The Let Out: A Legendary Podcast

On this special episode of the podcast, Mikelle speaks with filmmakers Nneka Onourah and Giselle Bailey to talk about their newly released HBO Original documentary The Legend of the Underground. The film follows a group of youths who are challenging ideals of gender, conformity, and civil rights in Nigeria. The group discusses telling authentic stories, and the multifaceted issues the project covers. The Legend of the Underground is now streaming on HBO Max.

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Mikelle speaks with New York City father Arturo Miyake-Mugler as well as house members Diego Miyake-Mugler and Tati Miyake-Mugler about what it was like winning the season. The team talks about how they became the powerhouse performers they are, and how in the middle of the season they made an integral change that left them with the top prize. Legendary judge Leiomy Maldonado also chats about her relationship with voguing as well as Arturo, who she used to look up to coming up in the scene. 

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Mikelle speaks with overall mother Shannon Balenciaga and house member Honey Balenciaga about being the “fab” girls of the season and what it felt like to get so close but not take home the trophy. Shannon also gets emotional speaking about what ballroom has taught her about family, and Honey explains how she’s come into her own voguing style. Trigger warning: this episode contains some mention of suicidal ideation.

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Mikelle speaks with overall godmother Stasha Garçon and house member Milan Garçon about the House of Garçon’s best Legendary performances and the house’s history. Stasha also shares the long legacy she’s built for herself outside of the ballroom scene (including drag’s House of Sanchez) and how she changed the category of face. Additionally, Milan shares how ballroom whipped her into shape and prepared her to walk New York Fashion Week runways. 

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While most houses had one house parent on Legendary, the House of Oricci had two. Mikelle talks with overall father Omari Oricci and overall mother Gilette Oricci about their time on the show, why Gilette was so key to the leadership of the house, the origins of the house of Oricci, and what it’s like building a legacy outside of ballroom teaching runway and choreographing dance internationally.

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After what will undoubtedly be the most talked about exit of the season, Mikelle talks with West Coast Mother Gia Tisci and house member Simone Tisci about the elimination no one saw coming. With that out of the way, they also discuss Gia’s legendary career on ballroom runways, Simone’s career outside of the scene building her life as a celebrity makeup artist, and how Legendary is putting a spotlight on femme queens this season.

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Mikelle can’t get enough of the sound of Ballroom. Its layers and complexity are the inspiration for this episode. We hear from internationally known DJ MikeQ and King of Vogue, the Icon Dashaun Wesley. They discuss the chemistry of sounds, the dynamic between DJ, commentator and dancer, and what it means for the scene that Ballroom is receiving the cultural attention and acclaim it so very much deserves.

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Mikelle talks with Philadelphia father Jamil Icon and house member Kylie Kat about their final performance, where they explain the gag factor they experienced of being sent home after their best performance of the competition. But, at the end of the day it was the house’s bond that shown through. Here, the two reflect on their own legacies, as well as the purpose of the kiki scene and the role Philadelphia plays in the overall narrative of ballroom.

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Mikelle chats with New York City Mother of the House of Milan, Jocelyn Milan, and house member Maleek Milan about their house roots and history, the different kinds of mothers in Ballroom, what it means to actually BE a house mother, as well as the ways Ballroom has made space over the years for non-binary identity.

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Mikelle and House of Luxe member Becky Luxe dive into all things Luxe as Becky gives us a behind the scenes look into how she came to Legendary. Becky shares her experience coming up in the Los Angeles ball scene, discusses how gender transcends in Ballroom, and how learning to vogue not only freed her to be her most whole self, but now consistently encourages it.

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