Lena Waithe’s Ode to Black Drag Queens at 2019 Met Gala

For the 2019 Met Gala them “An Exploration of Camp,” Lena Waithe served a good old-fashioned ode to Black queens (a slang term for Black gay men in drag). Waithe’s lavender pin-striped zoot suit gave an affectionate tribute to the originators of “serving camp”- Black drag queens. Her outfit read the words “Black drag queens invented camp” written across the back. In an Instagram post of her look, Lena Waithe provided the caption “I came to slay, b—-.”

 

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I am my brother’s keeper. ? : @totheppl

A post shared by Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe) on

“Camp” describes a style of dress that goes into the realm of costume. It is unabashedly extra and meant for all eyes to see. It is extravagance at its finest and unapologetically over the top. The classically-fitted suit was a Pyer Moss design by Kerby Jean-Raymond and the pinstripes were made up of the lyrics from Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” Jean-Raymond was Lena Waithe’s Met Gala date and he wore a matching suit which said, “Fix your credit. Pool money. Buy back the block.”

Related Story: ‘Being Proud to Be a Gay Black Female’ Is a Revolutionary Act, Says Lena Waithe

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I came to slay, bitch.

A post shared by Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe) on

This is the second year in a row that Emmy winner, Waithe, made a political statement on the Met Gala red carpet. Last year, the theme was “Heavenly Bodies” and she wore a rainbow, Carolina Herrera cape — with the Black and brown stripes — atop her suit. 

There was no doubt that Lena Waithe is Black, out and proud and here to make a statement.

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