Angie Xtravaganza (1964-1993) was a legend in the New York ballroom scene, who never had a child of her own, but was a mother figure to dozens of people in the ballroom world.
Angie Xtravaganza (1964-1993) was a legend in the New York ballroom scene, who never had a child of her own, but was a mother figure to dozens of people in the ballroom world.
Special thanks to our exclusive Pride Month sponsor, Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz continues to support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen all month long as we celebrate women whose authentic expression in their lives and bodies of work have expanded the norms of gender and sexuality in the performing arts.
History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Miranda Maday, host of The Things we Carry and this is Womanica.
I’m so excited to be one of your guest hosts for the final week of Womanica this Pride month. This month, Womanica is highling queer stars of the stage and screen.
Today, we’re talking about a legend in the New York ballroom scene, who never had a child of her own, but was a mother figure to dozens of people in the ballroom world.
Please welcome Angie Xtravaganza.
Angie was born in 1964, in the South Bronx. She grew up in a large family, where abuse was regular. By the time she was fourteen, she decided to leave.
She quickly found community with other kids across New York without families. They would gather in Times Square and on the Christopher Street Piers. Even though Angie was only a teenager, she cared for kids like she was their mother.
At 14, Angie started doing drag performances in Harlem. She learned from Dorian Corey, a legendary drag performer who was also Angie’s house mother. In the New York ballroom scene, many drag performers belonged to houses - close-knit communities led by a house mother and house father.
Houses were more than teams that competed in ballroom competitions together. They were safe havens - many of the children that belonged to them had been cut off by their families, and were ostracised by larger society for their gender identity or sexual orientation. Belonging to a house meant being part of a family.
In 1992, Hector Valle [vah-ye], who was known in the ballroom scene for his voguing, founded his own house. It was exclusively for Latinx ballroom performers. He named it The House of Xtravaganza. Angie joined as a founding member, and became the house mother.
Angie took her role as house mother seriously. She cared for her children - made sure they always had food, celebrated their lives, and taught them how to dominate ballroom competitions.
Angie was also quickly becoming one of the most legendary performers in the New York ballroom scene. She was known for her unequaled fashion sense, her gliding model’s walk, her drop earrings, and her seven inch stiletto heels. Anytime she walked in a competition, she slayed.
In one show, she wore a handmade skirt and blazer set with a white shawl. She walked down the runway in her outfit, and when she got to the middle she started spinning. Her shawl got bigger and bigger - it was nearly fifty feet long. As she spun - in stilletos! - the other competitors got covered by the shawl’s fabric. Angie walked away with the trophy.
In 1990, Angie rose to national prominence after the release of the documentary Paris is Burning. The documentary shows scenes from the actual ‘Paris is Burning’ ball, where Angie was awarded ‘Mother of the Year’.
The documentary also features the close relationship Angie had with Venus Xtravaganza, one of Angie’s daughters and a fellow performer. In 1988 - while Angie was filming the documentary - Venus was found strangled to death in a hotel room. Angie was the first person the police told about Venus’ death. She held the house together through their grief.
In 1991, at 25 years old, Angie was diagnosed with AIDS. Over time, her condition deteriorated. But she still made an effort to don outfits in her signature style, and go out with her family. In the last weeks of her life, she would regularly say: “No drag queen has carried herself the way I have. I’m not a beauty, but I’ve got class.”
Angie passed away in 1993, two years after her AIDS diagnosis. She was 28 years old. Shortly after Angie’s death, the New York Times published a story about the New York ballroom scene, with a picture of Angie at the top. The headline was: Paris has burned.
But Angie’s legacy lives on. Today, the House of Xtravaganza still exists - and some children have been part of the family for over 30 years.
All month, Womanica has highlighted Pride On Stage. For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram @womanicapodcast.
Special thanks to Liz and Jenny Kaplan for inviting us to guest host.
Tune in tomorrow for the beginning of our new theme: Dynamos.