Photos: AC Drip Kiki Ball Brings Runway Competitions, Live Music and Fashion

Damario Chapman, Muskegon junior, flashes his jawline for the judges while competing in the face category. On Feb. 4, Albion College Drip and other organizations hosted a Kiki ball, bringing ballroom culture to the Kellogg Center (Photo by Cade Thomas).

Body, face, sneakers, twerking and runway battles. On Feb. 4, highly fashionable Albion College students brought it all. 

Albion College Drip, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, la hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, LGBriTs, Black Student Alliance and the Albion College chapter of the NAACP, partnered to organize and host the Kiki Ball, bringing the ballroom scene to Albion. 

Dior Love, Chicago junior and vice president of Albion College Drip, spoke at the beginning of the event, explaining what ballroom is.

“For those that are unfamiliar with the ballroom scene, It’s an LGBTQ+ culture that originated in NYC, beginning in the late 20s,” Love said. 

Love explained the concept of ballroom, adding that it is known for its overwhelming support, family orientation and sportsmanship. The ball included runway competitions for students to show off their talents and good looks, in categories like best sneakers and best face.

Love also introduced the special guest, reality TV star and ballroom queen, Delicious Gucci a recent finalist on HBO Max’s show, “Legendary.” 

Gucci emceed the event while students competed against each other on the makeshift runway in the KC stack. Contestants walked for a panel of five judges, comprised of various members of supporting organizations. The judges voted whether or not contestants earned a 10 or a chop.

“10 or chop basically means either you eat or you don’t,” Gucci said. “But don’t worry about a chop because a chop only makes you better.” 

Throughout the course of the night, many students showed up to participate in and spectate the Kiki Ball, which didn’t end until nearly midnight.

Ericka Minor, Detroit sophomore, sits on the judges’ table while serving face. (Photo by Cade Thomas).
Sophomores Amariah Woodson, of Saginaw, and Zakia Johnson, of Chicago, both wore black and gold outfits to the ball. “It was like black is beautiful, and what goes well with black? Gold,” Woodson said (Photo by Cade Thomas).
Love strikes a pose while voguing as Tadaro Riley, Chicago senior, snaps a photo (Photo by Cade Thomas).
Muskegon sophomore, Martaven Hardy, also known as YermTeam Paw, performed his single “Cupid.” Hardy was a crowd favorite, drawing people out of the audience and onto the runway (Photo by Cade Thomas).

See more coverage of the Kiki Ball from Editor-in-Chief Liam Rappleye and Staff Writer Mauricio Perez-Garcia. 

About Cade Thomas 9 Articles
Cade Thomas is a third year student from Detroit, Michigan. He is a fine arts major that works as a freelance photographer during the summer. Contact Cade via email at BCT11@albion.edu.

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*