A WBT FIRST - MEETING OF THE MINDS - WHAT'S DA TEA RADIO

Tonight on Whats Da Tea Radio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/da_tea) hosts Overall WBT Father Shady Prada (Follow Shady on Twitter) and Grandmother Susan Mizrahi (Follow Susan on Twitter) put together a Meeting of the Minds including some of the heavy-hitters and biggest enthusiasts in the WBT Ballroom scene. It included:

Icon Sean Ebony - Transman Realness
Legendary Overseer Khi Mizrahi - Butch Performance
Legendary Mother Aisha Prodigy-Iman - Women's Face
Legendary Father Kiron Ebony-Alpha - Transman Realness
Midwest Of The Year Mother Bunni Blahnik - Womens Body/SexSiren
Nina Divine-Revlon - Women Best Dressed and VA ballroom promoter
Mother Diva Monroe - Womens Face and Big Girls Body

Here's a brief synopsis of each speakers thought and subject:
Sean (organization) - Have a good short and long term goal and plan your steps.
Khi (preparation) - Strive to practice and be ready to battle all obstacles that come into your way.
Aisha (Self-awareness) - Be aware of what you can do and what you cannot and build on your strengths.
Kiron (Support) - Learn to bond and become one unit. Build a comraderie between one another.
Bunni (Experience) - Get yourself out there in order to build up your experience and allow your confidence to be seen.
Nina (Assistance) - Be open enough to allow yourself to be a help to others.
Diva (Networking) - Meet and introduce yourself. how what you're about, your intentions and allow people to know the real you.
Shady (Plan 2 Win) - Please bury the hatchet and allow shade to have its place on the runway in healthy competition. This is the time to bring back the fun!
Susan (Communication) - Open lines of communication to allow all to be on the same line.

If you would to listen to the archived call please long on to Whats Da Tea Radio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/da_tea)

4th Annual Unity Ball Winner List

The 4th Annual Unity Ball: Love & War Edition
September 4, 2011
Hosted by Legendary Mother Jaimee Balenciaga, Legendary Mother Lady Blahnik-Iman & Mother Reign Moulin

WINNERS LIST

Foot & Eye Grand Prize: Bella 007
Womans Runway Grand Prize: Keva Moulin
Womans Sex Siren Grand Prize: Logan Evisu
Womans Face Grand Prize: Chula Moulin
Transman Realness Grand Prize: House of Balenciaga
Male Figure Sex Siren Grand Prize: Jamel Balenciaga
Butch Realness Grand Prize: Budah Balenciaga
Who's Zooming Who Grand Prize: Angel & Keva Moulin
OTA Hair Affair Grand Prize: Baby Doll Iman
Butch Body Grand Prize: Dani 007
Butch Face Grand Prize: Ron Blahnik
Butch Queen Runway Grand Prize: Legendary Econ Blahnik/Domingo Blahnik
Best Dressed Grand Prize: Maria 007
Womans Body Grand Prize: 007
Butch Queen Face Grand Prize: House of Balenciaga
Butch Up in Pumps vs. Fag Out Grand Prize: Mula 007 (Fag Out)
Team Realness Grand Prize: Budah Balenciaga & Shawn 007
Mini Grand Female Figure Big Girls Face Grand Prize: House of Mizrahi
OTA New Runway Grand Prize: Logan Evisu
OTA Vogue Femme Grand Prize: Domingo Blahnik

Grand Prize: House with the most wins (with a CATCH!)
The winners were not allowed to keep their own points. They had to give their points away to another house.

Grand Prize: The House of Blahnik

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!
The WBT Ballscene appreciates your participation!

MADONNA VOGUED SO WHY NOT YOU? VOGUE OF ART: THE CLASS YOU CAN'T MISS

Located in Midtown in New York City, on the fourth floor of Pearl Studios, you will find a class breaking down walls and stereotypes taught by none other but Mr $5,000 Vogue Evolution alumni Legendary Dashaun (Evisu) Wesley. Here is the where you'll find "Vogue of Art".

