Identifier

NMAAHC20260309

Title

Octavia and Danielle, Revlon Ball, Manhattan, NY, 1997

Artist

Gaskin, Gerard H.

Date Created

1997

Location

New York

Medium

Photography

Inkjet prints

Dimensions

32.9 cm × 48.3 cm (12 15/16 × 19 inches)

Type of Events

Drag balls

Ball culture (Ballroom community, Ballroom culture)

Description

"A black and white photographic print depicting Octavia St. Laurent and Danielle Revlon, two competitors in the Femme Queen Realness category at the Revlon Ball in Manhattan, NY in 1997. Both Octavia and Danielle are posing leaning on a circular table in the foreground of the image. Each one leans with one hip and one hand on the table and the other hand on their hips. Octavia is on the left side of the image, wearing a black strapless bustier with ruffle details along the bustline and a sheer black button front shirt, unbuttoned and tied around her waist. Danielle, on the right, wears a dark-colored halter dress and a long strand of pearls triple-wrapped around her neck. Both Octavia and Danielle face a man, the ball's judge Tony Revlon, seated on the other side of the table. A small statuette trophy is sitting on the table. A large crowd of spectators are visible sitting and standing at a line of rectangular tables in the background. There are no inscriptions, front or back." from Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture