A look into the biggest ballroom event of the year.
It’s a sweltering summer day in a West Midtown studio, but even the humidity can’t stop the members of the House of Gorgeous Gucci from staying fabulous as they prepare to compete at the biggest ballroom event of the year.
Thaddeus Laday is dramatically outstretched in a director’s chair in the center of the room. Wearing a bedazzled Rahul Mishra couture onesie with a giant Schiaparelli hand ear cuff, he is providing insight and feedback on every single look each house member tries on. Then there’s Kelly Harrison, co-founder, who sits getting her makeup done to match her custom outfit. “When you walk fashion you gotta be gay!” She instructs another house member. “Give me gay, gay!” Kelly is getting ready to step into her Lady Gaga inspired get-up, complete with a jacket that releases smoke, designed by Leo Prothmann with over-the-top crystal studded sunglasses by Maxina. “I’m fortunate enough to live the fantasy—30 years in the game,” Thaddeus tells me between doling out styling quips. “I definitely know I’m chosen for this. I was born for this. It’s nothing that I woke up and became.”
Thaddeus wears SS26 couture look 23 ignis hand embroidered bodysuit with ignis print highlighted 3d sculpture by RAHUL MISHRA
Kelly wears custom jacket, meat dress, boots and legwarmers by LEO PROTHMAN, custom crystallized eyewear by MAXINA and nails by BLUMARINE
In front of another mirror, Lola, overall House Mother, expertly sculpts her cheekbones with rollers in her hair like an old Hollywood star. For the ballroom event, she’ll wear archival Christian Dior by John Galliano. “My ballroom aesthetic is beyond glamorous, I would say resilient,” she says. “Innovative and mysterious too, because I’ve always been the kind of person that keeps to myself.” Like many of the House of Gorgeous Gucci members, she was introduced to the ballroom scene years ago where she met the first trans woman she ever encountered, which led her to help discover her own identity. “What I love about [this] community is that it’s a safe space for you to come in and explore your talents, find a chosen family if you don’t have your family that accepts you—which was the case for me in the beginning.”
The House of Gorgeous Gucci may be New York icons, but they’re on their way to Richmond, Virginia to compete at The Captivating House of West presented by WTV, which has been billed as the largest Grand Prize Ball in ballroom history. For the uninitiated: the ballroom scene is the underground performance culture born of Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, where self-invention becomes high art and the runway is reclaimed as a stage for those the mainstream fashion world has long overlooked. It’s organized into “houses”—chosen families led by a mother or father—that compete against one another in categories spanning runway, face, best dressed, and fashion, each member walking to embody a look so precise and so fully owned that the judges have no choice but to take notice. The categories for this particular ball are inspired by iconic moments from the VMAs. The undisputed goal is to be show-stopping. That’s why Midori Monet–a legendary pageant queen in her own right–is making her first ever ballroom debut wearing an ethereal burgundy floating floral ensemble by Rahul Mishra couture.
Lola wears archival fascinator with mesh veil and feather detail by ELLEN CHRISTINE, raffia shawl with leather and sterling silver closure by CAMPILLO, archival fox fur capelette with pearl and strass embroidery and archival crystal and pavé rhinestone “claw” ring by ROBERTO CAVALLI, archival tiered pearl necklace with velvet demi bow accents, archival tiered pearl bracelet with velvet demi bow accents, archival brilliant cut crystal choker and silk jacquard bodice, archival transparent jersey skirt, and archival limited edition velvet saddle bag with pearl and metallic beads by CHRISTIAN DIOR, archival silk and lace “string” panties with velvet closures and archival silk garter belt with lace inserts by JOHN GALLIANO, nylon individual stay-ups in 10 den transparency by WOLFORD, and platform sandals by PARIS TEXAS
Midori wears fall 2025 couture special look hand embroidered ‘wild rose’ long velvet dress with hand embroidered ‘wild rose’ bursting corset by RAHUL MISHRA, handbag and jewelry by ALEXIS BITTAR
“When I get on stage, I love to be the grande dame,” Seattle based Midori says. “I call it aura farming. Before you can even see me, you feel me, my presence, and my energy.” She was named Miss International Queen 2026, which is the world’s largest pageant for trans women in the world, going viral when she won because all of the women on the stage rushed to hug her competitor. That’s when House of Gorgeous Gucci founder Jack Mizrahi messaged her. ‘He said, ‘You want to make another viral moment? Come to Gorgeous Gucci and walk for me.’ And I said, ‘Okay.'” She pauses for a moment. “It’s not about what controversy has done to you. It’s about what it can do for you.”