Vogue or "voguing" is a highly stylized, modern house dance, that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom dance scene. Vogue was originally popularized in the late 1980s, within the inner-city club scenes of the United States. It gained mainstream attention when featured by Malcolm McLaren in his Deep_in_Vogue #1 single in 1989, and by Madonna in her song and video of the same name, and has recently been returned to domestic and international attention again by the dance group Vogue Evolution of America's Best Dance Crew. (Wikipedia)

"Vogue of Art" is a classically directed vogue beginner class where Dashaun teaches "the vogue blueprint" as well as freestyle techniques forcing students to develop their own style of vogue while maintaining its essence. He alternates between teaching vogue basic steps and choreographed vogue routines. The class consists of a wide array of persons from local ballscene participants to international dance students taking dance classes on student visas - male and female and introduces them to the highly anticipated category in the ballscene as we know it.

Tonight begins with Dashaun's close friend David, warming up the class with basic stretch techniques. Like most professional dance classes, warming up the muscles and limbs are necessary to get the body prepared for the rigorous activity which this class is not in lack of. According to Dashaun, "Vogue Evolution usually vogues and then stretches to vogue again" and with the intensity of this form of dance, most beginners should allow their bodies to get used to the movement.

It was amazing to see the skill set difference between three very different students in tonight's class and yet they kept up (with a few slip-ups along the way) with a sense of eagerness that made the class enjoyable to watch. David, an aspiring actor, proposes a new exercise where each student must vogue freestyle displaying an emotion or character picked from a piece of paper and you had to stand in awe of how Paul, an aspiring ballscene voguer, displays Broadway in his rendition and how Omar, an Italian student here on a visa, vogued like Superman. It was a pleasure to watch as well as trying to figure out which word they picked out of the hat.

After the exercise is over, Dashaun gives quick information and directs them to start rehearsing the choreographed piece from last week's class. Pumping Kevin JZ Prodigy's "Listen Up (Insider Get In)", the group quickly lines up for a catwalk and awesome synchronised hand performances. Noticeably, Dashaun has grown from being a member of a group to a skilled choreographer by first being able to motivate his students and then making sure that even their lines are straight as they execute each step. They are no "kiki girlfriend" moments. He is strict and determined to get the routine in sync not only for my camera but to maintain the essence of the dance. After several more added moves and from-the-top rehearsals, each student ended it in a true-to-fashion dip.

An hour is definitely not enough time to get the true art of the dance but with the schedule he follows, after a few classes you will be able to see your own personal growth and be able to grasp new moves of your own as he tells another student he's done.

Ending the class, Dashaun announces that on October 27th, he will be teaching a FREE class at the studio to give back to all those who have supported him thus far. (That's right - Roxi always gets the tea FIRST!) This class is open to all on that date. Dashaun is also prepping now to move on to bigger heights as he has been asked to teach vogue at the well-known Broadway Dance Center since his contract with Block was arranged. This is a big feat since BDC has had so many popular teachers as Tyce Diorio and Mia Michaels from "So You Think You Can Dance". His move to BDC has not yet been determined as of yet.

When asked why he decided to teach vogue, Dashaun replies "Let the other girls win the next $5,000. I am aimed to give back to the community".

Well said Dashaun. You're paying it forward like a true legend should and on behalf of those who yearn to catwalk, duckwalk and dip like the best, we thank you.

Check out 'Vogue Of Art' every Wednesday at Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue between 35th and 36th Sts, between 8pm and 9pm and follow Dashaun on Twitter (@dashaunwesley) to find out more information as well get to-the-minute updates on future shows and events. To see more about the class (if you're hoping to get a glimpse), see the class trailer below as well as Dashaun's $5,000 winning production at the 2005 Atlanta Awards Ball.





xoxo
Roxi

"MY NAME'S BOND, JAMES BOND": Why being a fruitful 007 is your best first step.

