Creator Spotlight: Meet Kay In The Bayou, a Disney Pin Trader With More Princess Tiana Memorabilia Than She Can Keep Count

From Charlotte to Cinderella's castle, Kay In The Bayou has built a community around her love for Disney, pin trading, and all things Princess Tiana. Known for sharing her trading finds and park adventures, she's a proud out-of-town Mouseketeer with a passion for connecting with fellow Disney fans. In this Creator Spotlight, Kay shares how she got started with Disney pin trading, what fuels her love for Princess Tiana, and the stories behind some of her favorite pieces of memorabilia.

How did your Disney journey began?

My Disney journey began as a child growing up in California. Every summer, my parents would take us to Disneyland, and it quickly became one of the things I looked forward to most each year. Those trips created some of my favorite childhood memories and sparked my love for Disney from an early age.

Over time, that love grew into a deeper appreciation for the magic, nostalgia, and sense of community that Disney brings. Now, Disney is not only something I enjoy personally, but something I also love sharing with my own family and through my experiences with pin trading and the Disney community.

What initially drew you to Disney pin trading, and what makes it special to you?

Pin trading first came into my life through TikTok. At first, I wasn’t sure if it was something I would truly enjoy or take seriously. But when I finally decided to fully jump into the hobby, I lost my brother that same week.

Since then, pin trading has become so much more than just collecting pins for me. It has honestly helped me through my grieving process. The community, the connections, and the joy that comes with trading gave me something positive to hold onto during one of the hardest times in my life. Every pin now feels tied to a memory, an experience, or a moment of healing, which is what makes it so special to me.

For someone new to this concept, how would you explain the culture of pin trading?

The culture around Disney pin trading is honestly its own little world—part collecting hobby, part social community, part treasure hunt. People will literally rope-drop stores looking for new releases the same way sneakerheads chase drops. It can be surprisingly welcoming because you instantly have a shared interest. Someone sees your Princess Tiana pin lanyard and suddenly you’re talking for 20 minutes about favorite rides and Disney trips.

What are some of your favorite pins in your collection? Why are they special to you?

One of my favorite pins in my collection is my 2019 WDI Princess Tiana Mother’s Day pin. This pin holds a very special place in my heart because it represents the year I became a mother to my first little princess.

What makes pin collecting so meaningful to me is the memories and emotions attached to each piece, and this pin captures one of the most life-changing and beautiful moments of my life. Every time I see it, I’m reminded of the joy, love, and excitement that came with becoming a mom for the very first time.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start pin trading?

Start small and treat pin trading like collecting memories first, not collecting valuable pins. That mindset changes everything. A lot of new traders get intimidated because they see people with giant binders, ultra-rare LE pins, spreadsheets, and terms like “scrappers, waffles, and fantasy pins" flying around. Meanwhile, they’re standing there with a starter lanyard and one cute castle pin wondering if they’re doing it wrong. You’re not.

What does representation and community mean to you within Disney spaces?

Representation in Disney spaces can mean something really powerful because Disney is tied so closely to imagination, childhood, family traditions, and identity. When people see themselves reflected there in characters, cast members, creators, merchandise, or even just the community around the parks, it changes the feeling from I’m visiting someone else’s story to I belong here too.

For a lot of Black Disney fans, especially, characters like Princess Tiana became deeply meaningful—not just because she exists, but because she exists as a fully loved princess in a space where many people hadn’t seen themselves centered before.

Keep up with Kay and her new pins on TikTok!