Nike's New Voguing Ad Has a Powerful Pride Month Message

June 25, 2017

You should know Leiomy Maldonado’s name, because she’s shaped the way you dance. Called the “Wonder Woman of vogue,” the trailblazing artist was the first transgender woman to appear on “America’s Best Dance Crew,” as part of the Vogue Evolution crew. And her signature “Leiomy Lolly” hair flip has inspired everyone from Beyoncé to FKA Twigs to Willow Smith to, odds are good, your own teachers and choreographers. (Smith even asked Maldonado to appear in the video for “Whip My Hair,” to show the world how to do the flip properly.)

Now, Maldonado is the star of a new Nike ad celebrating the queer and transgender dancers who form the heart of the voguing community. Directed by Daisy Zhou, the spot is narrated by transgender artist Precious Angel Ramirez, and showcases Maldonado’s extraordinary skills, as well as those of several other dancers from the vogue scene.

“Hey Lei,” Ramirez asks, “which angels gave you their wings? Which skies have you flown? And when you reached the heavens, who was there to catch you when you fell? And did they tell you that you saved them too, like you saved me?”

It’s a beautiful message of self-acceptance, and it resonates especially powerfully during Pride Month.