Before you consider a house or start your own, ask yourself this: Am I producing results on my own merit? A house, much like a basketball team, thrives on the points that each member racks up and the participation of the team as a whole. So why be on a team if you don't care to play? No one ever strives to the benchwarmer!

A desired house member is a productive '007' or 'free agent' (they both mean you hold no affiliation to a house). Most house parents are looking for members that can be fine tuned, tweaked and slightly improved upon in order to uplift the house name as well as win trophies to continue their legacy. Some parents choose members on what could be while good parents choose based on what is good now and can be better later.

At one time, free agents ruled the ballscene having houses vie for their membership. Every house wants the next hot thing and if you never light your own match, you will never be hot. In this scene, it isn't who you know but rather who you sat down.

In the WBT scene, so many are nervous and fearful of rejection and refuse to build up enough confidence to compete. Some participate one or two times without a win and give up while you have others who study, research, practice and battle time and time again. Guess which of the three will turn heads and earn their Life...

SO HOW DO I GET NOTICED BY A HOUSE?

EASY... WALK! If you show that you are willing to dedicate the time and energy in yourself and put your best face forward, houses will stop and pay attention. They want you to give a challenge. It forces their members to step their game up and gives them a formidable opponent. No one ever wants to win by being the only one walking. How many people do you know train to win by forfeit? The objective is show your skills and get public interest and snag the attention of a house willing to help you go farther than you did on your own.

HOW DO I WALK?

Find a category that best suits your interest and research it. Do you have what it takes to pull the look off. Don't attempt to walk face if you have bad skin. Don't walk butch realness if you can't pass for a boy. Tone your body up for body categories or teach yourself to be tantilizing for sex siren. Find out who your competition is. Study them. Pick a ball you'd like to deal your hand at, gather the tools for your effect and enter the runway! Walking will fill you with anxiety but it's also a great pleasure to entertain the audience as well as proving to yourself that you can do it.

WHAT IF I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO...?

Let me help you. Starting Sept 15th, I am sponsoring THE FIRST "BANG BANG" ONLINE BALL! That's right, I'm sending the winner $100 out of my own pocket for the most creative and unique... (no, I won't spill the tea! You must wait until Sept 15th for more details).

HOW DO I ENTER THE CATEGORY? (ok. ok. I'll at least give you the contest entry details)

• Look out for my page posting on Sept 15th entitled "SHOT ME DOWN 'BANG BANG' BALL". There you will find the theme of the category.
  
  
• You must take a picture of your effect with a note that says "ROXI BANG BANG" and email it to ROXIBANGBANG@GMAIL.COM. Contest closes on Sept 30th.
  
  
• The top ten entries will be posted and YOU, THE PUBLIC must vote to select the winner. (How fair can that be?) Voting ends on October 15th and a winner will be declared! One Entry Per Person/Email! Multiple entries does not increase your chances of winning.
  

Pretty simple, huh? So subscribe by email below, spread the word and be ready to let your creative juices work for you on Sept 15th!

xoxo
Roxi

"PUT THAT UMBRELLA DOWN! WE DON'T NEED YOUR SHADE!": The Ballroom Shade Debate

After having a conversation with my good good BQ girlfriend about various "shady" (notice the quotes) instances in the WBT scene, it was proposed that the women should "get it together because the mainstream scene does it all the time". Emphatically, I have to agree BUT the mainstream scene does it a certain extent. In my opinion, shade is a vital part of the ballroom scene whether it be pointing out another's flaws in comparison to yourself in battle zone, dismissing your opponents props during runway or calling out a fake label when you see one during a fashion category. They speak their opinions about status to one's face instead of the backtalk that has flooded the WBT scene. Personally, I feel that a lot of people speak badly behind each other's back not because they are scared but because they know that it was spark an all-out unnecessary war over an opinion.

