If you’re up for some after-dark antics, Cîroc Vodka has just revealed its inaugural Iconic Ball, a fabulous anniversary celebration applauding 50 Years of the UK LGBTQIA+ pride movement. Set to take place on Thursday 30 June at Koko in Camden, you can expect to see a lot more than a parade this pride month.
As Cîroc gets the ball rolling, there will be a packed program of featuring drag queen performances, DJs and vogueing, as well as an amazing soundtrack from community legend DJ Biggy C, who made his name playing at LGBTQIA+ clubs such as Queer Nation, Bootylicious & Caribana. Just add booze and a campy costume and you’ll have your Thursday evening sorted.
Making it more than just a night to be remembered, Pose co-writer and Legendary executive producer, Jack Mizrahi, is booked to MC the event with support from co-hosts Jonny Woo and Shon Faye. Plus, a panel of yet-to-be-announced celebrity judges will make appearances, so keep your eyes peeled because Cîroc is really putting the pedal to the metal this month.
Proceeds from the ball will be donated to the charity organisation Not a Phase, which supports trans and gender non-conforming communities nationwide by creating safe, affirming spaces. What’s more, as part of Diageo’s – maker of Cîroc – ongoing commitment to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community and preserving its prolific history, the company has committed to a two-year partnership with Queer Britain, and is working with filmmaker Mark Bleziri to expand intersectionality and bolster LGBTQIA+ history with a mini documentary-series available to watch below.
So that’s the need-to-know dirty deats’, but what’s actually going to go down? For one night only, a who’s who of UK Ballroom queens will go head to head in a rumble for the crown.
Firing up the rivalry, FF (female figure) and MF (male figure) contestants led by globally renowned House Mothers – like Sinaia Alaïa, AKA the Blueprint, East Coast Mother Devine Gucci, Face Icon Stasha Sanchez Garçon, the ‘Voice of Ballroom’ Jusss Kelly and the Legendary Mother Gorgeous Lola Gucci – are set to vogue the house down.
Named after some of the UK’s most seminal LGBTQIA+ nights, the houses in question are prepped and primed to beget a battle between the five most abounding decades of LGBTQIA+ creative greatness in the UK.
Starting the festivities off with a snog, Smooches Darling is the premier challenge remembering the joyful ‘Queer Kiss-In’ organised by activist Ted Brown in 1972. Outrageous Power pays homage to queer nightlife de-coloniser DJ Ritu who was a part of Club Shakti (shakti meaning ‘power’) in 1988, one of the first celebratory spaces for queer British South Asians. A Fashion Bazaar, this contest calls for contestants to channel a rich power mogul and serve it on a silver platter with excentric hair, makeup and, of course, shoulder pads – it’s fashun, darling.
Queer Here… Get Used to It is next up, celebrating of the gay explosion of the 1990s under the category Face. Then during the naughties, the fight for Best Dressed will head underway with a competition called Transparent Supporter that honours the Way Out Club and its founder, Vicky Lee.
Finally in the 2010s, Wedding Crasher will tackle the runway in the name of ballroom history and how far LGBTQIA+ communities have come. Each of the triumphant winners will be enthroned with a one-of-a-kind, specially crafted Cîroc Vodka bottle trophy that has been designed exclusively by Matty Bovan. Five houses, five decades and one iconic battle – are you ready for this jelly?
To find out more about the Cîroc Iconic Ball and for tickets click here. Photography courtesy of Cîroc.
