TWO Launceston business owners have shared their journey in overcoming homophobia, arranged marriage, and depression to create a successful local businesses.

In May 2026, Kayee Reddy and his partner Gianni opened their new business, Cloud Desserts, in Launceston, offering locals a new spot to find a waffle, milkshake, or something sweet, however, they have shared the heartwarming story behind the business - something which they say ‘represents something much bigger’.

The pair have said the Launceston dessert shop represents ‘starting again, finding freedom, finding purpose and building a life that we once weren’t sure we’d ever have.’

Kayee, a British-born South Asian, explained how growing up he experienced a lot of pressure surrounding marriage and expectations about what life should look like.

“At the time, I had already been with my partner, Gianni, for five years,” he said. “My family had always loved him, and we had built a life together.”

However, other relatives weren’t as accepting.

“Following the death of my uncle, I met more of my extended family,” Kayee continued. “They did not accept that I was gay. I was shunned and made to feel as though there was something wrong or disgusting about who I was.

“The pressure to conform eventually became overwhelming.”

Kayee was sent to Pakistan, and on the day he arrived, he was married.

“The circumstances surrounding the marriage left me feeling completely powerless,” he continued. “My passport and money were taken from me, and I felt that I had no choice but to comply with the rules being imposed upon me. But Gianni refused to give up on me.”

Gianni devised a plan, telling Kayee’s family that he needed to return to the UK immediately for heart surgery, booking Kayee a ticket home.

Looking for a fresh start the pair looked to Cornwall as a safe haven.

“After everything that had happened, I knew that I never wanted to live my life feeling ashamed of who I loved again,” Kayee added.

With Gianni’s mother living in Paignton, the pair looked for a location not too far away, eventually landing on Launceston.

“We found a wonderful landlady in Launceston who heard our story and was willing to give us a home,’ Kayee explained. “When we first arrived, I was severely depressed and wasn’t working. I had a lot of free time, and I started spending it cooking.

“Something unexpected happened, people loved my food, but what I loved most was seeing people’s faces light up when they tried something I had made.”

Kayee said the hobby gave him a sense of purpose, and grew to be something the pair bonded over.

“We discovered a real love for baking and cooking together, and it became part of our life as a couple,” explained Kayee

Having previous business experience, the pair saw a gap in the market locally and decided to jump in feet first, combining their shared passion with a chance to make a living.

“We had always struggled with confidence and had often felt as though we weren’t achieving what we were capable of. Starting a new business felt enormous, but we decided to try.

“We took on as much overtime as we could, and Gianni barely slept. Every penny we earned went straight back into the dream.

“We spent our money decorating the shop, buying equipment, sourcing ingredients and getting everything ready.”

Despite setbacks, the pair officially opened their doors on May 28, with the business growing ever since.

“What started as two people sitting together craving dessert has become a real business that people in Launceston have embraced. But Cloud Desserts isn’t just about waffles, crepes, milkshakes and desserts to us, it represents freedom, it represents finding purpose after losing it, iIt represents two people who didn’t have much money but were willing to work incredibly hard for something they believed in, it represents finding a home in Cornwall.”