The difference between mainstream shade and WBT shade is the WBT tend to touch ENTIRELY TOO MUCH and the mainstream leaves the shade ON THE RUNWAY. They have the ability to see that it is for the function and not take things personally. (I truly believe that some of the WBT take titles, trophies and wins entirely too seriously.)

The one person I know who exposes TRUE shade is Icon Jack Mizrahi (@gorgeousjack) and after searching his youtube channel found the PERFECT example of exactly what I mean. Below is a video taped by Jack at Ashley Icon's 2009 Ball in NYC. Even if you have no idea who these people are or understand the story behind the disagreements, you have to notice one thing: they've said their peace in each other's face AND MOVED ON without incident.

After watching this video and seeing the maturity, even with angered, the mainstream scene has in terms of discrepencies, perhaps you will rethink your choice of getting upset about a comment or action at a function. Truly it isn't that serious.

Roll that beautiful bean footage... (I couldnt help myself. Hee hee)



Any comments? I'd love to read them...

xoxo
Roxi

3rd Annual Unity Ball Video Clip

Hosted by: Legendary Mother Jaimee Balenciaga, Overall Mother Reign Moulin & Mother Chanel Prada
at
Loews Hotel
1065 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia, 30309

FOR EVENT PHOTOS
GO TO WWW.SHINEHOG.COM

"LETS GET PHYSICAL!" - The 'Body' category breakdown

At a Ball you see those who practiced hours of dance to improve for the win; those who have pumped their hallways back and forth for hours in runway and those who took theIr creative visions to the max for effects. You rarely put much thought into those who train hours upon hours to improve upon their physique for the body categories.

We love to oogle the WBT (women, butch & transmen) who strip down to next to nothing in order to put their bodies on display for us to judge. While the women "shake what their mama gave them", the male figures pose and flex for the audience's delight. What we don't take into consideration is that these cats have sub-categories because much like our fingerprints, all bodies are NOT created equal.

Womens Body breaks down into four sub-categories:

• Model's Body - Slim and proportionate. This sub-category reflects a bikini models physique. Toned without much body fat.
  
• Athletic Body - Muscular yet feminine. This sub-category reflects a body builder's physique. Flexibility, strength and little to no body fat.
  
• T&A - Hourglass or Figure 8 shape. This sub-category reflects a strippers physique. Ample breasts, thighs and booty are the criteria.
  And Lastly...
  
• Luscious - Plus-sized but neat. This sub-category reflects a thicker T&A physique where even though the body is thick, the measurements are still proportionate to each other in order to appear hourglass shaped.
  

Butch/Trans Body breaks down into three sub-categories:

• CatBoy - Slim and lightly cut. This sub-category is for those who have just started working out and toning up. Their body is still soft but the cuts are starting to form.
  
• Junior - Moderately Muscular. This sub-category is those who are midway bulked up and cuts are more easily distinct.
  
• Senior - BEEFCAKE. This sub-category is for those who are completely buff. Massive muscles, deep cuts and ownership of the coveted "Iliad's crest".
  

Now while the women shake and gyrate to sell their bodies, the butch and transmen pose like Apollo to showcase theirs. The women display acrobatic skills while the male figures challenge each other in calisthenics.

This is not a category for just anyone. Much like body building competition, one must train to maintain their bodies to compete. Exercise, proper diet, proper hydration and skin upkeep is crucial for this category. Excessive scarring or stretch marks are deterrents to the judges as well. You must take pride in your body and treat it like a well-oiled machine.

WOMEN BODY VIDS





BUTCH BODY VIDEO

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!! Ball Effects 101

There has been a very heated debate on why Women/Butch/Transmen are not "respected" in the mainstream scene. I noticed a huge difference during this year's Latex Ball and realized one important detail: Us WBT's have no FLAIR!!! Where's the show? After all, isn't that what a Ball is?

