Kendall Tichner is a queer archery star who is breaking boundaries in the traditionally male-dominated world of archery. Based in Brooklyn, Tichner is the founder and CEO of Wild Captives, a company that takes a new and inclusive approach to archery. Through her demo space in Brooklyn and her nearly 600,000 TikTok followers, Tichner showcases the fun and friendly side of the age-old sport.
Unlike the typical archery associations with game hunting and camo clothing, Tichner’s approach is all about empowering individuals, especially the queer community, to feel magical and heroic while practicing archery. In her TikTok videos, Tichner shows off her impressive archery skills, hitting balloons that explode into bursts of feathers in the sky and extinguishing flames with well-aimed arrows. Her videos have racked up tens of millions of views, making her an archery influencer.
Tichner’s interest in urban agriculture and ecology has led her to document her outdoor adventures and build a community through her Instagram account, “Wild Captives,” which she started a decade ago. During the first year of the pandemic, Tichner rediscovered her love for archery, and after posting a video of herself playing around with a bow on TikTok, she became an overnight sensation.
As Tichner’s following grew, she noticed that women and the queer community were being left out of the marketing narrative in the archery industry. Tichner decided to create her own archery kit, with everything a beginner would need to get started in their own backyard, without the need for camo clothing. Her audience loved the idea, and Tichner quickly turned her hobby into a successful business.
Kendall Tichner is a queer archery star who is breaking boundaries in the traditionally male-dominated world of archery. Based in Brooklyn, Tichner is the founder and CEO of Wild Captives, a company that takes a new and inclusive approach to archery. Through her demo space in Brooklyn and her nearly 600,000 TikTok followers, Tichner showcases the fun and friendly side of the age-old sport.
Unlike the typical archery associations with game hunting and camo clothing, Tichner’s approach is all about empowering individuals, especially the queer community, to feel magical and heroic while practicing archery. In her TikTok videos, Tichner shows off her impressive archery skills, hitting balloons that explode into bursts of feathers in the sky and extinguishing flames with well-aimed arrows. Her videos have racked up tens of millions of views, making her an archery influencer.
Tichner’s interest in urban agriculture and ecology has led her to document her outdoor adventures and build a community through her Instagram account, “Wild Captives,” which she started a decade ago. During the first year of the pandemic, Tichner rediscovered her love for archery, and after posting a video of herself playing around with a bow on TikTok, she became an overnight sensation.
As Tichner’s following grew, she noticed that women and the queer community were being left out of the marketing narrative in the archery industry. Tichner decided to create her own archery kit, with everything a beginner would need to get started in their own backyard, without the need for camo clothing. Her audience loved the idea, and Tichner quickly turned her hobby into a successful business.
Tichner’s mission is to create an inclusive archery company for “little freaks and fairies and people who just want to feel empowered and magical.” Through her business and social media presence, Tichner is empowering individuals to feel in touch with their bodies and femininity in ways they may not have previously thought possible.
While Tichner’s success has not gone unnoticed, she has also faced online criticism, particularly from men who challenge her archery skills and question her sex appeal. But Tichner refuses to let the negativity get to her, and instead focuses on the positive impact she is having on the archery world and the queer community. Through Wild Captives, Tichner is creating a new narrative for archery, one that is fun, friendly, and inclusive, and is inspiring people to feel empowered and magical while practicing the age-old sport.
Tichner’s mission is to create an inclusive archery company for “little freaks and fairies and people who just want to feel empowered and magical.” Through her business and social media presence, Tichner is empowering individuals to feel in touch with their bodies and femininity in ways they may not have previously thought possible.
While Tichner’s success has not gone unnoticed, she has also faced online criticism, particularly from men who challenge her archery skills and question her sex appeal. But Tichner refuses to let the negativity get to her, and instead focuses on the positive impact she is having on the archery world and the queer community. Through Wild Captives, Tichner is creating a new narrative for archery, one that is fun, friendly, and inclusive, and is inspiring people to feel empowered and magical while practicing the age-old sport.
