Their hard work shows in each episode, made more impressive by the fact that for many of the show’s consultants, Pose marks the first time they’ve worked in Hollywood. “How can you expect people to have experience when they were never given the opportunity of experience?” says ballroom icon Jack Mizrahi. Make-up artists, event planners, singers, choreographers, and more are all prevalent in the scene, and Mizrahi is grateful to see them all exercising their talents on a large platform. “When I turn around to see Jacob Prodigy doing touch-ups or Leiomy, whom I’ve raised, on set doing chorero, or Jonovia becoming a producer that everyone relates to, it’s like, let this not be the only time we get this chance.”

Lia Clay

“Pose is a movement,” says Assistant producer Jonovia Chase. “It’s very rare that you see something that is intentionally structured to help the community… It’s more than a show. It’s more than entertainment. It’s about changing folks’ lives.” From the writers’ room to production to the screen, the ballroom community is reflected genuinely and with care. “It’s a conglomerate of beautiful souls.” Overflowing with members of the community, Chase calls the set a family full of support at every turn.

Lia Clay

“Affirming, celebratory, surreal… when I’m on set there’s just so much love,” says Twiggy Pucci Garçon, consultant and creator of the ballroom documentary Kiki. “Because I’ve been a part of ballroom from such a young age, I really needed to see myself.” Garçon hopes that anyone else watching the show sees themselves in the characters. “When we center the voices of marginalized peoples, everyone gets what they need. There’s so much to learn.”

Lia Clay

While the show awaits a second season renewal, critical acclaim from the likes of Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly affirms the scale of the show’s cultural influence. “I’m not into numbers. I’m into impact,” says Chase. “No matter where this show goes, it will have an impact on the entire world.” The ballroom community of the past, present, and future finally sees sincere representation with Pose.

“With Ryan Murphy, how am I going to say no?” says Hector Xtravaganza. “That’s the best decision I’ve made in my life… I wouldn’t have let this go for anything. Like my grandmother always said, if a door closes, liquify yourself and ooze your way in.”