ROSEN: Tell us about yourself!
DURRELL: I started walking in ballroom in 2004, which was my last year of high school. My friend brought me to my first ball in 2004, and I was amazed. I always say that ballroom picks people, and you can’t pick ballroom. It’s an energy you feel when you walk into the ballroom space + know you’re welcome and accepted. I knew I wanted to compete but graduating high school was my main priority. After I finished high school, I joined my very first house, the House of Khan.
A few years later, I was given the opportunity to join the House of Chanel. In 2006, I debuted in my category, European Runway in New York City at the ballroom New York Awards Ball. This award ceremony is ballroom’s version of the Oscars where people are awarded for their influence + performances over the year. I ended up winning my first grand prize of $500, and the rest was history. During that time, I also started my career as a makeup artist and in 2013, as a photographer – inspired by the creativity of ballroom culture.
R: How did you get involved in ballroom?
D: At the time I always used to watch the Victoria Secret fashion shows, that was a HUGE thing for me and my friends and we would mimic what we saw the girls do. When I was in 3rd grade a fellow classmate called me a “faggot” because of my natural walk. I was traumatized when I found out what the word meant and hated myself for a long time for it because I didn’t know I was gay at such a young age, nor did I want to be teased for something I couldn’t control (which was my natural walk.) Ballroom gave me the space to become powerful because of my walk. What once hurt me turned into a talent that many people respect and idolize.