diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 5720b6e..fafc20f 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -163,12 +163,6 @@
 
                 <div id="messages" class="messages-panel messages-panel-focus"></div>
 
-                <div id="emptyState" class="empty-state">
-                    <p class="eyebrow">No messages yet</p>
-                    <h3>Write something when you're ready.</h3>
-                    <p>This can stay a plain chat. Personas and shared presets are optional.</p>
-                </div>
-
                 <div class="input-shell input-shell-focus">
                     <div class="input-meta">
                         <p class="composer-hint">Enter sends. Shift+Enter adds a new line.</p>
@@ -184,40 +178,48 @@
 </div>
 
 <div id="personaModal" class="modal-overlay hidden">
-    <div class="modal-card">
+    <div class="modal-card persona-modal-card">
         <div class="modal-header">
-            <h3 id="personaFormTitle">Create persona</h3>
+            <div class="persona-modal-heading">
+                <p class="eyebrow">Persona editor</p>
+                <h3 id="personaFormTitle">Create persona</h3>
+            </div>
             <button id="personaClose" type="button" class="icon-button">Cancel</button>
         </div>
         <form id="personaForm" class="persona-form">
-            <label class="field">
-                <span>Persona for</span>
-                <select id="personaType">
-                    <option value="assistant">AI persona</option>
-                    <option value="user">Your persona</option>
-                </select>
-            </label>
-            <p class="persona-helper">AI personas shape the assistant. Your persona gives the model user-side context.</p>
-            <label class="field">
-                <span>Name</span>
-                <input id="personaName" placeholder="Persona name" required/>
-            </label>
-            <label class="field">
-                <span>Pronouns</span>
-                <input id="personaPronouns" placeholder="e.g. she/her, they/them"/>
-            </label>
-            <label class="field">
-                <span>Appearance</span>
-                <textarea id="personaAppearance" rows="2" placeholder="Describe their look"></textarea>
-            </label>
-            <label class="field">
-                <span>Background</span>
-                <textarea id="personaBackground" rows="2" placeholder="Backstory or origins"></textarea>
-            </label>
-            <label class="field">
-                <span>Details</span>
-                <textarea id="personaDetails" rows="3" placeholder="Personality traits, voice, quirks, goals"></textarea>
-            </label>
+            <div class="persona-form-intro">
+                <p class="persona-helper">AI personas shape the assistant. User personas add context for how replies should read you.</p>
+            </div>
+            <p id="personaFormNotice" class="status hidden"></p>
+            <div class="persona-form-grid">
+                <label class="field field-wide">
+                    <span>Persona for</span>
+                    <select id="personaType">
+                        <option value="assistant">AI persona</option>
+                        <option value="user">Your persona</option>
+                    </select>
+                </label>
+                <label class="field">
+                    <span>Persona name</span>
+                    <input id="personaName" placeholder="Persona name" required/>
+                </label>
+                <label class="field">
+                    <span>Persona pronouns</span>
+                    <input id="personaPronouns" placeholder="e.g. she/her, they/them"/>
+                </label>
+                <label class="field field-wide">
+                    <span>Appearance</span>
+                    <textarea id="personaAppearance" rows="3" placeholder="Describe their look"></textarea>
+                </label>
+                <label class="field field-wide">
+                    <span>Background</span>
+                    <textarea id="personaBackground" rows="3" placeholder="Backstory, history, role, or origins"></textarea>
+                </label>
+                <label class="field field-wide">
+                    <span>Details</span>
+                    <textarea id="personaDetails" rows="4" placeholder="Personality traits, voice, goals, quirks, boundaries, style"></textarea>
+                </label>
+            </div>
             <div class="persona-actions">
                 <button id="personaSave" type="submit" class="primary-action">Save persona</button>
             </div>
diff --git a/public/script.js b/public/script.js
index 62c1fbe..4747e11 100644
--- a/public/script.js
+++ b/public/script.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 const $ = (id) => document.getElementById(id);
 const authDiv = $("auth"), chatDiv = $("chat"), authMsg = $("authMsg");
-const messagesDiv = $("messages"), emptyState = $("emptyState"), modelSelect = $("model");
+const messagesDiv = $("messages"), modelSelect = $("model");
 const loginForm = $("loginForm"), registerForm = $("registerForm"), msgInput = $("msgInput"), sendBtn = $("send");
 const loginUsernameInput = $("loginUsername"), loginPasswordInput = $("loginPassword");
 const registerUsernameInput = $("registerUsername"), registerPasswordInput = $("registerPassword");
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const personaList = $("personaList"), userPersonaList = $("userPersonaList");
 const personaForm = $("personaForm"), personaFormTitle = $("personaFormTitle"), personaTypeSelect = $("personaType");
 const personaNameInput = $("personaName"), personaPronounsInput = $("personaPronouns"), personaAppearanceInput = $("personaAppearance");
 const personaBackgroundInput = $("personaBackground"), personaDetailsInput = $("personaDetails");
+const personaFormNotice = $("personaFormNotice");
 const newPersonaBtn = $("newPersona"), newUserPersonaBtn = $("newUserPersona"), clearPersonaBtn = $("clearPersona"), clearUserPersonaBtn = $("clearUserPersona");
 const activePersonaStatus = $("activePersonaStatus"), activeUserPersonaStatus = $("activeUserPersonaStatus");
 const personaModal = $("personaModal"), personaCloseBtn = $("personaClose"), personaMenuButton = $("personaMenuButton"), personaPopover = $("personaPopover");
@@ -46,6 +47,16 @@ const del = (url) => request(url, null, "DELETE");
 
