The reign of Queen Charlotte is nigh!
To celebrate the highly anticipated Bridgerton spin-off, Netflix hosted an event last Saturday fit for royalty — specifically the “Queen of Bounce” herself, Big Freedia — on a night that celebrated queer and black excellence in the city of New Orleans.
The streamer partnered with Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) to host a Spring Waltz for the students that featured a performance by Big Freedia. The international icon treated the audience to a high-energy performance of her recently released Bridgerton themed ‘Hey Queen’ New Orleans Bounce Remix.
Courtesy of Netflix
iHeartRadio personality and songwriter Sheba Songz had the honor of hosting the event and the all-female Original Pinettes Brass Band performed that evening along with the XULA’s Gold Star Dance team The Golden Starlettes.
As a surprise during the evening, Xavier University revealed its first-ever marching band uniform, which was presented to the students, with much fanfare and pride, as a gift from Queen Charlotte.
Courtesy of Netflix
The entire night was a love letter to the culture at HBCUs and accordingly, campus royalty made appearances, from Dr. Reynold Verret, XULA’s President, and Patrice Bell, XULA’s Vice President of Administration, to the campus queens including Nina Giddens - Miss Xavier University of Louisiana, Aleya Barber - Miss Tuskegee University, Jerika Edwards - Miss Dillard University, and Taverlyn Shepard - Miss Prairie View A&M University.
It was an evening that couldn’t be more true to the spirit of the upcoming series, which is centered on Queen Charlotte's rise to prominence and power, in this prequel set in the Bridgerton universe. It delves into how her ascendancy to the throne of England upended the social order and created a societal shift in that alternate world. It also features a passionate, steamy, and epic love story between Charlotte and George. And yes, there may even be some long-overdue queerness on The Ton!
Courtesy of Netflix
All of which is to say, this night could not have been a more perfect way to kick off the Queen Charlotte era. Long may she reign.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story premieres May 4 on Netflix. Check out photos from the Spring Waltz below.
All photos are courtesy of Netflix.
