On a festive night, when the only requirement to walk the runway was signing up, Souleo from Harlem wore his Sunday best to “The People’s Ball” at the Brooklyn Public Library.

“I love that it’s for everyone,” Souelo said, “because we want to celebrate the everyday person who inspires all the trends that you see on the runaway and on the Met Gala. They steal it from us, the people on the street!”

What You Need To Know

  • "The People's Ball" returns for the first time since the start of the pandemic to the Brooklyn Public Library's Central Branch

  • Library officials wanted revelers to enjoy a free event where they could embrace their unique selves

  • The event is held one day before the invite only, exclusive Met Gala

Thanks to the inclusive nature of this event, it didn’t matter if you were young or a bit older, if you dressed like a princess, or attached a bouquet of flowers to your head.

“How’d you come up with this outfit?” NY1 asked Olivia Barr of Prospect Heights. “This I made as part of another costume,” she said, “A costume to be slime mold. And then I just paired it with the bouquet of flowers from a drug store, and I just wanted to combine them for the look.”

“It feels good,” said Shanon Shaw of East New York. “I get to celebrate myself, I get to celebrate all my Brooklynites and everyone in NYC, regular folks who can be fabulous and not be celebrities.”

For the second time in its history, and for the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Brooklyn Public Library said it was eager to bring back “The People’s Ball.”

“It’s open to all,” said Jakab Orsos, the VP of Arts and Culture for Brooklyn Public Library. "It’s the celebration of all of us. We all deserve our own gala!”

Unlike the ultra exclusive Met Gala, which falls the day after “The People’s Ball,” library officials wanted the free event to allow hundreds of ticket holders to walk the catwalk and dance the night away in an environment that embraces what makes us unique.

After quarantining for one year due to the pandemic, Jenny Bramon of Jackson Heights said she was thankful to be part of a fun event where her alter ego, Medusa, was able to interact with others.

“Going through the pandemic the past three years, it’s restraining for our emotional well-being,” Bramon said. “We are human and we need that human contact. Having an event like this, with all the necessary precaution, it’s just a wonderful atmosphere.”

The Brooklyn Public Library is still in the process of deciding whether “The People’s Ball” will be back next year.