The Krafty Kween is bringing his cakes to Palm Springs

It has been a couple of years since Lio Botello appeared on Netflix’s Sugar Rush, but he’s been heating up the kitchen (and social media) ever since. Besides hanging out on The Kelly Clarkson Show, this Krafty Kween has appeared in all forms of media, spreading his message of inclusivity and optimism for the future of the LGBTQ community. Don’t let his height fool you, every inch of him is packed with positive energy – and he’s not hard on the eyes either. This month, this Dallas resident brings his sweets to Palm Springs’ Bouschet for an immersive fan experience on October 15^th – Krafty Kween Cocktail Hour & Cupcake Decorating Contest.

How did Lio learn his craft?

I learned some of the basics from my previous relationship. He let me help with decorating and assembling our cake pops, working on cupcakes, and some of the easier tasks. I learned most of what I utilize today on my own, he is a very talented cake artist but wasn’t the best teacher, or maybe I wasn’t the best student, lol. Since learning what I could from him, I learned a lot from one of our competitors from Sugar Rush, Amy Brace from Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe. She is always a call, DM, or text away any time I have a question or just need a little confidence booster. She is one of the most amazing humans. I joked one day that when I am questioning a design, I ask myself “W.W.A.D.?” and should wear it on a bracelet, and this week she surprised me with a custom bracelet I got in the mail! 

Being the fabulous Latino that he is, his sweet tooth was cultivated by his heritage.

Pan Dulce! Mexican sweet bread was my favorite. There were also these tres leches cakes with a fruit topping my grandma used to get every year on my sister’s birthday that I loved. I always remember being excited to get a slice.

Though complex, his family background has created the foundation for the confident marketing and baking master we see today.

I have a big family. My mother and father haven’t been together since I was a child. They had three children (me being the middle), my dad remarried twice more and had two kids the second time and two more the third. Mom found the love of her life and married my bonus dad, they had one child together. In case you lost count I have seven siblings.

I have an amazing relationship with my mom and bonus dad. She keeps my head on straight and he reminds me to slow down, pace myself with all the craziness life throws at me. My biological father isn’t in the picture but is around. We live in the same city, and he sees my brothers so that he has access to his grandkids, and I love that for him. I know it makes him feel good to play a role in their life and that makes me happy. 

Lio came out at 14 years old. Not only did he face the challenges of growing up in a Mexican/Spanish household, but he was also raised in the staunchly Texan environment of Fort Worth.

I was 14 years old, guess I came out early. My mom sat me down and asked me. It was tough because my older cousin had come out recently and she was one of his biggest supporters but when I answered “yes” that I was, she began to cry, and my heart sank. I was so confused and hurt at that very moment. She went on to explain how afraid she was of how hard the world can be on a gay person and that broke my heart even more. She wasn’t sad that I was gay, she was sad that she knew I would be treated differently or discriminated against. She asked me “With as hard as life can be already, are you sure this is who you are and that you want to add that to it?” I answered, “Yes,” and she hugged me and made sure I knew she still loved me.

My dad told me that he was “ok” but asked me to keep that part of my life and my family life separate. It didn’t make sense, but I was ok with that as I knew many had much worse reactions. I was a stubborn and flamboyant kid so he eventually came around and, I would hope, realized what crazy request that was.

As a cast member of Sugar Rush, he was often referred to as the “gay baker.” One’s sexuality as being used as a descriptor for a baking show seems like a non-sequitur. Was he bothered by the constant use of that label?

I don’t at all get bothered. I am gay. Proudly gay. I have had teens around the world send DMs saying they saw my episode and loved seeing my partner and me on the show being out and proud of who we are.

With Lio’s revealing social media – complete with short shorts, gym selfies, and steamy photoshoots – it was fitting that the casting opportunity for the show would slide into his DMs. Before he knew it, he was on set in Los Angeles.

My ex-business partner and I were watching Big Little Lies and got a DM from the casting producer for the show. We thought it was a scam. We said “sure” we were interested but didn’t think it was real. The casting process took 3 months.

It was surreal. They arranged and took care of everything and all I kept thinking was “they love us and our work enough to have us here and pay for all of this, this is nuts!” My partner had been baking for less than a couple of years and I had been assisting him for maybe 6 months.  I learned that we were just as talented as the people there with 10-20 years’ experience and earned our spot there. We won two of three challenges and we were definitely fan faves!

During COVID, there has been a boom in reality TV-based baking shows, with every network rushing to present its version of the next great baking show. Has reality TV helped or hindered the baking industry?

Oh, for sure it has helped! Baking is “cool” now. I don’t remember even thinking about how my birthday cake came to exist when I was a kid, but I have kids that have told their parents that I am their favorite baker! And that’s pretty kick-ass!

