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The Met Is Hosting Vogue Battles for Pride and Anna Wintour Is Judging
It promises to be legendary.
May 14 2019 12:58 PM EST
May 26 2023 1:32 PM EST
MikelleStreet
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It promises to be legendary.
Ballroom took over the Met Gala earlier this month. Jack Mizrahi enlisted his House of Gorgeous for a stand-out performance on the fundraiser's mainstage that got the crowd (and Jennifer Lopez in particular) to their feet. Well, now ballroom is coming back to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and this time for "Battle of the Legends."
As a part of The Met's Pride scheduling, on June 11 Mizrahi will bring six voguing heavyweights to the museum's plaza. There, the performers will compete for two titles: crowd favorite and the grand prize "Legend Slayer." Both will receive trophies while the Legend Slayer will also get a cash prize. Girl! A new world indeed.
The panel of judges will include Twiggy Pucci Garcon, co-writer of the film Kiki and overall overseer of the house of Commes des Garcons, Jose Xtravaganza, father of the house of Xtravaganza, Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn Theaters and the person who made the event possible, as well as Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, artistic director of Conde Nast and an icon in her own right. This will be a night to remember.
The competitors are all known to shake the building when they step on the floor. The roster includes Asia Balenciaga, Bootz Prodigy, Dashaun Lanvin, Omari Mizrahi, Tamiyah Miyake-Mugler, and Ty Ebony. From the line-up it's clear that we can expect vogue fem dramatics -- which makes sense as it is the most popular style at the moment. A listing of titans!
But, the performance isn't the entirety of the institution's Pride calendar -- just the gem of it. The Met will also host a conversation with Billy Porter on June 23 about camp and the impact of ballroom on pop culture and high fashion. There will also be MetFridays: PRIDE on June 21 which will include in-gallery talks by Met curators as well as appearances by the likes of Jack Mizrahi, Sinia Alia, and Ericka Hart. Shy Ebony and Malik Miyake-Mugger will also teach a voguing workshop for those who are hoping to pick up a new skill. Artists Louis Fratino and Vincent Chong will also teach art workshops and New York queens Daphne Always and Lady Quesa'Dilla will host a Drag and Draw session.
*This piece has been updated to say that the battles will be head-to-head and the "Legend Slayer" will get a cash prize.
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Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
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