‘Queer Eye’ Fans Have Crowdfunded $40,000 (And Counting) To Send Jess Back To College

Here’s some heartwarming news for your Friday: fans of Queer Eye have started a fundraiser to send Jess Guilbeaux, the hero of season three’s ‘Black Girl Magic’ episode, back to college. And it looks like she’s going to make it, because so far they’ve raised more than $40,000.

A fan named Vanessa Gamet said she felt “compelled” to start the fundraiser after she was moved by Jess’s episode.

“Jess Guilbeaux, from Queer Eye Season 3 , Episode 5, is a strong, black lesbian woman,” Gamet wrote. “When she came out to her adoptive family at 16, they threw her out and she’s been on her own financially ever since. She started taking classes at the University of Kansas as a Computer Science major but had to drop out due to debt.”

“Let’s send this smart and strong woman back to college to complete what she began and give her the future she deserves.”

It turns out more than a thousand fans felt similarly, and have chipped in to raise the funds Jess needs to go back to school. The campaign has raised $40,000 so far, towards a $100,000 goal.

For Jess, who had no idea the fundraiser was being set up, the surprise has been overwhelming. “This is so sweet, I have no words,” she tweeted a few days ago. She’s since confirmed that she’s been in touch with the Vanessa, and assured fans that the fundraiser is all legit and will go to her.

this is so sweet. i have no words. i’m dehydrated at this point???? https://t.co/bpKHVQjJNp

— Jess (@jesslayica) March 17, 2019

The GoFundMe is just another sweet reminder of the powerful force Queer Eye’s fans can be. Earlier this week, we found out that the Jones sisters from the show’s second season have been absolutely overwhelmed by demand for their BBQ sauce since their episode aired, and have already netted $75,000 in profits since then.

So sure, the Fab Five are out there improving lives, but their fans are with them every step of the way. If you want to chip in to Jess’s GoFundMe, here’s a link.