Ruby Diderich (22), Student Information & Communication Technology
Have your looks always stood out?
“No! In high school, my mother picked out my clothes: gray, black, and jeans. I didn’t like that and I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. When I was eighteen, I dared to come out as non-binary. I started dressing the way I wanted to. I never had a passion for shopping for clothes, because I thought I could only buy clothes for men. Now that I accept more options, I enjoy shopping a lot more. Now I often do it with my boyfriend.”
What was your first norm-breaking outfit?
“I was on holiday in Portugal. A small shop had a crop top. It was a top with the Champion logo in rainbow colours. I tried it on without any expectations. It looked so nice that I bought it straight away. I still wear it in the summer. After that, it was a lot of searching for clothes that fit me, but that search felt more liberating than it was difficult.”
Is a technical study a good fit for you?
“I am not technically minded: I have a knack for languages, but also for programming languages. I have been investing hours of time in it every day since I was thirteen. For me, programming is an expression of creativity. I am quite different from most people in ICT, but my passion ensures that I can get through it easily.”
What’s your best style advice?
“My friends and I have a fashion channel on Discord. We share all our outfits and tips there. I like to pay attention to the little things; that my earring matches my hair color, or that my belt is the same color as my sweater. I sometimes give that tip to a friend.”
text: Marije Kruithof
photo: Jasper van Overbeek
