Photo Courtesy of Billy Porter
The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to announce that The Fashion Awards 2021 presented by TikTok will be hosted by Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning, and Golden Globe-nominated actor, singer, director, composer, and playwright Billy Porter. The Fashion Awards 2021 will take place on Monday 29th November at the Royal Albert Hall, London and will evolve into a global entertainment platform to celebrate fashion’s role at the intersection of culture.
With more than 30 years in the business, Porter has become one of the most recognisable entertainers in the industry. Whether gracing the red carpet in couture masterpieces, giving iconic performances on Broadway, or speaking up for the black LGBTQ+ community, Porter is a style icon who uses fashion as a means of self-expression and communication.
Porter is best known for his electric portrayal of ‘Pray Tell’ in the FX’s breakthrough series “Pose”, which earned him the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, as well as Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award, and Television Critics Association nominations. He most recently earned a third Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for this role. He was also the recipient of the Dorian Award for TV Performance of the Year from GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, as well as nominated for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor.
Porter is currently making his film directorial debut with the high school coming-of-age film “What If?”, written by Alvaro García Lecuona, and is also set to direct a queer teen comedy, from Gabrielle Union’s I’ll Have Another Productions, titled “To Be Real.” His film credits include “Like a Boss” starring Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek and “The Get Down,” starring Justice Smith, Shameik Moore and Herizen Guardiola. Other credits include but are not limited to “The Humbling”, “Noel” and “The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy”. His television credits include “Cinderella”, “American Horror Story: Apocalypse”, “That Damn Michael Che” and “The Twilight Zone”. Upcoming, Porter will be heard in Disney+’s animated series, “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” which will launch in 2022.
A veteran of the theatre, Porter most previously reprised his role as ‘Lola’ in the smash hit Broadway musical “Kinky Boots”, for which he won the 2013 Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. Other Broadway acting credits include the Tony nominated Broadway musical “Shuffle Along”, “Miss Saigon”, “Five Guys Named Moe”, “Grease”, “Smokey Joe’s Café” and “Dreamgirls”.
Porter released his first literary project, “Unprotected,” in October 2021, which was published by Abrams Press. The memoir is described as ‘a powerful and revealing autobiography about race, sexuality, art, and healing.’ In 2020, Porter was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame class of 2020. He will receive a star for the category of Live Theatre/Live Performance. In addition, in 2017, Porter was the recipient of the GLAAD Vito Russo Award, an award presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality for the LGBT community.
The Fashion Awards presented by TikTok raises funds for the BFC Foundation (Registered Charity Number: 1185152) which supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on Talent, Education, Grant-Giving and Business Mentoring and aims to improve equality and opportunity so that the fashion industry remains diverse and open to all, helping talented designers at all stages of their career from school level through to becoming a global fashion brand. In 2020/21, the BFC raised £1.7 million for the BFC Foundation, and its talent support initiatives and this year the charity supported 33 designers.
The generosity and commitment of our partners, suppliers and supporters is more vital than ever. Please help us by acknowledging their support alongside our Principal Partner: TikTok; Official Partners: American Express, Flannels, Getty Images, Moët & Chandon, Royal Salute and The Londoner for their ongoing support.
General tickets for The Fashion Awards 2021 presented by TikTok are available here.