#labeija

Crystal LaBeija (?-1982), was a New York Drag Queen and the founder of the legendary House of Labeija. She was one of the only African American drag queens to be awarded a "Queen of the Ball" title at a drag ball organised by whites. In the 1960s and 1970s, drag queens of color were expected to whiten their appearance to help their chances at winning competitions and they often faced racist environments. During the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant held in New York City Town Hall, LaBeija was upset with the bias and racism of the balls, as shown in “The Queen (1968)” when LaBeija, Miss Manhattan at the time, accuses the hostess of rigging the process for a white queen Rachel Harlow, formerly Miss Philadelphia. In the memorable scene, Crystal Labeija disputes the judges and organisers, addressing the documentary filmmakers and defying the machinery of representation that she recognises them to be complicit in. Labeija contests the system of the values that had been set up to judge her in the first place. She offers them a partial glimpse into a darker queer world than The Queen is able to capture. Shortly after, Labeija's friend, Lottie, convinces her to host a ball for black queens, the first to be hosted by a House. The event was titled "Crystal & Lottie LaBeija presents the first annual House of Labeija Ball at Up the Downstairs Case on West 115th Street & 5th Avenue in Harlem, NY.’13”. Labeija and Lotties House hosted style of balls reinvented and revolutionised the ballroom scene and made it what we know it as today.

In light of Black History Month, I want to acknowledge the work of the amazing people I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with this past year. Thank you for CONTINUING Black History. For it is a miracle we still here. Had a blast working on this project and being interviewed by the one and only @patrick.riley about the experience. Catch my work featured on Sidra Smith’s “A LUV TALE The Series” Based on the award winning 1999 film “A Luv Tale”. Makeup by @merrellhollis ❤️❤️❤️@sidrasmithofficial @ginnysharlem @roosterharlem @aluvtale #blackexcellence #harlem #blackhistorymonth #sidrasmith #labeija (at Harlem) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btp9qEdFw6b/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=54n0y74ealyu

Mo’dayvia Labeija 

Byrell The Great put the cherry on top with his production that intensifies the whole mood of this piece.

IAmLaBeija ☀

“TRUE BEAUTIES” AN EXHIBITION BY MYLES LOFTIN Galerie Kitsuné is pleased to present “True Beauties”, an exhibition by Myles Loftin, a Brooklyn-based artist, photographer, and storyteller. For “True Beauties”, Myles Loftin presents a selection of intimate portraits of figures from the original house of ballroom, The Royal House of LaBeija. Despite attention in mainstream media over In the past few years, the general public’s understanding of the previously-underground world of ballroom ends with the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning. With this project, Loftin draws attention to the thriving contemporary ballroom community, which continues to have balls every week, with people traveling from across the country to compete. #LaBeijaPower #LaBeija #familyvalues #proudfathermoment House of Labeija #HouseOfLabeija #RoyalHouseOfLABEIJA #Legendary #LabeijaForeva #Godparent 🌈 #RoyalHouseOfLabeija #Overseer #CelebrityPsychicReader #HouseOfLabeija #LebeijaLeadership #GulfCoast https://maisonkitsune.com/mk/events/an-exhibition-by-myles-loftin/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRK6gMOtIP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=