"It Ain't He, It Ain't She, It's We": The Politics of Self-Definition and Self-Valuation in The Androgynous Model Web Series. (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blake, Donnesha A.
• Is Part Of: Dress. Volume 45:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Black lesbians -- self-definition -- self-valuation -- fashion -- activism -- Black feminism -- androgyny; Clothing and dress -- United States -- Periodicals; Clothing and dress -- United States -- History -- Periodicals; Clothing and dress -- Periodicals; Clothing and dress -- History -- Periodicals; Costume -- Periodicals; Costume -- United States -- Periodicals; Fashion -- United States -- History -- Periodicals; Fashion -- History -- Periodicals; 391.00973
• DOI: 10.1080/03612112.2019.1559529
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0361-2112

Abstract

Abstract : The Androgynous Model web series is a modeling contest whose first season streamed on YouTube between 2013 and 2014. The show features five Black lesbian androgynous models from Charlotte, North Carolina, who compete in a series of photo-shoot and runway challenges to secure the title of "The Androgynous Model." Employing close readings of the photo-shoot, runway challenges, and an interview with the show's creator Nikki Eason, I argue that the models' performances in the web series and Eason's commentary are connected to a Black feminist tradition that prioritizes self-definition and self-valuation. I identify their articulation of self-definition and self-valuation in this web series as BlaQueer Style . Although BlaQueer Style can be and is the styling practices constructed by queer Black people, the interpretive framework BlaQueer Style that I aim to uncover underscores the Black feminist politics embedded in queer Black women's fashion activism so that we can reframe how we define and theorize activism.