In pictures: Beauty looks from Rio’s Lady Gaga-inspired ballroom party

This week, millions – yes millions – flocked to the shores of Copacabana, the Brazilian bairro in Rio de Janeiro, for a free Lady Gaga performance (all those ‘Come to Brazil’ fandom comments worked, clearly). The show, which attracted around 2.5 million attendees, is being celebrated as the biggest in performance history. “Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show – the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil… I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you,” Gaga declared in an Instagram post following the show.

But as the show came to a close and the crowds slowly faded from the beachfront, a ball was brewing underfoot. Across town, the city’s thriving ballroom community was gearing up for a special edition night in tribute to the pop icon and her enduring impact on the queer scene: THE CVNT MONSTER BALL. Between towering wigs and full-face glam, the night saw local talent, Little Monsters, and everyone in between turn out in force for a night of futuristic glam and theatrical excess.

“Gaga inspired a whole generation of queer artists and creators. This ball was a living archive of queer brilliance and craft, a night where the lights of Gaga’s stage echoed through the hearts of our community, that’s been creating its own spotlight all along,” explains Brazilian trans photographer and director Roma Joana, who captured the night’s sweaty and sticky beauty looks.

While it’s no secret that the ballroom scene in Rio de Janeiro is alive and pounding, their events are vital in a continued effort to provide a space and a community for LGBTQIA+ people at a time when their identities are increasingly persecuted. This particular event was hosted by the House of Mamba Negra and the House of Bushido.

Check out the gallery above to see the glamour that unfolded on the night.