The reality of the life of a baker after a reality show is not as smooth sailing as you would think. The baking industry is still a hustle.

Even the expensive bakers are underpaid. We spend so much time on every cake that I when I do a breakdown from DMs for taking an order to boxing it up, it might seem like I am making a few bucks an hour. But I love it. So, I’ll keep doing it. Treat your bakers well! They feel the same way.

The Sugar Rush tagline for my season was “Time is the most important ingredient” and that’s how I feel now. I love baking and crafting my custom toppers, but I work full time at an insurance agency and help manage my partner Kameron Ross. I would love to spend the same 60-80 hours (I am a hustler) just baking and playing around with my recipe wish list, but I am usually pretty tight on time. I have to turn down probably 2-3 orders a week right now just to make sure I keep a schedule that allows me to give every order the love it deserves. If I had one more me then I would be set!

His partner, Kameron Ross, is also no stranger to reality TV. His country music career is taking off after a successful run on America’s Got Talent. They are impossibly hot together, and equally as charming. Media has swarmed around the two, calling them the “Power Couple of Dallas.”

I blush every time someone says that. We know so many successful couples that I look up to here in Dallas that I never would expect for people to call us that. I am humbled and feel so lucky to have a community that adores us and embraces us. 

Kameron and I actually met for the first time at our good friend Justin’s (Alyssa Edwards) Labor Day pool party. Kameron wouldn’t give me the time of day there and was trying to play things cool. But he was out with Justin a couple of weeks later and when Justin introduced us again, the rest was history. Guess he didn’t have it in him to hold back that night. 

Any relationship has its challenges, being in the public eye just adds to that pressure. Lio and Kameron keep up a stiff upper lip when it comes to social media.

Everybody has an opinion on what we should be like, do, dress like, act like; if not, they want to place labels on us. Kameron gets worked up by it, I take the “all press is good press” approach. This internet troll from Dallas shamed Kameron for not wearing a shirt in his music video and really upset all our mutual friends but I was just glad to count his view on the video and hoped he purchased it on iTunes. I appreciated the gossip buzz around the song. 

While his partner is busy creating music, Lio is busy creating in the kitchen. His creative process is simple and effective.

A little dance, maybe a cocktail while scrolling through endless photos, LOL. I don’t know…I just get silly and make sure I am enjoying it.

Since branching off from Sugar Rush, he has established himself as a singular brand – the Krafty Kween. Despite the rainbow-inspired moniker, his client base is mostly from our ally community.

My customers are probably mostly straight. One thing you find out when becoming an entrepreneur is that you get the most support from the people you least expect it from, strangers. I have some gays that are friends that would buy a bread crumb if I asked them to, but I also have some that will support another bakery just because. I am ok with it! I love my authentic customers and love people coming to me because they want to and not because I am gay.

His advice for someone just starting out in the baking industry?

Be honest with yourself and others about what you can do. With my old business partner, I had to refund (out of pocket) orders he would accept and couldn’t accomplish. I tell people exactly what I know I can do and what I work best with. I love how accepting they usually are of that. 

Baking and the LGBTQ community were thrust into the headlines as a particular bakery refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage. Should a bakery have to fulfill an order, even if it goes against their religion?

Absolutely, but I don’t want them to. There are way too many accepting bakers or LGBTQ bakers that will do the job. I feel that if you turn down gay wedding cakes then you should have to post it publicly though. I want to know that you wouldn’t bake my cake if I was just in to buy a cupcake. I don’t want to support your business for years and then decide to trust you with my special day only to find out you hate my people. Let me know the moment I walk into your shop; I want the option to not support a business that doesn’t like my community. 

Lio is using his voice and social media presence to affect our community. There is philanthropic energy put into everything that he bakes.

I continue to give back to my community when I can. It’s important to me. I have two huge charity events I am baking for here in Dallas later this year and don’t plan to ever stop. If I love your cause, then I will support you in every way I can! 

As any good gay would ask, how does Lio maintain that physique surrounded by sweets? 

Do you remember in the movie Selena when she said she ate an entire medium pizza and doesn’t work out and that’s how she keeps her amazing figure? Well, I’m the opposite. [Laughs] I spend about 1.5-2 hours a day in the gym. It’s a great time to get stuff done, though. I think the clearest when I am in the gym. Mid-set, I’m thinking about someone I should message about a collab or a recipe I want to try. 

His personal binge favorite? 

I loooooove cake pops. And my Rainbow Tacos, fruity pebble taco shell and cheesecake mousse. **Drool**

Lastly, is everything bigger in Texas?  

The cakes are definitely bigger. 😉 

You can follow Lio on IG @LioBee

And get your tickets for his PS experience on Friday, October 15^th at Bouschet.com/events.  

He made Simon Cowell stop in his tracks on AGT and now Kameron Ross is headed to Palm Springs