Condiviso con te
Trans writers and producers for Pose use their own lives as inspiration for story lines. Many of the show's characters draw inspiration from real life transgender women and ballroom mentors. Pray Tell is mostly inspired by Junior Lebeija, an iconic emcee and ballroom historian. Blanca Evangelista takes inspiration from Angie Xtravaganza and Avis Pendavis, both legendary ballroom house mothers. Angel has a link to Octavia St Laurent, who, like Angel, signed up for a modeling competition held by Eileen Ford and became successful in the industry. Angel also has a clear connection with the life of Tracey Africa Norman, who was a transgender model outed and shunned in the fashion industry. Carmen Xtravaganza was a trans model who had success in Europe modeling just as Angel experiences at the end of season 2. Willi Ninja is a vogue dancer, house father, choreographer and model who lends his story to Damon. Elektra Abundance is inspired by Crystal Lebeija, right down to the cadence in her voice. Dorian Corey was a drag queen who may have also played a part in Elektra's story as a mummified body with a bullet in the head was found in their apartment, and it's speculated to be a client or boyfriend who became violent. Candy Ferocity is likely inspired by Venus Xtravaganza who faced abuse as a transgender sex worker later found murdered at a hotel in New York.
Pose features the largest cast of trans actresses of any scripted series in history.
MJ Rodriguez and Billy Porter use their real singing voices. Both have experience in musical productions.
Paris is Burning director Jennie Livingston is credited as consulting producer. The film was a critically acclaimed documentary about the Ball Culture in New York fictionalized in Pose.
Frederica Norman, the property tycoon played by Patti LuPone, is loosely based on Leona Helmsley, an American businesswoman who earned the nickname "The Queen of Mean," and was convicted of tax evasion.
The Peer, Indochine, and The Hellfire Club are real landmarks in New York. Indochine is still open to this day and has a dress code. The restaurant catered to high profile customers like models, designers, actors, and artists in the 1980s, employing queer people to cover the door.