The Beauty President

Directed by Whitney Skauge

In 1992, at the height of the AIDS pandemic, activist Terence Alan Smith made a historic bid for president of the United States as his drag queen persona Joan Jett Blakk. Today, Smith reflects back on his seminal civil rights campaign and its place in American history.
The Beauty President makes ten minutes of queer political history feel embarrassingly relevant. Whitney Skauge cuts between Terence Alan Smith today and Joan Jett Blakk’s 1992 presidential campaign, finding comedy without treating the run as a joke. This documentary short film is at its best when AIDS-era grief and outrageous campaign theatre occupy the same space; both were part of the politics.

The Beauty President

Directed by Whitney Skauge

In 1992, at the height of the AIDS pandemic, activist Terence Alan Smith made a historic bid for president of the United States as his drag queen persona Joan Jett Blakk. Today, Smith reflects back on his seminal civil rights campaign and its place in American history.

Where to Watch

Collections

Tags

Our Review

The Beauty President makes ten minutes of queer political history feel embarrassingly relevant. Whitney Skauge cuts between Terence Alan Smith today and Joan Jett Blakk’s 1992 presidential campaign, finding comedy without treating the run as a joke. This documentary short film is at its best when AIDS-era grief and outrageous campaign theatre occupy the same space; both were part of the politics.