Watch Allure Cover Star Billy Porter Surprise a Superfan

In 2019, it wasn’t too hard for me to scroll through my social media feed or open up my laptop only to be blessed with new images of Billy Porter gracing yet another red carpet or just being celebrated. And in his media coverage, I, like a multitude of other QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color), was finally seeing myself front and center.

For many of us, Porter has always been front and center in our world. The Primetime Emmy-winning actor — and cover star of Allure's 2019 "Art of Beauty" issue — also has three solo studio albums under his belt and has won both Tony and Grammy awards for his original performances as Lola, the lead character of Kinky Boots. He has been in the game for my entire lifetime, and he is just hitting his stride.

It’s fair to say that I don’t just stan Billy Porter — he is an actual queer idol for me. He will be the fairy godmother in the new live-action Cinderella, and if you have ever seen his portrayal of Pose's Pray Tell, an electric and wise emcee and father figure with a maternal sensibility, you will understand how I feel about that. But when I first found there was a new show about black and brown queer people, I was excited and nervous. Out of fear that it could creep into the territory of watering down our stories to make them palatable to entertain the heteronormative white gaze, I waited two weeks before I streamed the first episode. Within the first five minutes, I was overwhelmed with pride. (I’m pretty sure I cried.)

Seeing more queer people being celebrated or receiving recognition for their work has made me walk with an unapologetic pep in my step, but nothing prepared me for when I was recently ambushed and got the chance to sit with him. "Growin' up…coming out in the '80s, I didn’t have anybody to look up to. There was no one to look up to. I know things have changed," he explained. "Everything that I do is intentional. Everything that I do is for you and people like you."

See me cry and gush shamelessly and witness Billy Porter in all his regality.

More on Billy Porter:

  • Billy Porter on Beauty, Power and Masculinity in 2020
  • Billy Porter Reveals the Oil Treatment That Keeps His Natural Hair Hydrated
  • Editor’s Letter: Why Billy Porter Is the First Man Ever To Be on Our Cover

Now go behind the scenes on Billy Porter's cover shoot:

Follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter for daily beauty stories delivered right to your inbox.