Statement from the creator:

The birth of “MOTHERing” took place in a NYC café in October, 2025. My computer screen was cluttered with tabs and a blank Canva template, waiting to see who would record something first.

Countless themes of the show emerged, but one theme in particular stayed consistent amongst the variety: a celebration. During the ideation process, I fed into thoughts of craving belonging and tapping into the understanding of what that means for Xpressions. Many of us relate through the jubilation and defiance that is defined by our skin color, something that is very much external and apparent. Something that collectively holds much power on the surface, but I desire to pluck out what may not always be seen- or as visible- and truly celebrate it. For many of us, our queerness is nuanced because of our skin color. Will society see our sexuality or our skin color first, and why? For some, it’s the opposite.

“MOTHERing” was cultivated because of the discovery of embracing both identities, as observed in Dorian Corey, a native New Yorker whose power and resilience lay in being both Black and a drag queen. Her feature in the notable documentary within the queer community, Paris Is Burning, touches on the conversation of battling the idea of performance, even when used as a defence mechanism, and truly owning it as her identity. She was also known for her fashion designs and brand, “Corey Design,” and often championed glamorous and audacious gowns, creating elaborate theatrical costumes, feather capes, and gowns for use in and out of the ballroom scene. She is a pioneer for the drag community, and she is the reason for this show.

From there, the ideation process took off, and the name was born. Being a mother encompasses healing, change, and understanding. The goal of the fashion show, “MOTHERing,” acknowledges the literal power of the title and embraces how the term has entered the queer community and endured for generations. Now, more than ever, we must amplify the voices of those empowered by queerness and demonstrate the care, thoughtfulness, and acceptance the LGBTQ+ community has shown. I realized that my artful contributions have been strengthened because I am a Black woman, but also because of my queerness. It was truly a beautiful and eye-opening experience, the solace, the energy, the joy that came from working on this show with my peers. We were constantly thinking of how well queer media is interwoven into our culture, and bringing that to the forefront of the show. The production featured traditional drag, titled “Everyday MOTHERs,” and modern camp, offering something equally visually compelling and hysterical.

Selecting costumes with Fernando, tweaking logistics with Miyanna, sketching silhouettes during class, and workshopping with the models to also aid their identities being seen was the most fulfilling whirlwind I’ve experienced during my time with Xpressions.

I believe that I saw many identities shift and come alive during the development process to the actual show day, and that is all I could have asked for. Community is why we thrive; acceptance and understanding are why we thrive. We may be under fire now, but everything accumulated from our past and present makes me hopeful for our future.

I will forever be thankful to Xpressions and UNC for the opportunity to showcase why these ideas and truths matter.

All the love,

Sabrina Shaw