As London welcomes the 50th anniversary of Pride, Camden will host a reimagined Koko in Camden, serving as the venue for the inaugural “Ciroc Iconic Ball,” staged in support of Not A Phase, which brings together people of all genders and orientations to provide safe spaces.
In the ballroom community, five iconic house mothers—Sinia Alaia, Devine Gucci, Stasha Sanchez, Jusss Kelly and Lola Gucci—led performers in five different categories at Koko in an evening of celebrations and fantastical fashion. The categories were inspired by five decades of Pride: 1970s Vogue, 1980s Fashion Bazaar, 1990s Face, 2000s Best Dressed and 2010s Runway. Participants were judged on their costumes’ creativity and adherence to each decade’s aesthetic. Karteer, JJ Prodigy, Jozea, Kyle London and Ed Montero emerged as the winners in their respective categories.
Julien MacDonald, Giles Deacon, Michael Halpern, and Maximilian Raynor all provided attractive outfits for the ball, which was handled discreetly in partnership with C roc Ultra-Premium Vodka. The flowing pink Giles Deacon dress worn by Lola Gucci generated astonished applause.
The event also honored three LGBTQ+ pioneers: activist Ted Brown, who was behind the 1972 Pride march and a queer kiss-in; Club Shakti’s DJ Ritu (the U.K.’s first female South Asian DJ); and Vicki Lee, co-founder of iconic WayOut Trans club. In attendance were Vogue’s European editorial director Edward Enninful and British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, who presented Brown with a Cîroc trophy bottle designed by Matty Bovan (a reference to Brown’s activism for racial equality).