 function setAuthMessage(message, state = "") { authMsg.textContent = message; authMsg.className = state ? `status ${state}` : "status"; }
 function setNotice(message, state = "") { return {message, state}; }
+function setPersonaFormNotice(message = "", state = "") {
+    if (!personaFormNotice) return;
+    if (!message) {
+        personaFormNotice.textContent = "";
+        personaFormNotice.className = "status hidden";
+        return;
+    }
+    personaFormNotice.textContent = message;
+    personaFormNotice.className = state ? `status ${state}` : "status";
+}
 function setMessageContent(el, content) {
     if (window.marked && window.DOMPurify) {
         el.innerHTML = DOMPurify.sanitize(marked.parse(content, {breaks: true}));
@@ -53,7 +64,6 @@ function setMessageContent(el, content) {
         el.textContent = content;
     }
 }
-function updateEmptyState() { emptyState.classList.toggle("visible", currentMessages.length === 0); }
 function getChatById(id) { return chatSessions.find((chat) => chat.id === id); }
 
 function addMessage(content, isUser = false, isLoading = false) {
@@ -87,7 +97,6 @@ function addMessage(content, isUser = false, isLoading = false) {
 function renderMessages() {
     messagesDiv.innerHTML = "";
     currentMessages.forEach((msg) => addMessage(msg.content, msg.role === "user"));
-    updateEmptyState();
     updateChatActionState();
 }
 
@@ -178,10 +187,11 @@ function openPersonaForm(persona = null, personaType = "assistant") {
         personaTypeSelect.value = personaType; personaTypeSelect.disabled = false;
         personaNameInput.value = ""; personaPronounsInput.value = ""; personaAppearanceInput.value = ""; personaBackgroundInput.value = ""; personaDetailsInput.value = "";
     }
+    setPersonaFormNotice("");
     personaNameInput.focus();
 }
 
-function closePersonaForm() { personaModal.classList.add("hidden"); editingPersonaId = null; editingPersonaType = "assistant"; personaTypeSelect.disabled = false; }
+function closePersonaForm() { personaModal.classList.add("hidden"); editingPersonaId = null; editingPersonaType = "assistant"; personaTypeSelect.disabled = false; setPersonaFormNotice(""); }
 function closePersonaPopover() { personaPopover.classList.add("hidden"); personaMenuButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false"); }
 
 function renderPersonaList(items, activeId, listElement, personaType) {
@@ -252,9 +262,9 @@ async function clearPersona(type) {
 
