In the late 1980s, the underground ballrooms of New York lit up with sequins, sweat, and self-determination. Paris Is Burning, the iconic documentary, captured a moment when Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities took the stage — not just for a trophy, but for visibility, survival, and beauty. It was the Renaissance of the Marginalized, and it birthed a global language: Vogue. House. Walk. Slay.
Now, Harlem is burning again — this time, with purpose.
Under the banner of the Harlem Boys Choir, Mood Magazine, and the global collective of artists and producers shaping the 2025–2026 season, a new house is being built: a movement of high-fashion, runway-ready, unapologetically Black excellence. It starts with the street team. And it moves across the world.
From the Sidewalk to the Spotlight
Today’s “street team” is Harlem’s version of the house ballroom runway. It’s the proving ground. The public catwalk. The place where tomorrow’s icons — tall, stunning, Glamazonian Black models and performers — earn their stripes. Wrapped in Harlem Boys Choir sweatshirts, moving through the city with intention and style, these ambassadors are the face of a new Harlem Renaissance.
They aren’t just promoting a magazine or a popcorn brand. They’re embodying a lifestyle that says:
“We’ve always been beautiful. Now we own it.”
The Lineage: From Houses to Choirs to Culture
In Paris Is Burning, houses like LaBeija and Extravaganza were more than competition teams. They were chosen families, places of healing, style, and performance. Your movement does something similar — but this time, the House is Harlem. The legacy isn’t just nightlife; it’s opera, gospel, couture, street fashion, and global touring.
From “Out of Africa” to the Dunamis Gospel Awards, from Mais Soufflé to Black Bride, this new Harlem family blends:
- Runway and rhythm
- Street style and symphony
- Popcorn and protest
- Legacy and love
And just like the ballrooms, there’s an open call — for beauty, for boldness, and for belonging.
This Is Our Ball. Our Battle. Our Birthright.
The movement is inclusive, bold, and deeply Black. It calls on models, performers, poets, and provocateurs to take part — not just in photo shoots, but in building a legacy.
- Want to walk for real? Walk the streets of Harlem with grace and grit.
- Want to pose? Pose for a global campaign.
- Want to serve face? Serve it in front of the lens, on tour, on stage, and in story.
A Legacy Reclaimed
While the world watches Harlem, Harlem is watching itself — growing stronger, more beautiful, more unified. And just like those fierce queens and kings who claimed the spotlight at the height of the AIDS crisis, this generation says:
“You will see us. You will know us. And you will never again forget us.”
Apply now to be part of the Harlem Boys Choir Street Team — the new house that slays.
@MoodMagazineNYC | HarlemCollective.org |
#MaisSouffléMovement
