"Pose" Star Dominique Jackson Talks Trans Representation and the Birthplace of Fierce

Dominique Jackson tells us how she prepared for the role of Elektra Abundance, Pose's fiercest character.

"From the time I first started walking, I was actually winning," Dominique Jackson tells Student Edge, matter-of-factly.

Sure, she's speaking about her time on the New York ballroom scene. Yet when she later describes her fictional character on Pose, Elektra, as "sassy, strong and unapologetic", I feel like it could easily describe her in real-life too.

Now airing on Foxtel's Fox Showcase channel, Ryan Murphy's Pose follows the lives of those involved in New York City's vibrant ballroom scene during the 1980s.

The "ballroom scene" is probably not what you're picturing. For instance, if you're imagining old people in tuxedoes and gowns waltzing together, you couldn't be further from reality.

Instead, it's an underground subculture for the LGBTQIA+ community to dress up in elaborate costumes, walk and "vogue" for judges ("vogue" being a dance move originating in NYC's Harlem that would later influence Madonna's hit single).

It's also where words like yaaas, shade, and fierce were born before they permeated pop culture. Whether you've heard of it or not, the scene's cultural impact on the world today is undeniable.

Dominique is a veteran of the ballroom scene, having first walked in 1992, even taking out a recent ballroom just last year.

"When I compete, it's very rare that I lose," Dominique laughs, though she's also being deadly serious. I joke that she sounds just like Elektra.

"But I don't get as upset when I lose," she explains.

"Actually, I'm not even upset when I lose; Elektra is a bit peeved."

Peeved is an understatement.

It's clear from the opening scene of Pose's first ep that Elektra Abundance, a "house mother" who leads her adopted family in ballroom battles, runs things.

"She knew her place and she knew she was revered, loved and regaled," Dominique says, speaking of her as if she were real.

Clearly, Elektra is more than just another character to Dominique.

"I [also] had to find my truth and I had to understand my place," she admits.

"You will see that Elektra has desires that she's trying to get through and those desires relate to me very personally because I've experienced the very same things."

Aside from drawing on her own experiences as preparation for the part, Dominique also looked to the greats of the scene: Avis Pendavis, Paris Dupree, Dorian Corey, Crystal Labeija and Hector Xtravaganza.

"These women, when you saw them, were full-time fancy," Dominique recalls.

"[They would wear] fur coats and hats and sunglasses and full makeup.

"I always said to them 'Oh my gosh, I never want to be as mean as you' and they would laugh at me and say 'Well, yes, this meanness keeps me alive.'"

Despite being pioneers of the community, they were relatively unknown to the outside world. That is until a documentary called Paris Is Burning was released (and not without controversy).

"The ballroom scene was neglected and forgotten," Dominique says.

"[And unlike Paris Is Burning] Pose is about those that are in the scene actually telling you the story themselves."

This is an important point Dominique wants to make: Pose's groundbreaking cast of trans and LGBTQIA+ actors has given the community hope of better representation.

"Some of the other actors that I've known are now getting work and being called in for projects," Dominique says.

"And not just projects that deal with the traumas in our lives."

She doesn't want it to stop there, either. In future, she'd like to see trans actors in cis roles too.

"As a transwoman, I do not want to only play trans roles," Dominique says.

"It is the world that has told me that I have to identify as trans.

"To me, I'm just a woman."

Until that happens though, Dominique just wants trans people and the wider LGBTQIA+ community to be respected, not just accepted.

"I want us to move away from [just acceptance] and toward respect.

"You should be able to live in your truth unapologetically and not have to fear violence."

You can catch episodes of Pose on Foxtel's Fox Showcase channel with new episodes available every Tuesday night.

Header Image: Supplied