When Mike Ruiz isn't busy with his professional career, snapping photos of stars like Nicki Minaj, Betty White, and Khloe Kardashian, among many others, he's spending his time advocating for those less fortunate than him.
The celebrity photographer, who recently launched his "Pretty Masculine" App and is frequently seen on "RuPaul's Drag Race," spoke with Out magazine's Zack Rosen while visiting the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, or simply BARC, in Williamsburg in December.
Ruiz, who also blogs for The Huffington Post, discussed his own rescue pit, Oliver, the harmful treatment of dogs in puppy mills, why people should consider adopting pets from shelters like BARC and the "No Pet Store Puppies" campaign by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Helping needy animals isn't Ruiz's only passion. He also dedicates much of his time and energy to raising money for homeless LGBT youth. In December, the photographer turned his birthday party into a fundraiser that nabbed over $16,000 for NYC's Ali Forney Center.
Check out Ruiz's video interview above and if you want to take the pledge to ending animal cruelty and supporting ASPCA's campaign, visit their website, here. Below, take a look at photos from the photographer's new "Pretty Masculine" app.
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