Big Twyst 〽️〽️

“A PLACE THAT REALLY FEELS LIKE OUR OWN” Ballroom's newfound popularity in shows like Drag Race and Pose can send the message that it's only a platform for performance. But for the @torontokikiballroomalliance , care work is foundational to the scene. When @mrmapleleaf was outed at church as a teenager, ballroom saved him. Years later, he co-founded the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance to offer queer youth safe access to support and a sense of community. This story from @nopeconnor from our April issue is now also available to read online. Photos by @briannablank Family Portraits is a three-part series that explores Toronto's ballroom scene, and the role that some of its most prominent members play in addressing the social problems that disproportionately affect the city's queer communities. This series is supported by the Joe Burke Fund for Social Justice Reporting, which was created in memory of Joe Burke, the late social justice advocate and lawyer.

Mother Knows Best was a very fun time! Lots of moments! Lots of fun! Since there are no clips, let’s relive the night and address some of the things that must be addressed. #AfterTheFunctionLIVE

Some of many of the hottest looks of the night! During our annual Liberation Ball, everyone came and showed off. The looks were straight off the runway. Comment your favourite look! 📸 @kenya_s_m #blackliberationball #BlackHistoryMonth #blackexcellence #torontoevent #torontolife

Some fun shots of our annual Liberation Ball on February 28th! They brought the energy and the attitude. This event showcased the celebration of ballroom and voguing from across North American hosted at Evergreen Brick Works. The winners of each category got to take home a trophy. Comment on your favourite category! 📸 @kenya_s_m #blackliberationball #BlackHistoryMonth #blackexcellence #torontoevent #torontolife a

BLACK LIBERATION…TORONTO STYLE! I haven’t met y’all on the runway in a minute. But after hitting three balls in the last two weeks, it’s only right I share something with the people. Kudos to @mrmapleleaf @kingmaasai7 and @brandonhay8 on the success of Black Liberation Ball 4! You worked your @sses off to create a successful weekend. The night was EXTRAORDINARY! You curated a ballroom experience that brought chic elegance together with competitive excitement…and the feeling was palpable! All the Houses who were in the House SHOWED DAFUQUE OUT! You brought your A-Games, so this edition of MEET ME ON THE RUNWAY is dedicated to the Houses. As always, please feel to share…and tag the folk you see in the clip who you know. I’m already getting ready for Number Five…and BIGUPS to Twysted for bringing Black Canada’s history to the runway!

BALLROOM IMMERSION CAMP RECAP We wrap up a successful eventful weekend! Thank you to all the gems, legends and icons that came to share with our community! ✅️ Panel on Canadian Ballroom + Vogue Fem workshop w/ @mrmapleleaf ✅️ "We Call it Ballroom" - watching and discussion @oduadamu @kingmaasai7 ✅️ Fashion Workshop w/ @desirediseiye ✅️ Mock Ball ✅️ Body Workshop w/ @fallintodesire ✅️ Open Session ❤️ THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP, SHARED SPACE! Love to see the growth!!! Until the next one! A big thank you to our partners @quartierjeunesse for opening their doors A big thank you to LA Ville de Montréal for the financial support making this possible! Thank you to the fire team @badboysart_ @ali_luv_d @ana.iism 🫶🏾✨️ 🎶 Voguing Beat | Vogue Femme Instrumental - "Mother - cocotekel ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Récapitulatif du CAMP IMMERSION BALLROOM 1.0! Un week-end riche en événements ! Merci à tous ceux et celles qui ont partagé leur savoir avec nous ! ✅️ Table ronde sur la culture ballroom au Canada + Atelier Vogue Fem avec @mrmapleleaf ✅️ « We Call it Ballroom » - visionnage et discussion avec @oduadamu et @kingmaasai7 ✅️ Atelier de mode avec @desirediseiye ✅️ Mock Ball ✅️ Atelier Body avec @fallintodesire ✅️ Pratique ouverte ❤️ MERCI À TOUTES LES PERSONNES QUI SONT VENUES ! Nous sommes ravis de voir la communauté s'épanouir! À la prochaine ! Un grand merci à nos partenaires de @quartierjeunesse pour leur accueil. Un grand merci à la Ville de Montréal pour son soutien financier qui a rendu cet événement possible ! Merci à l'équipe de feu : @badboysart_ , @ali_luv_d et @ana.iism 🫶🏾✨️ 🎶 Voguing Beat | Vogue Femme Instrumental - "Mère - cocotekel

VOGUE FEMME WORKSHOP w/ ICON @arturo_thaengineer & RUNWAY w/ ICON @simplytwiggy & Legendary Jonovia Lanvin @jonoviac