The House of Gorgeous Gucci calls Ka’Don the All the American Runway assassin. “Ballroom has been so much about self-discovery,” he says, while wearing a Campillo rooster-feather appliqué jacket with shiny sterling silver closure, and a Willy Chavarria cowboy hat. “I just use fashion as my visual testimony. I’m able to show who I am — my strengths, vulnerability, masculinity, and sometimes femininity.”
Meanwhile, Christian Banks wore a dramatic DSQUARED2 runway look for the occasion. “It’s like a Cinderella story,” he tells me. “The boy from the Bronx gets to get dressed up for the ball, it’s a one-night-only thing, and I’m just going to give it my all. I always have to represent, no matter what I do, even in sleep. It’s like being American—but before I’m American, I’m from the Bronx.” Like the others, he discovered ballroom years ago and was immediately blown away: “The first time I saw a trans woman, I was in awe,” he says. “Where I come from, being a transgender woman wasn’t really a thing. It was kind of like seeing a Ferrari in the Bronx. So when I saw that, I was like, yeah, this is it.”
Ka’Don wears archival silver metal punk skinny shield glasses by CHRISTIAN DIOR, cowboy hat by WILLY CHAVARRIA, crystal beaded “swallow” brooch by BLUMARINE, rooster-feather appliqué jacket with sterling silver closure by CAMPILLO, crystal beaded stretch mesh shrunken tee and hipster pant set by GUCCI FW26, archival silver large chain necklace with “DV” logo lettering detail by VERSACE, archival “zipper” chain necklace by LOUIS VUITTON, archival silver blue sapphire skull mohawk ring by ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, studded belts, leather and steel cuff, and cuban heel leather biker boots by by DSQUARED2 FW26, archival bracelet by JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, archival silver chain barb wire necklace by DSQUARED2
Ballroom isn’t just an event; for the people involved it’s all about identity and community. “Our house stands for loyalty, inclusivity, family, and a camaraderie that you just don’t get from other houses,” says Kelly. “A lot of houses look like a family when they go to the balls, but outside a ballroom you don’t get that bond.” She adds: “When I came into ballroom, I was a brick. I was a knot. I was a nobody. And I knew one day I would become something in this community. Before, I was trying to get a seat at the table. Now I’m running the table.” For others like Thaddeus, it’s about cementing individuality. “Because I identify as gender-nonconforming, it’s very important when I do wear something, it has to be coveted by trans women, trans men, men, cis women, cis men, and gender-nonconforming identifying people. That’s what makes my style so significant.”
So how do you win a ball? The houses with the most winning walks rack up points and the glory, but the real currency here is the moment: that electric, unrepeatable instant when someone steps onto the floor and the whole room knows they’ve arrived. “You have to get all 15 of your judges to lock in on you, notice you, adore you, and want to see more of you every single time you step out on that stage,” says Midori. “I’m about making historic ballroom moments, because that’s what I learned from the girls I grew up with” adds Lola.
The day of the event, The Gorgeous House of Gucci came in second place, despite the fact that the ball didn’t finish because there were so many looks. This is typical, according to Rana Reeves, overall executive director of Gorgeous Gucci. “As with many things, it’s [about] the moment of hitting the runway and the audience’s appreciation and excitement that is of value; the opportunity to showcase correct high fashion and creativity through the lens of the stars and icons of this community,” he adds.
The moment persists long after the makeup comes off and the ballroom curtain comes down. “The moment is everything,” says Thaddeus. “It doesn’t matter who wins, because the moment brands yourself and the moment shines. When the moment’s over, when you wake up the next morning, that’s when you realize what actually happened.”
Christian wears uniform green zoot suit and overcoat and red hat by WILLY CHAVARRIA SS26, star ankle boots by DSQUARED2 and “fruit loops” bracelet and ring by GREG YUNA
THE HOUSE OF GORGEOUS GUCCI GOES FOR GOLD
Photographer RAFAEL MARTÍNEZ
Fashion Editor CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL
Text KRISTEN BATEMAN
Talent KELLY, LOLA, MIDORI, CHRISTIAN BANKS, KA’DON and THADDEUS
Creative Director RANA REEVES
Sitting Editor ALMA DE GANAY
Producers JENNIFER ROMERO and JUSTIN LEE FLOWERS
Hair CHARMAINE and YANCEY EDWARDS
Wig Stylist KARMA SUTRA STANWYCK
Makeup ALONSO ALSTON
Manicurist ALEXANE NAILS
Tailor TAILOR THE TAYLOR
Set Assistants ALANA and QUE GORGEOUS GUCCI
Special thanks to THE ARCHIVE