 async function savePersona() {
     const payload = {personaType: personaTypeSelect.value, name: personaNameInput.value.trim(), pronouns: personaPronounsInput.value.trim(), appearance: personaAppearanceInput.value.trim(), background: personaBackgroundInput.value.trim(), details: personaDetailsInput.value.trim()};
-    if (!payload.name) return setNotice("Persona name is required.", "error");
+    if (!payload.name) return setPersonaFormNotice("Persona name is required.", "error");
     const res = editingPersonaId ? await put(`/personas/${editingPersonaId}`, payload) : await post("/personas", payload);
-    if (res.error) return setNotice(res.error, "error");
+    if (res.error) return setPersonaFormNotice(res.error, "error");
     const wasEditing = Boolean(editingPersonaId);
     await loadPersonas(); closePersonaForm(); setNotice(wasEditing ? "Persona updated." : "Persona created.", "success");
 }
@@ -391,7 +401,7 @@ async function sendMessage() {
         const autoTitle = message.length > 40 ? `${message.slice(0, 40)}...` : message;
         currentChat.title = autoTitle; updateWorkspaceCopy(); renderChatList(); await put(`/chats/${activeChatId}`, {title: autoTitle});
     }
-    currentMessages.push({role: "user", content: message}); addMessage(message, true); updateEmptyState(); updateChatActionState();
+    currentMessages.push({role: "user", content: message}); addMessage(message, true); updateChatActionState();
     msgInput.value = ""; msgInput.style.height = "auto"; setLoadingState(true); setNotice("Generating reply...");
     const loadingMsg = addMessage("", false, true);
     try {
@@ -423,7 +433,7 @@ registerForm.addEventListener("submit", (event) => { event.preventDefault(); han
 $("logout").addEventListener("click", async () => {
     await post("/logout", {}); chatDiv.style.display = "none"; authDiv.style.display = "grid";
     activeChatId = null; currentUsername = ""; currentSummary = null; chatSessions = []; currentMessages = []; assistantPersonas = []; userPersonas = [];
-    activePersonaId = null; activeUserPersonaId = null; publishedPersonaIds = new Set(); messagesDiv.innerHTML = ""; renderChatList(); updateEmptyState(); updateChatActionState();
+    activePersonaId = null; activeUserPersonaId = null; publishedPersonaIds = new Set(); messagesDiv.innerHTML = ""; renderChatList(); updateChatActionState();
     showAuthScreen("login"); setAuthMessage("Logged out.", "success"); setNotice("Ready.");
 });
 sendBtn.addEventListener("click", sendMessage);
@@ -440,5 +450,5 @@ personaMenuButton.addEventListener("click", togglePersonaPopover); personaPopove
 document.addEventListener("keydown", (event) => { if (event.key === "Escape") { closePersonaPopover(); closePersonaForm(); } });
 window.addEventListener("load", async () => {
     applyTheme(localStorage.getItem("krishd-theme") || "fakegpt", false);
-    setNotice("Ready."); updateEmptyState(); updateChatActionState(); await checkSession();
+    setNotice("Ready."); updateChatActionState(); await checkSession();
 });
diff --git a/public/style.css b/public/style.css
index 53a8942..92b7e25 100644
--- a/public/style.css
+++ b/public/style.css
@@ -334,8 +334,7 @@ h2 {
 .subtitle,
 .persona-guidance,
 .persona-helper,
-.composer-hint,
-.empty-state p:last-child {
+.composer-hint {
     margin: 0;
     color: var(--text-soft);
     line-height: 1.6;
@@ -390,7 +389,6 @@ h2 {
 .input-shell,
 .chat-sidebar,
 .messages-panel,
-.empty-state,
 .persona-popover,
 .modal-card,
 .market-shell {
@@ -758,7 +756,6 @@ select:focus {
 
 .workspace-overview,
 .messages-panel,
-.empty-state,
 .input-shell {
     border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
     padding: 14px;
@@ -863,18 +860,6 @@ select:focus {
     min-height: 0;
 }
 