At first, it was okay that we lacked in doing grand entrances, huge effects and productions but after 5 years (yes we've been doing this for THAT long) I see very little growth from our humble beginnings. Most houses who allow their members to pump from the mainstream have showed more elaborate effects than what has been done before (e.g. Budah Balenciaga's "Beauty & the Beast" outfit for the Beauty & The Beast Ball and his "Trapped in the Closet" production for the 1st Unity Ball) but even with that, they are baby steps compared to those that are executed by our male/FQ counterparts in the mainstream.

Ball promoters have "dumbed" down category descriptions for fear that people may not reach high enough to capture the essence of the category theme and even when giving people a color, it's been seen that the basics are met. If they ask for all black, do an all black tux! Come as a giant spider or Lady Gaga inspired costume in all black. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!! A black tee, jeans and sneakers is the bare minimum and no one can get excited from that!

As a community, we have a put a twist on the world of Fashion, Dance and Entertainment. LGBTQ have cornered the runways, musicals and the stage taking a mere thought to great heights and here we are WBT, still figuring out how to translate a category. We must show that we are creative TOO!

Below is a youtube video I found displaying how one girl took her creativity and innovation and created a dress worth talking about for her prom. I hope that by watching this teen think outside the box that it will inspire you to do the same. Don't be good, BE GREAT! It's crazy what a little imagination, creativity and an hot glue gun can do!

Happy Creating!

xoxo
Roxi

Packing for a Ball - Don't forget your life!

Some time ago, a friend of mine on Twitter tweeted that she left some items for a vacation while she was packing and like the advice columnist I am, I quickly responded with some tips on how she could pack with ease for next time. It dawned on me that with the various materials that we create and need for a ball that perhaps the "girls who pump" may need a packing guide to make sure that they don't forget their life at home while trying to get their LIFE abroad. So here are my tips for packing for a ball...

- While obtaining the components for your effects, if at all possible, ship them PRIOR to leaving. That way you aren't rushing, you aren't carrying extra weight AND you won't have glitter on your new shoes for the after party.

- Prepack a "travel" bags. Use freezer bags to pack like items that NEVER leave your suitcase. Because freezer bags have labels, you can categorize your bags so you never mix them up (e.g. Cosmetics, Toiletries, Hair Products & ER Ball Fixes).

Here's what's inside my ER Ball Fixes bag:

• Hair Spray - its used for holding hair, glitter and confetti in place
  
• Fabric Glue - used for fabric/jewels, dries clear
  
• Safety Pins/Pin & Needle - for last minute fixes
  
• Duct Tape - used for traction on shoes, holding boobs down & a cheap girdle!
  
• Ribbon - holds hair back, contains balloons and can used as
  
• Stapler/Staples - used to fix bad seams or to drape fabric as a dress
  
• Scissors - need I say more?
  
• Bobby Pins - Hair never stays; used with Hair Spray
  

I suggest keeping a list of all items it contains and placing that in the bag so you can check off when you need to add something thats been depleted. Also carrying this with you to the ball ensures that you will never be falling apart at seams at a function.

Hope this helps you Runway Divas!

xoxo
Roxi

3rd Annual Unity Ball in ATL - Sept 5th

Explanation of categories are below

Hosted by: Legendary Mother Jaimee Balenciaga, Overall Mother Reign Moulin & Mother Chanel Prada
at
Loews Hotel
1065 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia, 30309
Doors open at 3pm - BE EARLY!

Women
Runway - In all black
(Roxi says: Must be head to toe!)

Sex Siren - In all Pink
(Roxi says: Must be head to toe!

Body - In bright colors $$
(Roxi says: Think neon not pastels!)

Big Girls Face - With a prop
(Roxi says: a prop is something you can showcase!)

Hat, shoe, & bag - Hat must be a color, shoe must be a heel, and the bag must be big enough to seal the deal!
(Roxi says: this is self explanatory and since it's a fashion category, all three should coordinate!)

Butch
School boy Realness - Back to school
(Roxi says: You bring more than just a book bag to school!)

