‘Pose’ Star Billy Porter Explains How He Makes Red Carpet Fashion Choices

Billy Porter once again turned heads on the Tony Awards red carpet on Sunday night. The “Pose” actor stepped onto the carpet in a red and pink suit-dress hybrid. He told International Business Times last month that he makes bold fashion statements because he doesn’t feel confined by labels or pre-existing constructs anymore.

“Well, I’ve always been a fashion person, I’ve always loved fashion,” he told IBT at the Peabody Awards in April. “I’ve been set free just in general in life as well as in the business. I no longer feel confined to sort of adhere to heteronormative constructs of what masculinity means. That’s where it comes from. That’s where my choices come from.”

At the Peabody Awards, where his FX show “Pose” was being honored, Porter wore a sheer pink dress with a wig and dark lipstick. The tulle gown was designed by Celestino Couture, and Porter had picked it out earlier that day.

“Whatever I feel like doing is what I’m gonna do,” he continued. “Today I was at a fashion shoot. This dress came, it got cut. I decided to wear it tonight.”

At the Tony Awards, he took a little more time to plan his outfit. The suit again was designed by Celestino Couture, and the train was shaped to look like a uterus. Porter told the Hollywood Reporter that it was intended to support women as several states try to pass abortion bans.

“At the fitting, we spoke about making a pattern on the train that was in the shape of a uterus, but not obvious, of course,” Porter explained. “And I thought it was awesome because women’s rights are under attack right now. I’m an advocate for all who are disenfranchised. None of us are free until we’re all free!”

The activism isn’t just off-screen. The new season of “Pose,” premiering Tuesday on FX, will delve deeper into the AIDS crisis. Porter’s character, Pray Tell, is HIV-positive on the show, which will explore the early 1990s in Season 2.

“You can expect Pray Tell to join the activist movement during the AIDS crisis. That’s where my storyline goes. That’s all I can say,” Porter teased to IBT.