-.empty-state {
-    display: none;
-    align-content: center;
-    justify-items: start;
-    gap: 8px;
-    background: rgba(250, 244, 235, 0.75);
-}
-
-.empty-state.visible {
-    display: grid;
-}
-
 .msg {
     max-width: min(78%, 780px);
     padding: 14px 16px;
@@ -1175,22 +1160,83 @@ select:focus {
     display: grid;
     place-items: center;
     padding: 24px;
-    background: rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.16);
-    backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
+    background: rgba(12, 16, 18, 0.3);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
     z-index: 50;
+    overflow: auto;
 }
 
 .modal-card {
-    width: min(560px, 95vw);
+    width: min(760px, 95vw);
+    max-height: calc(100vh - 48px);
     border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
-    padding: 18px;
+    padding: 20px;
+    overflow: auto;
 }
 
 .persona-form {
     display: grid;
-    gap: 12px;
+    gap: 18px;
+    padding: 0;
+    border: none;
+    background: transparent;
+}
+
+.persona-modal-card {
+    display: grid;
+    gap: 18px;
+}
+
+.persona-modal-heading {
+    display: grid;
+    gap: 4px;
+}
+
+.persona-form-intro {
+    padding: 16px 18px;
+    border-radius: 16px;
+    background: rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.04);
+    border: 1px solid rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.08);
+}
+
+.persona-form > .status {
+    margin: 0;
+}
+
+.persona-form-grid {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
+    gap: 14px;
+}
+
+.field-wide {
+    grid-column: 1 / -1;
+}
+
+.persona-form .field,
+.persona-form .field-wide {
     padding: 14px;
     border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+    background: rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.03);
+    border: 1px solid rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.06);
+}
+
+.persona-form .field textarea {
+    min-height: 112px;
+}
+
+.persona-actions {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: flex-end;
+    position: sticky;
+    bottom: 0;
+    padding-top: 10px;
+    background: inherit;
+}
+
+.persona-actions .primary-action {
+    width: auto;
+    min-width: 180px;
 }
 
 .market-shell {
@@ -1432,7 +1478,9 @@ body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .chat-item button,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .session-chip,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .settings-nav,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .settings-nav-item:not(.active),
-body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .settings-theme-note {
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .settings-theme-note,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .persona-form .field {
     background: rgba(18, 24, 21, 0.96);
     color: #d7fff3;
     border: 1px solid rgba(36, 255, 180, 0.16);
@@ -1515,7 +1563,9 @@ body[data-theme="fraud"] .icon-button,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] .session-chip,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] .settings-nav,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] .settings-nav-item:not(.active),
-body[data-theme="fraud"] .settings-theme-note {
+body[data-theme="fraud"] .settings-theme-note,
+body[data-theme="fraud"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="fraud"] .persona-form .field {
     background: rgba(255, 249, 242, 0.88);
     color: #4b3d31;
     border: 1px solid rgba(84, 62, 43, 0.08);
@@ -1628,7 +1678,9 @@ body[data-theme="slopilot"] .session-chip {
 
 body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-nav,
 body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-nav-item:not(.active),
-body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-theme-note {
+body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-theme-note,
+body[data-theme="slopilot"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="slopilot"] .persona-form .field {
     background: #ffffff;
     border-color: rgba(13, 104, 255, 0.12);
 }
@@ -1714,7 +1766,9 @@ body[data-theme="confusity"] .session-chip {
 
 body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-nav,
 body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-nav-item:not(.active),
-body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-theme-note {
+body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-theme-note,
+body[data-theme="confusity"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="confusity"] .persona-form .field {
     background: #ffffff;
     border-color: rgba(17, 24, 39, 0.08);
 }
@@ -1795,6 +1849,19 @@ body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-nav-item.active {
     border: 1px solid rgba(17, 24, 39, 0.16);
 }
 
+body[data-theme="germini"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="germini"] .persona-form .field {
+    background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.26);
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(18px);
+}
+
+body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .persona-form .field {
+    background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.88), rgba(243, 238, 255, 0.92));
+    border: 1px solid rgba(90, 103, 255, 0.08);
+}
+
 @keyframes gemFloat {
     0%, 100% {
         transform: translateY(0);
@@ -1923,6 +1990,10 @@ body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-nav-item.active {
         justify-self: stretch;
     }
 
