7 Intriguing Facts About Willi Ninja, the Godfather of Vogue Culture

Willi Ninja, born William Roscoe Leake on April 12, 1961, in New Hyde Park, New York, may not be a household name, but he was a trailblazing American dancer, choreographer, and model whose influence spanned from the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s.

Known for his bold, gender-fluid style, Ninja left a lasting impact on both the music and fashion worlds, with his legacy still echoing today. Additionally, he opened doors for Black LGBTQ+ communities, creating spaces for them to thrive. Here are a few more key facts about this legendary figure.

Ninja earned the title of the 'Grandfather of Vogue' for his pioneering contributions to the dance movement.

While Black drag queens originated the dance style in Harlem in the ‘60s, Willi Ninja is often called the 'Grandfather of Vogue' for helping spread it nationwide and internationally, largely due to his iconic appearance in the 1990 documentary, Paris Is Burning.

Voguing, a dance style characterized by sharp, model-like poses and exaggerated movements, emerged from the underground LGBTQ+ Black and Latino ballroom culture in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It got its name from the magazine Vogue, as 'some of the moves were inspired by the poses seen in the magazine,' as Ninja described in the documentary.

'Voguing came from shade,' Ninja explained. 'It was a dance battle between two people who didn’t like each other. Instead of fighting, they danced it out on the floor, and whoever had the best moves was throwing the most shade, basically.'

Ninja gained widespread recognition through his role in Paris Is Burning.

In 1990, Ninja rose to prominence after being featured in Jennie Livingston’s award-winning documentary, Paris Is Burning. The film explores the 'golden age' of New York City's drag ballroom scene in the late '80s.

Following the success of the documentary, Ninja traveled worldwide, sharing his unique Vogue style with dancers and fashion models. In 2016, the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry chose Paris Is Burning for preservation, recognizing it as 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'

He also appeared in the films Wigstock: The Movie (1995), Check Your Body At The Door (2012), and several other documentaries.

Ninja went on to create his own ballroom house.

In 1982, Ninja helped establish the House of Ninja, serving as the 'mother' to a group of LGBTQ+ 'children' he adopted in New York City. The name Ninja was inspired by his love for martial arts, Olympic gymnasts, and choreography.

'It’s a powerful name,' Ninja shared with The Observer in 2004. 'And a powerful word. It’s almost like an assassin: When they strike, they strike hard. Then they disappear, and you don’t know if they’ll come back again… and when they do, will they return even fiercer?'

The House of Ninja, known for its inclusive membership that embraces all races and sexual orientations, now has chapters in multiple countries, including Italy, Brazil, Japan, Russia, and beyond, with over 200 members.

He worked alongside an award-winning filmmaker and LGBTQ+ rights advocate.

In 1989, Ninja appeared in Marlon Riggs’ groundbreaking documentary Tongues Untied, which explored Black gay sexuality in America. The film aired on PBS as part of the POV series. Despite initial controversy, with some detractors calling the film pornographic and objecting to the use of National Endowment for the Arts funding, it was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2022, deemed 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'

In 1991, Ninja appeared in another Marlon Riggs film, Anthem, a short film that celebrates Black and gay pride during the AIDS epidemic. Both films are included in The Signifyin’ Works of Marlon Riggs boxed set by the Criterion Collection.

In addition to his work as a model, Ninja also mentored supermodels Naomi Campbell and Iman, teaching them how to walk the runway.

Throughout his career, Ninja showcased his legendary swagger and unforgettable poses for various fashion houses, including renowned designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Chanel, and Karl Lagerfeld, who all enlisted him as a runway model to showcase their latest collections.

Ninja also trained some of the world’s top supermodels—including Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Christy Turlington, and Iman—on how to glide down the runway. 'I’m the walking man,' Ninja shared with The Observer in 2004.

As one model booker who hired Ninja to train models put it: 'He’s the guy. He’s the dude... It’s amazing to watch the models walk by themselves at first, and then see him transform them.'

He also made appearances in several popular music videos.

In May 1989, Ninja had a starring role in Malcolm McLaren’s music video for the hit song 'Deep in Vogue,' which actually predates Madonna’s 'Vogue' by a year. 'Deep in Vogue' would go on to top the Billboard dance charts in July 1989.

Ninja also appeared in the music video for 'I Can’t Get No Sleep' by Masters At Work featuring India, and danced in two of Janet Jackson’s music videos, including 'Alright' and 'Escapade' from Rhythm Nation 1814.

Ninja was a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness.

During the '80s, Ninja became one of the earliest advocates for HIV/AIDS awareness in the queer community. Diagnosed with HIV in 2003, he tragically passed away from AIDS-related heart failure on September 2, 2006, at the age of 45.

Today, the House of Ninja continues to perform at drag balls to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, and on June 9, 2023, Ninja was honored by Google with a Google Doodle in his likeness.