Teyana Taylor Sends Heartfelt Message to NYC's Ballroom Scene

Teyana Taylor thanked New York City's Ballroom culture and LGBTQ community for always accepting her after the premiere of her highly anticipated WTP music video on Thursday.

Taylor's self-directed visual features a Cinderella-inspired plot of her trying to compete in the various contests within the underground LGBT subculture. The music video features prominent members of the community including Lena Waithe, Mykki Blanco, Milan Christopher and Shaun Ross.

"First time I met YOU (LGBTQ/ballroom) I was 15. An age when I didn’t feel my prettiest, didn’t know who I really was ya know," Taylor wrote. "I was still finding myself in this crazy world like any other normal 15 year old but it’s so crazy how before I became the woman I am today, most importantly, I was accepted with open arms by YOU."

The Harlem-born performer went on to say how the Ballroom scene empowered her to embrace her unconventional beauty. "YOU made me feel so beautiful. YOU embraced my strong features, YOU embraced my big hair, YOU embraced everything about me like no other and I knew from that day on that YOU would a home for me and would forever be apart of who I would become & something I would love and forever embrace AT ALL TIMES." 

According to the G.O.O.D. Music artist, the ballroom community wasn't accepted by the music industry. She alleged that scenes of the culture were cut out of her music videos and television appearances. The exclusion did not stop her from endorsing the ballroom.

"Once I realized that them NOT embracing YOU had become a repetitive thing, I vowed to continue to represent YOU whenever to whoever!! And that one day when I am where I want to be and I have control and power I would WORK MY P**** unapologetically to the world with you and make sure the world see where I come from and not have to worry about ANYONE editing YOU out or being ashamed of MY HOME," she said.

"YOU have taught me to embrace my sexuality, tap into my sexy, love my strong features, love my body and the list goes on and on," Taylor said in conclusion. "It’s so dope to finally do something for/with YOU that WE CONTROL UNAPOLOGETICALLY. "