For the first night of the annual Journey to Black Liberation Symposium, we screened the documentary film Grand Prize directed by @oduadamu . The screening and panel highlighted how Black queer–led spaces foster belonging, resilience, and mental well-being. Location: George Brown College – Waterfront Campus 📸 @kenya_s_m #blackliberationball #BlackHistoryMonth#blackexcellence #torontoevent #torontolife

Today kicks off our 4th Journey To Black Symposium & Black Liberation Ball! @mrmapleleaf shares the rundown on how it’s all going down. This is a collaborative effort between @kingmaasai7 , @brandonhay8 , &@mrmapleleaf . Don’t miss out and get your tickets - link in bio #blackliberationball #BlackHistoryMonth #blackexcellence #torontoevent #torontolife

✨ CAMP IMMERSION BALLROOM 1.0 ✨ Plonge dans l’univers de la culture Ballroom pendant 3 jours d’activités avec des instructeurs.rices de grande expertise et 100% gratuites. Ballroom 4 Community invite les jeunes de 14 à 35 ans de la communauté 2ELGBTQIA+ et / ou QTIBOC à découvrir l’histoire, la dimension artistique et la force communautaire de la scène Kiki Ballroom, une culture symbole d’authenticité et d’expression de soi. 🗓️ 6 au 8 mars 2026 📍Quartier Jeunesse CJE Centre-Ville @quartierjeunesse — 460 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, bureau 602 🚇 Métro Place des Arts (5 min) ♿ Accessible aux personnes à mobilité réduite (écris-nous pour préciser tes besoins) 🔗 Pour t’inscrire : lien en bio. Aucune expérience ou connaissance requise ! CAPACITÉ LIMITÉE ! FAITES VITE! Contactez-nous pour plus d’informations ! Projet rendu possible grâce aux programmes Participation culturelle dans les quartiers et Prévention Montréal de la Ville de Montréal. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ✨ BALLROOM IMMERSION CAMP ✨ Immerse yourself into the world of Ballroom culture for 3 days of activities with TOP TIER instructors, all completely free! Ballroom 4 Community invites youth aged 14 to 35 from the 2ELGBTQIA+ and/or QTIBOC community to discover the history, artistic dimension, and community strength of the Kiki Ballroom scene, a culture that symbolizes authenticity and self-expression. 🗓️ March 6-8, 2026 📍Quartier Jeuness - CJE Montreal Centre-Ville @quartierjeunesse — 460 Sainte-Catherine Street West, Suite 602 🚇 Place des Arts Metro Station (5 min) ♿ Accessible to people with reduced mobility (contact us to specify your needs) 🔗 To register: link in bio. ✅️ LIMITED CAPACITY! HURRY ! No experience or knowledge required! Contact us for more information! This project is made possible through the City of Montreal's Participation Culturelle and Prevention Montréal programs. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Flyers: @badboysart_ Camp coordinator: @badboysart_

**SWIPE LEFT & SCREENSHOT** With pride, we are honoured to invite the WORLD to our 4th Journey To Black Symposium & Black Liberation Ball. This weekend of events is a cross-border, inclusive conversation that is sometimes had with language, and our bodies. This weekend is a collaborative effort between Michael Roberson, Brandon Hay & Twysted Miyake-Mugler - 3 hard working men who bring different perspectives and their expertise to curate an impactful weekend for the Black community near and far. Join us at any of our FREE conversation plenaries on different topics, or our FREE movement plenaries on the art of RUNWAY & VOGUE - taught by our ICONIC Guests from NYC. Get your tickets today for the BLACK LIBERATION BALL today, and don’t forget to join us for the SUPER SPECIAL OLD WAY taught by the ICON Daebrian Balenciaga!! For our guests who will be in town on the Sunday, join us at the REC ROOM at 5pm for a SUNDAY FUNDAY wrap up - regardless of house affiliation!! It’s safe to say that Canada’s first major ballroom weekend of 2026 is going to be one for the BOOKS!!!! LINK IN BIO #blackliberationball #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackFutures #Ballroom #TKBA

Video fixed! It’s finally here…my first feature project! GRAND PRIZE celebrates Toronto’s ballroom scene and the people who give it LIFE! I am honored to share this first look as the opening on this year’s Journey to Black Liberation Symposium and Black Liberation Ball Weekend. And it’s the next stop on the ROAD TO BLACK LIBERATION TOUR. Here are the dets- GRAND PRIZE FIrst Look and Artist Talk Thursday, February 26/ 7-10pm George Brown College Daphne Cockwell Building, Auditorium 237 51 Dockside Drive, Toronto Thanks to everyone who shared their voice and talent on GRAND PRIZE…and as always, I greatly appreciate for your continued support and look forward to seeing you there! And feel free to share! Link in commernts to RSVP