Face - With a tie
(Roxi says: This is self-explanatory! )

Sex Siren - Fresh out the shower
(Roxi says: Towel, body buff, baby oil!)

Performance - Old way or with a twist what ever you fancy
(Roxi says: Old way, new way, vogue femme, hand & arm performance! The dougie is NOT performance!)


Transmen
Sex Siren - Grown man status
(Roxi says: Be you and a corner hoodlum is NOT a grown man!)

Face - In all black
(Roxi says: Must be head to toe!)

Man of the night - Must be tastefully done!
(Roxi says: Get GQ fellas!)

Team Realness (1 Butch & 1 Transman) - One Boss and worker (white or blue collar) with props $$
(Roxi says: white collar is office oriented, blue collar is service oriented!)

Butch vs Transmen vs BQ All American Runway - A weekend at the Hamptons
(Roxi says: You better look like a Phat Farm ad!)

Butch up in pumps - With a colorful pair of pumps $$
(Roxi says: You must look natural in pumps! Dont break your ankle!)

Butch and his bitch - Bonnie and Clyde (Past, present, or future) $$
(Roxi says: You must mimic some classic couples for this one! The cincher is the overall effect.)

Switch - Dressy to messy (Part one bring me a sloppy him or her and then part 2 come back cleaned up her or him)
(Roxi says: sweatpants femme to swanky AG or vice versa!)

OPEN TO ALL

Best dressed Couple - Must complement each other
(Roxi says: You dont have to wear the same color but you must look in sync! If it isn't paparazzi ready, stay home!)

Open To All Hair affair
(Roxi says: Cuts, colors and height are key! Think fantasy hair!)

OTA Hand Performance - With gloves $$
(Roxi says: The judges are watching how your hands and arms move ONLY!)

OTA Streetwear - Summer 2010
(Roxi says: Must be this year urban pieces! What was the look for the hood?)

OTA Face - Never walked vs never won - In all white
(Roxi says: Must be head to toe! If you've ever won this category you will be chopped!)

OTA Runway w/understudy - The understudy has never walked
(Roxi says: One ringer with one rookie! Have you taught the rookie well?)

OTA Foot & eyewear - Must look like a set (labels not a must) $$
(Roxi says: Labels not a must so GET CREATIVE! Think outside the box an show them something they've never seen!)

Lip sync - This category will only have 5 contestants. You must sign up at the door. First come, first serve. Must be less than 4 min. $$
(Roxi says: You lip sync in the mirror all the time but can you appear like you are the singer IN THE VIDEO?!)


Mini Grand $$
Team Women Face (Must be from different houses)
With a production 2 min or less
(Roxi says: You can't pick your house sister and a production is a skit!)

Grand Prize $$ (prize goes to House)
Family Portrait
Bring us a life size family portrait with a 2-5 min production of at least 2 categories your house is known for with a sickening final pose
(You can use as many members as you like but must be at least 4)

For Questions and for Tables Call 678.368.6435

20th Annual Latex Ball Category Breakdown - Transmen Categories

Below are the Categories open to TRANSMEN - I have called out a list of names of those I know who walk both the Mainstream as well as the Women/Butch/Transmasculine scene. If I haven't mentioned your name, I invite you to come battle it out for the trophy and make your name KNOWN TO ALL! - xoxo Roxi

TRANSMAN REALNESS
PRIZE: 1 Trophy & $50.00 sponsored by Marquise Balenciaga

Theme: GQ Man of the Year

Each year GQ magazine picks one man that signifies masculinity, sex and style. This year you’re competing with other men to be 2011 Man of the Year. Tonight show us why you’re style, masculinity and sex appeal reigns above all others…give us that GQ look.

Calling out Rome Prodigy, Kiron Prodigy, Ni'tee Balenciaga, Prez Balenciaga, Jevon Legacy, Kareem Prodigy, Zaire Prodigy, Lucky Legacy, Tariq Balenciaga - You stand as you are, who stands alone with the trophy?