+    .persona-form-grid {
+        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+    }
+
     .settings-shell .market-header-simple {
         grid-template-columns: 1fr;
     }
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 573357c..9b563dd 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -782,6 +782,56 @@ const normalizePersonaField = (value) => {
     return trimmed ? trimmed : null;
 };
 
+const PERSONA_FIELD_LIMITS = {
+    name: 80,
+    pronouns: 40,
+    appearance: 400,
+    background: 1000,
+    details: 1200
+};
+
+const blockedPersonaPatterns = [
+    /\b(child|children|kid|kids|minor|underage|under-aged|teenager|young girl|young boy|loli|shota)\b/i,
+    /\b(nazi|hitler|third reich|kkk|ku klux klan|white power|nigger|nigga)\b/i,
+    /\b(rape|rapist|sexual assault|molest|molestation|incest|bestiality|zoophilia|necrophilia)\b/i,
+    /\b(self-harm|self harm|suicide fetish)\b/i
+];
+
+const validatePersonaPayload = (payload) => {
+    const sanitized = {
+        name: (payload?.name || "").trim(),
+        pronouns: normalizePersonaField(payload?.pronouns),
+        appearance: normalizePersonaField(payload?.appearance),
+        background: normalizePersonaField(payload?.background),
+        details: normalizePersonaField(payload?.details)
+    };
+
+    if (!sanitized.name) {
+        return {error: "Name is required"};
+    }
+
+    for (const [key, limit] of Object.entries(PERSONA_FIELD_LIMITS)) {
+        const value = sanitized[key];
+        if (value && value.length > limit) {
+            return {error: `${key.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + key.slice(1)} is too long`};
+        }
+    }
+
+    const combinedText = [
+        sanitized.name,
+        sanitized.pronouns,
+        sanitized.appearance,
+        sanitized.background,
+        sanitized.details
+    ].filter(Boolean).join("\n");
+
+    if (blockedPersonaPatterns.some((pattern) => pattern.test(combinedText))) {
+        return {error: "This persona contains disallowed content. Remove sexual content involving minors, extreme sexual violence, or hateful/extremist material."};
+    }
+
+    return {sanitized};
+};
+
 const buildPersonaPrompt = (persona) => {
     const lines = [
         "SYSTEM ROLE:",
@@ -921,18 +971,15 @@ app.get("/personas", requireLogin, (req, res) => {
 
 app.post("/personas", requireLogin, (req, res) => {
     const user = req.session.user;
-    const name = (req.body?.name || "").trim();
-    if (!name) {
-        return res.status(400).json({error: "Name is required"});
-    }
     const personaType = (req.body?.personaType || "assistant").trim();
     if (!["assistant", "user"].includes(personaType)) {
         return res.status(400).json({error: "Invalid persona type"});
     }
-    const pronouns = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.pronouns);
-    const appearance = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.appearance);
-    const background = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.background);
-    const details = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.details);
+    const validation = validatePersonaPayload(req.body);
+    if (validation.error) {
+        return res.status(400).json({error: validation.error});
+    }
+    const {name, pronouns, appearance, background, details} = validation.sanitized;
     const personaId = insertPersonaStmt.run(
         user,
         name,
@@ -949,14 +996,11 @@ app.post("/personas", requireLogin, (req, res) => {
 app.put("/personas/:id", requireLogin, (req, res) => {
     const user = req.session.user;
     const personaId = Number(req.params.id);
-    const name = (req.body?.name || "").trim();
-    if (!name) {
-        return res.status(400).json({error: "Name is required"});
+    const validation = validatePersonaPayload(req.body);
+    if (validation.error) {
+        return res.status(400).json({error: validation.error});
     }
-    const pronouns = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.pronouns);
-    const appearance = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.appearance);
-    const background = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.background);
-    const details = normalizePersonaField(req.body?.details);
+    const {name, pronouns, appearance, background, details} = validation.sanitized;
     const result = updatePersonaStmt.run(
         name,
         pronouns,