Ballroom’s 2025 New England Prince is Dripping in Black Queer Royalty

This is an excerpt from the Qwear 2025 Pride Zine. To read the full story, download the digital version for free or support Qwear by ordering a printed copy.

Download Free Order Print ($20)

“Fashion is my Superman cape. It’s how I make myself visible on my terms. Whether it’s in a break-the-tie battle in New York, being crowned New England Prince, or just walking outside with a look that says ‘Say more to look at me, bitch’—I show up to be seen. YK is the fashion person.”

YK is a force. In the ballroom, on camera, or in a crowded train station—he walks like he owns it because he’s earned every step. Blending streetwear with high fantasy, confidence with care, and grit with glitter, YK is defining what Black queer masculinity and fluidity look like on the runway and in real life. His presence is defiant joy. He transforms imposter syndrome into self-styled royalty, reminding everyone watching that chosen family, creative freedom, and unapologetic queerness are worth celebrating every day.

And behind every look? A story of resilience, resourcefulness, and reclaiming space.

“I didn’t have a big coming out moment,” YK shares. “I expressed queerness through what I wore. I was that Black boy wearing what he wanted and not apologizing for it.”

Raised with style as inheritance—credit to his big sister—YK took early lessons in self-expression and spun them into armor. When asked how his Black queer identity shapes his style, he doesn’t hesitate: it’s about showing up without asking permission. It’s about turning heads with intention.

And when it comes to ballroom, he isn’t just participating—he’s shaping the space. The scene gave him a stage to wear outfits he might not wear on the street, and the freedom to be celebrated rather than just seen.

“Ballroom is where I can go full out. That’s where I got Streetwear of the Year. It’s where my looks land. It’s where I feel like my power, beauty, and purpose align.”

One of those defining moments? The “Not Too Proud to Prep Ball” in Baltimore, where YK was crowned New England Prince—a title that stretches across multiple states and years of self-doubt, late-night prep, and risk-taking. “That night taught me I’m doing everything right,” he reflects. “All the staying up late to pull looks together—it paid off.”

This is an excerpt from the Qwear 2025 Pride Zine. To read the full story, download the digital version for free or support Qwear by ordering a printed copy.

Download Free Order Print ($20)

CREDITS

Amir Dixon: Creative Director, @amirnowinc
Amanda Shea: Producer & Stylist, @amandasheaallday
Sonny Oram & Ru: Editors & Art Directors, @Qwearfashion , @sonnyoram, @beingrupi
Olivia Amaral: Production Coordinator, @olivia_theatrearts
Kat Conception: Lead Photographer, @Kat_concep
Vincent Lou: Photographer, @vincent_millennia