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TRANSMAN SEX SIREN
PRIZE: 1 Trophy & $50.00 sponsored by Marquise Balenciaga

Theme: The Trans Modeling Agency (The Go See)

The Latex Ball is happy to introduce to you the Trans Modeling Agency that’s causing a buzz all over the world. Designers and marketers are looking for fresh and sexy T Male models to represent their brands. Prove that you are worthy to be a sexy spokes model for our agency in a daring look in all one solid color. Remember you are selling sex.

Calling out Rome Prodigy, Kiron Prodigy, Ni'tee Balenciaga, Tariq Balenciaga - You make the girls (and the boys) stop and stare, seduce that trophy into your hands!

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MALE FIGURES (These cats are for those who identify as MALE in life or while walking [i.e. Butches])

TEAM REALNESS
PRIZE: 3 Trophies

Theme: XXL presents ‘The Realest Triple Threat’

The Swag, the Trendsetter, the Fashion, and the Realness; tonight bring forth your realest 3 male figures to represent a hip hop fashion spread right from the streets. There are three models but you have to choose which would be showcased. 1 Butch, 1 Transman, 1 Schoolboy, 1 Pretty Boy, or 1 Thug… Pick three figures from the 5 choices, you all should be wearing something fashionable and cohesive to represent the spread. There should be 1 person to represent a different type of realness. For example there can’t be 2 schoolboys and one thug in a group of three.

For more information:
Derrick L. Briggs at 212-367-1572 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              212-367-1572      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              212-367-1572      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or
Luna Luis Ortiz at 212-367-1017 / LunaO@gmhc.org

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OPEN TO ALL (These categories are for all gender labels to walk)

OTA OLDWAY VS NEWWAY
PRIZE: 2 Trophies & $100.00 Sponsored by Louie G. Legacy in Honor of Willie Ninja

Theme: Print It Out

Prints and Textiles have always been a signature for many designers and a distinction for people’s individual expression through style. You have polka dots, stripes, paisleys, floral, checkered, geometrics, plaids, gingham, etc. You also have custom made prints like Missoni, Versace, and Pucci that help signify a designer’s aesthetic. Tonight pick a print that signifies your craft as a performer. Your ensemble must be creative.

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OTA BIZARRE
PRIZE: 1 Trophy & $250.00 Sponsored by Imperial Court of NY

Theme: A Tribute to a Creative Genius

On February 11, 2010 the world lost a true creative genius, artistic visionary and masterful fashion designer. Season after season Alexander McQueen has presented some of the most innovative shows and exquisite designs. His creative mind surpasses any other designer of this era and that why he is a true legend. Tonight let’s pay homage to a man’s creativity that will live forever. Pick any show that he has done and take the inspiration of that show and take it to a whole other UNIVERSE. You are not copying his designs but using his inspiration as a way to crown yourself a true creative genius.

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OTA BEST DRESSED
PRIZE: 2 Trophies (Male Figure/Female Figure)

Theme: The Fashion Revolutionary

Tonight your sense of fashion is put to the test. We are sick of the norm and we are sick of the expected. Tonight bring us an ovah look from head to toe with the most sickening and creative eyewear that would change our perception of fashion and signify the future of fashion. This is not a label category it is an innovative category. Come done or don’t come at all. Gag Us!!!!

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OTA LABELS
PRIZE: 2 Trophies & $150.00 Sponsored by Imperial Court of NY

Theme: The Trunk Show (The Artistry of Peeling)

It’s time to get back to basics and leave the bullshit to the amateurs. Labels, Labels, and more labels… Peel, peel, and more peel. It has to be Ovah, it has to be sickening, and it has to be FASHION!! Male figures in Men garments and Female figures in women garments only.

