The Trans Handy Ma’am: the home repair TikToker championing renters

Mercury Stardust makes DIY home repair videos centering renters - and the person who thinks they can't fix anything

In April 2021, Mercury Stardust, a Wisconsin maintenance technician, was cleaning someone else's poop off myself" after a clogged toilet came apart. She happened to see a video of someone asking how to use a ratchet strap, one of those complicated-looking thingummies often used to tie down cargo. As soon as she tidied up, the 33-year-old responded as digital natives often do: she recorded an instructional video, wearing a (clean) flannel shirt and overalls while skillfully handling the tool in question.

The minute-long video introduced her signature enthusiastic and encouraging patter, ending with: Learning something new is a triumph, and I'm proud of you."