The year’s Emery Awards Ball Honoree, Leiomy Maldonado, “Wonder Woman of Vogue”, is a NYC born and bred Latina who was a former HMI youth member and today, is a sensational and iconic world-renowned vogue dancer, choreographer, model, actress and activist. We’re thrilled to recognize Leiomy for her outstanding leadership in the community and her exemplary model of empowerment, love and celebration of identity that she sets for others.
Leiomy was introduced to voguing in 2003 through the ballroom scene and later became a master of her craft, bringing a new style of voguing to the ballroom culture including the “360 dip” along with other art forms of dance. After being discovered on Season 4 of America’s Best Dance Crew in 2009, she began appearing in music videos including Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” and Icona Pop’s “All Night,” and has worked alongside other artists including Rihanna, FKA Twigs, Zhu.
Leiomy’s moves have inspired choreographers and celebrities including Beyoncé, Britney Spearsand Janet Jackson, and she was featured as an athlete in Nike’s 2017 BETRUE Campaign in 2017. Leiomy has worked as a choreographer and actress on FX Network Series, Pose and is a judge on the HBOMax show, Legendary.