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OTA GRAND PRIZE
Theme: Designer's Delight | The Fashion Show
PRIZE: $2,000.00 Sponsored by Downelink.com

Every designer in history creates collections after collections based on a particular inspiration or matters around the world that affects them. They express their opinions, points of view, and emotions through their fashion designs. Now it’s your turn, to create a fashion show that expresses your thoughts, emotions and feelings on how the AIDS epidemic affects you. Tonight bring forth a 3 piece collection based on the effects the AIDS epidemic has on you as a designer.

The collection must be cohesive and all related to awareness. All of your designs should have a clear message of what your point of view is or messages. Remember this is a fashion show your final piece should be the most outstanding piece in your collection.

Click below to be directed to the site for categories and more information!

Realness: is it "real" anymore?

Realness literally depends on whether or not people can assume either your true sexuality or your true/inner gender. For Butch queens, they're looking for the most passable male. The one who society would think was straight based on personal appearance. For Transexuals, judges are looking for the one with the smoothest transition. The one who looks like they were biologically born in their current gender. For Butches, judges are looking for the woman who could pass for a male naturally while living their life as a female.

After watching some recent ball footage, I noticed a pattern. Why is the violent black man considered the image of male figure realness?

In male figure realness, there are four distinct sub-categories, Executive (business suit conducting boardroom meetings), Schoolboy (appears to be in HS/college wearing trendy streetwear), Prettyboy (Metrosexual clean cut and masculine) and Thug (hoodies, jeans and construction Timbs). I noticed that 5 times out of ten, Thugs win over any other sub-category. When I asked someone why that is, he replied "wouldn't you pick the one that looks like he did time?" My reply: "Why is the violent drug dealing hoodlum considered to the "real" image of a black man? Why is a black male in a conservative image the caricuture?"

Have we, as a people, become so jaded by society that REAL is the epitome of a ghetto mentality? That one must scare and intimidate in order to be considered real. Now don't get me wrong, everyone likes a "daddy"; someone who dominates and takes charge but how has that image been distorted that you are ONLY real if you're brave enough to run the streets. Are men who dress stylishly, work a 9-5 and take care home a fading ideal? And if being hood, feared and intimidating will win you the category, is it the reason the ball scene butches are tempted to take T?

T is short for testoserone, a natural hormone that when injected into the body tricks the brain to produce male physical characteristics. It first causes a deepening of the voice, balances the softness in the face, creates body and facial hair and helps to sculpt a male physique if muscles are the desired results. Injecting this hormone not only fools the judges. This is the hormone used to assist Transmen with their physical transition from their born existence to their true inner gender.

This nurtured need to win trophies has fueled the AG/Butch community to not only inject themselves with strange hormones (most are not prescribed to the actual users but shared throughout several others) but fuels them to take on masculine names and ask the community to feed into their psyche by calling them by male pronouns as well. I'm sure that the use of a fake name or faked gender transformation doesn't assist anyone at being "real".

With the new uprising of hormone injected butches hitting the scene in alarming rates, one must consider what this does to the transmen community fighting for equality under the queer umbrella. Recently at the Milan Ball 2010, Icon Sean Ebony, an advocate for transgendered rights, publicly protested the butch realness category because three well known transmen walked it. A judge disputed that butches have been taking physique altering drugs for quite some time. It doesn't seem quite fair to be in a life transition and be seen as "every other butch" based on the greedy whims of a small few who want a trophy. Think of what this would do for the Femme Queen community if every drag category was rushed by dozens of boys using homones to win the category. Most BQID love the fact that they without chemicals can be a girl if only for a day. When will butches love themselves in the same fashion?

What does this do for lesbian women who when choosing a mate will have to accept a more masculine appearance then a lesbian should have to? They are forced to find attraction in a woman who takes drugs to look like a man only for a moment. In my opinion, this now opens the door for more femme/femme relationships since the femmes will be the only true women available. All this for a trophy or local recognition...?

A butch by definition is a woman who carries a more dominant way of thinking and mannerisms and for realness they must be easily can be mistaken as a man. Why is being your natural you not real enough? Your thoughts...?