Fashion
The balls involve cross-dressing in elaborate and flashy attires that represent the glamour of the competition. The participants are shown preparing and exhibiting their costumes ranging from big costumes to everyday uniforms. The ball culture resembles the fashion runways that display flamboyant outfits to intrigue the audience. In the opening, the gold costume takes center stage to demonstrate the essence of the film and the subject matter. They display the luxury, beauty, glamour, and affluence that the drag subculture aims to achieve for the balls.
Trophies
Initially, the small-scale nature of the balls gives the illusion that the competitions are not cutthroat. The scene with multiple gold trophies illustrates the magnitude of the ball culture and its significance. At one point Pepper LaBeija compares the competition to the Oscars since the awards have categories, prestige, and enactments. The glossy trophies on the stage stand in stark contrast to the dull and murky streets of the city where performers are often unsafe due to discrimination against queer people.
Vogueing
The main performance in the balls is the vogueing that compliments the costumes and the performers. This stylized dance originated from the houses where balls took place. The scenes of the contestants outdoing each other with complex styles of vogueing are the spirit of the ball culture. While the dance later found mainstream exposure in popular culture, the film captures its roots before finding fame. The imagery puts into perspective the uniqueness, unconventionality, and artistry of the subculture.
New York 1989
The majority of the ballroom competitions in the film take place in small-scale balls with few audience members. In 1989, the House of Xtravaganza participated in the first mainstream ball with the same elements as the drag ball culture. The Love Ball, which was a fundraiser organized by an AIDS foundation, included household names in the subculture. The imagery of the ball demonstrates the ball culture going mainstream and receiving worldwide recognition and acceptance.
