Empress Jessica Akanke is Ms. BULGE Ambassador 2025, Co-Head of Household and co-founder of House Akanke, and a longtime advocate, educator, and leader within the Leather community. Since 2016, she has dedicated herself to service through organizing events, mentorship, and community education that centers consent, care, and cultural accountability.
A Black, Queer, bisexual, polyamorous, Dominant-leaning switch, Jessica brings intention, visibility, and a commitment to liberation to all aspects of her work. Alongside Madam Brianna Bunni Akanke, she co-founded House Akanke, a Queer female-led Leather house rooted in Black and Queer liberation and dedicated to building spaces where people are deeply cherished, supported, and empowered.
Professionally, Jessica is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Sex Doula, and embodiment educator. She is the founder of the Atlanta Embodiment Center, a kink-aware and sex-positive practice providing therapy, consultation, and educational programming focused on trauma, relationships, embodiment, pleasure, and personal transformation. She also serves as a Teaching Assistant with The Amina Institute, where she supports the training of practitioners in somatic approaches to sexuality, relationships, and healing.
Jessica’s advocacy work extends beyond clinical spaces. She serves on the Consent Counts Committee of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF), contributes to community wellness initiatives, and is the founder of the Unbound Pages Foundation, which provides free community book fairs and literary resources designed to expand access to knowledge, imagination, and radical storytelling.
Whether teaching classes, mentoring emerging leaders, or representing her title, Empress Jessica’s work lives at the intersection of mental health, sexuality, embodiment, and cultural justice. She believes deeply in honoring those who came before us while creating spaces where Black Leather women, femmes, and Queer people can exist, thrive, and be seen fully.