The Haunted Haus Ball & Ambassador Contest: Where Shadows Werk
Schedule
Fri Oct 31 2025 at 09:00 pm to 11:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
The Desmond Hotel Albany | Colonie, NY
In Our Own Voices, Unity Through Diversity Conference 2025 presents: THE HAUNTED HAUS BALL: WHERE SHADOWS WERK
Save The Date: Oct. 31, 2025 | Doors - 8 PM| LSS - 8:30 PM | Categories Called - 9 PM - 12 AM| Albany, NY @ The Desmond Hotel Albany
This year's Halloween Ball, which takes place during our biennial BIPOC LGBTQ+ Health Conference, will serve looks, legends, and liberation! All Categories are Cash! More details to come soon!
Categories(Updated 10/8/25):
✨ FACE
Description: "The Veil Has Lifted: Vampire Bride Realness"
Serve veil couture and undead radiance. At the climax of your walk, lift the veil and give the judges eternal beauty. Bring it soft, sinister, and supernatural.
👽 BIZARRE
Description: "Welcome to the Haunted Haus"
Terrify us, seduce us, confuse us. Present a Bizarre group (or solo if you're that girl) that looks as if you're the centerpiece in a haunted mansion installation(i.e, Chandelier, Table, etc.) Sexiest, scariest, or most surreal, haunt the panel.
🕊️ VIRGIN VOGUE PERFORMANCE
Description: "Voguing Beyond the Grave"
Virgin Vogue is for those who are new to voguing and want to show their performance skills on the floor. Bring it ghouly, ghastly, give us “Boo! I’m A Ghost B*!." Give us haunted innocence, possessed precision, and that ethereal energy that says, “I’ve arrived.”
🧛 OTA PERFORMANCE
Description: "The Dark Rising"
Cruella could neva! Perform in your best anti-hero, villainess, or otherworldly villain. Channel the deadly fatale who slays the ballroom and the undead. Bring a photo for reference.”
🩸 RUNWAY
Description: "Final Girl or Villain? Horror Film Couture"
Bring your best interpretation of a horror movie villain or survivor. We want fashion: elevated, twisted, and full of story. From Freddy to Midsommar to something entirely original.
🕷️ OTA EXECUTIVE REALNESS
Description: "Out of the New Orleans Night"
From the boardroom to the bloodline, bring us high-powered horror. Come dressed as a bloodthirsty boss with status and style. Think Louie meets Lestat(Interview With A Vampire)— clean cut, undead, and unclockable. Can you pass among the living?
🖐🏽OTA HAND PERFORMANCE
Description: "Wicked Fingertips"
Claw, glide, slash, serve. Bring witch fingers, gloves, or adorned hands with eerie excellence. Think drag meets dragula meets mysticism.
🧷 COM VS. COM
Description: "Safe Hex: Battle of the Haunted Condoms"
Two houses. One safe sex message. Present a short themed moment (30-60 seconds) highlighting kink, horror, and consent culture. Bring props, bring condoms, bring a message with a point.
🧵 OTA FASHION
Description: "Kink Couture With a Message"
Bring fashion that incorporates kink wear (harnesses, latex, leather) but also speaks to a deeper theme: freedom, safety, protest, survival. Werk with purpose.
——————————————————————————————————
Ambassador Contest Rules:
WINNER OF THE PAGEANT WILL RECEIVE A ONE-YEAR PAID AMBASSADORSHIP WITH IOOV
🔥 SINNERS’ LOOK:
DRESS: Choose your sin and embody it. Lust, Wrath, Pride, give us glamour and grotesque,
temptation and terror. Community Best Dressed Spectator!
TALENT: Show us your talent! Sing, lip-sync, instrument, dance, etc
PRESENTATION: Show the community why you are the best spokesperson. (Competitors will be asked to respond to questions that show their awareness of issues impacting LGBTQIA+ BIPOC communities)
The Ball is open to all; however, to enter the pageant, participants:
Must Reside in the City of Albany Must be 18 years of Age or Older
Be willing and able to make a one-year commitment to 100V
Be willing and able to attend and/or develop events
Be willing and able to serve as an ambassador who will discuss the importance of healthy sexuality, knowing your HIV/HV Status, Body Positivity, etc.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (518) 432-4188
Where is it happening?
The Desmond Hotel Albany, 660 Albany Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211-1056, United States, Colonie
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
