Back in the late 80′s, when I first came down to the village, I was amazed at all the gay men and women that my cousins and I were seeing. Never did I imagine that in just 2 short years later, that I would become a part of one the most elite underground societies in New York City.
The first time I was on the pier in ’88, I had met a few people that were talking pig Latin and these two girls that were speaking Spanish. One of my cousins then turns to me ( who is straight) and says those are two guys. I was in shock. I said hell no!!! couldn’t be!! Nah, get the fuck out of here! But in fact they were. The two young ladies were two sisters Evie and Denise Milan(R.I.P). At the time I didn’t know who they were but I was so surprised that they were not what I thought they were but it didn’t matter because they were beautiful and real in every which way possible to me.
It was the summertime so I was out there every night after that. Then I met someone who would be forever my dearest friend and sister her name at the time was something else, but she would go by Taima. One night on the pier she started to twirl around in circles over and over again. I said to my new friend “hey are you a ballerina or something”? She says ” no I’m voguing”. I said well what is that?She says have you never gone to a ball before? I said to her you mean a debutant Ball? She laughs and says no a ball?? Wait you don’t know what a ball is? I tell her no. She instantly takes me to Tracks on 19th st. We stood on the free line to get in. When we did that was all she wrote. I was hooked. The next time I saw her was a couple of months later when she was in full drags and now goes by the name Kristina!!! Yes Kristina was my first real introduction into the ballroom scene and my first ballroom friend.. I love her so.. My godson Emil Icon( Ms Eygpt Revlon at the time) takes me to my first real ball. By now I was starting to meet the who’s who in the ballroom scene. I met one of partners in crime Ashley( Boo Boo then) who we just clicked from the door we were all so close then and today still. Selvin, Andre, Stewart-( my mom) Roy, Sean, Melson,Tony(my Dad), Jose(Stiffy-my sis), De’Andre, Trina,Chelle, Ms Tony ( my sister) Garnet, Teri, Alyssa, Curtis, Jerome, Joseph, Jarrett,Latien, DeShawn, Darris.Kevin, and quite a few more that would eventually lead me into joining the House of Revlon.
Joining the House of Revlon was one of the best times of my life. From this point on my life would forever be different. With my two friend Trina and De’Andre by my side, we were traveling everywhere. In Baltimore I met my first daughter Sabrina. Who later would become my other partner in crime and best friend. Real, Pretty, and could vogue I thought she too was amazing at a young age. Battling from state to state was truly amazing. Going against Legends at the time like Shady Louie Xtrava,& Tony Chanel. Winning over these people and other in my age groups was thrilling.Then I met the person who would be my ballroom rival. Dre Ebony!! We battled for years I would win, then he would win. We were a thorn in each other sides for years. He would send out his strongest boys against me and I would have to take the whole team down!! If they wanted to win, then he would have to walk and try to stop me. Through the years others would become my biggest rivals as well. Mann Prodigy, Gi Gi Prodigy ( who was my house brother when we were Revlon),Cyrus Ebony(Rip), Hakeem Jourdan( another tough opponent), Scorpio Xtrava,and the whole house of Ebony..etc. a few times one of my best friends Melson Milan and I had to meet but we never liked battling each other. Winning realness of the year In 93 at the New York ball awards was a great feeling,like ok I’m on my way to becoming Legend..lmao. But not recieving that award again for a few years after that was frustrating. I was still winning mostly every ball back to back still but I wouldn’t when Of The Year. My proudest moment was in ’96 when I sat down at least 30 people at the Latex Ball and at the end it was Dre and I. We went toe to toe this night. I stood victorious. I can truly say this was the night where we put our shade aside and found a new love and respect for each other. I stayed in the House of Revlon from 91-2000. While my father Tony was away I took his place and had become the acting father for a time in both Baltimore and NY. Later moving to Philly I was overseeing the House in Philadelphia while Joey was being groomed as the father for Philly. After the death of my other mother Danielle, we decided it was time to move on and with the idea from another best friend Ashley we would start our own house. But this house would be different then the rest. Instead of one mother we would have two. Take two ballroom rivals and make them become sisters. Two of the hottest Fq of their day we knew we would send the scene into a teesy..With Sabrina Revlon agreeing to the idea ( who just came back to the house of Revlon after leaving to go to the house of Ebony for a few years), so was born The House of Icon. From ’03-06 I won Legendary Realness of the year. My lil brother Rodney won in ’07. Then I reclaimed the title again in ’08 and also was inducted into both The New york and Philadelphia Hall of Fame, which was both a surprise and honor to placed among some of the greats in ballroom history.
Through out the years I have seen some of the realest men and women ever from Naiya Milan, Safire Ninja, Octavia St.Laurant, Bam Ebony, Jahard, Coppertone, Face( the original),Qdon( my homie), Will Ebony, Roy and Sean, Kashawn Labejia,Resse Pendavis,Dee Pendavis, Evie, Shanice Milan. Ongenne,Tania,Jada, JoJo,Marisol,Angie,Ava Xtrava,Jada Aphrodite, keyna Allure( rip daughter) Carmen,Ashley,Venus(daughter),Tracy Africa,Cassandra Pendavis, Kborn, Joey, Jamel Princess, Raquel Xtarva Blanhik,Tempress St.Laurant, Beverly St.Laurant, Keisha Ebony. Angel, Latisha jessica Aphrodite, Reene Karan, Mekialia Montana, Stephaine Labejia, Porcha Labejia, Moldavia,Monica and Ann Allure,Tia St.Clair,Brigette ( daughter) &, Whintey Aphrodite, Kaderia, Krystal Milan,Destiny Icon,wow so many people who are still walking like Kiwi, Kyana,Keyona,Danielle, Nicole,Lil Destiny & Markita Icon , Dawn Lacroix,Keona Chanel( all of them are my daughters), Jasmine Blahnik, Lisa and Chyna Prodigy,Jahaira Aga ( my special daughter)Jazimine Milan, Devine Chanel and all the younger girls and guys. like Darnell Milan Daddy Blanhik, Face Ebony(my son),and yet so many that are gone. One day I was walking , and as I was walking someone said Hey James let these new kids walk and win. I turned to them and said “if they wanna win and become up and coming at least, then they would have to win over me”. When I was walking I had to battle the top to get to the top. I have won over everyone in this scene. And I am proud to say that in coming up into my 20th year anniversary soon, I am still around to enjoy the scene I am so proud to be apart of and still have the passion to compete in.
