ community. He was appointed health and wellness ambassador for the National Black Justice Coalition in 2016. He was named a winner of the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in 2018 and continues his advocacy through his media platform and via speaking engagements around the world.

Brown remains hopeful despite cultural pushback on some of the very work he has dedicated his career to. “When I think of the word changemaker, I think of somebody who has the courage to know that what we are today is not the final stop — that we must keep going,” he tells Parade. “I think that every day when you're motivated by knowing that tomorrow must be better, that's what changemakers are about.”

About Parade

Parade, the premium legacy entertainment and lifestyle brand, has been enlightening, delighting and inspiring audiences for more than 80 years. Parade is owned and operated by The Arena Group (NYSE American: AREN), an innovative technology platform and media company with a proven cutting-edge playbook that transforms media brands. Arena’s unified technology platform empowers creators and publishers with tools to publish and monetize their content, while also leveraging quality journalism of anchor brands like TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal and Athlon Sports to build their businesses. The company aggregates content across a diverse portfolio of brands, reaching over 100 million users monthly. Visit us at thearenagroup.net and discover how we are revolutionizing the world of digital media.

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