Ballroom Interview: Jacen Prodigy

Hated by many, Wanted by plenty, Despised by some, but Confronted by none.

Jacen Prodigy, few other names in the ballroom scene seem to cause such a furor after every win. There are those who argue that he lacks all of the elements of face. While some claim that he is just as if not more viable than any BQ walking face. One thing everyone agrees on, is that no one sells it like Jacen. Understanding that any and every word written about him would be highly scrutinized, it is with this knowledge that I meekly asked for an interview with Jacen. Fully expecting him to say no, but to my surprise that did not happen. A reply came back stating he was busy, but he wanted to do the interview, after he read previous articles that had been written. Fair enough, later on that week I got another reply stating that he would do the interview along with his contact information. Thinking to myself well now there is no turning back, from there I called Mr. Jacen Prodigy.

In the course of the conversation what I found out about him was something unexpected, a man who is incredibly passionate about the Ballroom scene, his category, and candidly honesty about himself. While walking through the Galleria mall in Philly in 1999, Jacen was approached by Alverian Prestige to start modeling for Prestige Entertainment. From there Jacen found himself walking the Grand March for the 1999 Prestige Ball, at the time walking for Pretty boy Realness. It was not until the Crystal Ball in 2000, that he walked Face, and from there started the makings of an unstoppable Face force.

“[I’m] always the center of controversy, at the beginning I didn’t get it, but now I do.” Being self aware and able to capitalize on controversy are traits that Jacen has mastered. Look at what he calls runway shade “there are times that I will read all the face kids… if I read I have to see you.” Which is true; if someone is not your equal or competition why waste the time and effort? In a way reading someone, gives them life for you care enough about them to mention their name. Runway shade has become part in parcel with the Jacen Prodigy product, his rationale is, “you have to entertain the judges, make them get into you.”

Entertaining the Judges and the creation of the Jacen Prodigy persona has fared him well, garnering Icon Ball (NYC) in 2007, Milan Ball (ATL) " Wipe Out" 2007, Grand Prize Team Face with Mother Stasha Mugler at the New York Awards Ball 2007, Dorian Corey Awards Ball 2006 BQ Face of the Year, Dorian Corey Awards Ball 2006 Philadelphia's Finest, Midwest Awards Ball Statement of the Year 2006, Dorian Corey Statement of the Year 2006, Statement Award Of The Year New York City Awards Ball 2007, and Philadelphia's Finest Of the Year 2007, along with a host of accolades, and grand prizes from 2005-1999. Delving a little deeper into the face category I wanted to get into who are is his current favorite, thoughts on paint, hormones, how he prepares, and the color complex as it related to his category. When asked who his favorite face kid of the moment, Jacen pointedly says “Josh Milan...because to me, he has so much energy, his attitude, and his presence. When Josh walks he causes pandemonium.”

One of the constant criticisms of not only Jacen but of all the BQ’s that compete for face is that they are so heavily made up that they diminish the integrity of the category by wearing making or paint as its called. Critics point out that painting gives those users an unfair advantage over those who are “natural” beauties". “You can’t paint a beast into something lovely, paint only enhances what you have," according to Jacen but he does add that “some need to lay low on the bronzer.” One can understand the desire to use paint it provides a certain security that; if your skin is not at its best that day does that mean your face is deniable due to one day? This led to the next question what you do to prepare for the face category. Unlike Voguing, Runway, or Performance categories, face with the exception of face performance is not something you can learn to do. You either have it or you don’t.

“Maintaining yourself, the proper diet, proper water, its more involved [than] just a mask. It's more than the right skin products, you have to know what works for you” was Jacen’s response, but when looking at the face kids, there seems to be something more than just taking care of yourself and preserving your sexy, as Diddy would say. So I pressed further asking for what does Jacen do specifically, he says “I don’t really have regiment, when it comes to preparation microdermabrasion, a lot of relaxation.” This seems plausible because stress is a known reason for people to break out, but does maintaining ones face mean that you cannot go out, drink, or indulge in life’s excess to that end Jacen said “at the end of the day, its not many face legends, a lot of people don’t maintain their look.”

Another criticism of Face category is that it reinforces the stereotypes of Anglo-Saxon beauty, whereby those who have Anglo-Saxon features such as, light skin, lighter eye color, and smaller features are praised. I posed this question to Jacen, because Jacen is one of the few non light skin face kids currently who consistently win, so it would be interesting to hear what he would have to say. According to Jacen, its hard for anyone regardless of complexion to get life in the ballroom scene for face, he pointed out Gisele Xtraganza and Paris Miyake-Mugler, both of which he thinks are beautiful, but do not get their proper accolades within the scene.

With so many Butch Queens vying for face, and most possessing the elements, of structure, nose, teeth, and skin, what sets Jacen apart, how does he keep winning? Yes he sells his face, but there are so many people who sell as well. Jacen says that he has “a universal face, I am blessed that I can pretty much do anything and it looks right,” meaning he can have finger waves, twists, or steel blue contact lenses, and anything else he wants. None of that can take away from his face, but it adds another dimension to it as well displaying his versatility. What keeps Jacen coming involved in the ballroom scene by his own admission is “the competitive drive…don’t realize how many people you touch, you never know who is watching”. Even though Jacen has won countless grand prizes, he is under the impression that he is “not a common favorite when it comes to BQ face”. But he understands that “a panel of people can tell me how attractive I am.” Truth, and all of its variations can never be denied, it can be talked about, minimized, and subjected to obstacles, but in the end truth and what is true will prevail. In this instance true face prevails, to his detractors, research golden ratio of beauty, and apply that to Jacen Prodigy. Jacen takes it all in stride knowing that, “they are going to talk about you regardless of what you do, good bad or indifferent.”

Word Association

Epitome of Face

Erksine Christian, Whitney Mugler, Ira Aphrodite

Dark & Lovely

Frank Excellence, Shancie Ebony, Temptress Chanel, Cheyenne Allure Dave Mugler

Shade

RR Chanel, Cabbage Ebony, Tony Milan

Favorite Category

Fem Queen Face, Fem Queen Performance, Performance Period

Passion

Fashion

Chameleon

Me

Clips of Jacen Prodigy in action

*Note

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