[2] In the early 1960s, before the emergence of regular balls, New York's drag culture was divided along racial lines—the Pattie Girls (white), the La Chanels (black), and the Delightful Ladies (Latina).

[6][7] In the 1960s and 1970s, drag queens of color were expected to whiten their appearance to help their chances at winning competitions and they often faced racist environments.

[10] LaBeija subsequently competed in the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant held at New York City Town Hall, a competition documented in The Queen (1968).

In a scene towards the end of the documentary, LaBeija, upset with the perceived racism of the white-run balls, accused the pageant organizer Flawless Sabrina of rigging the judging in the favor of a white queen, Rachel Harlow.

[19] The television series Pose features characters and events inspired by LaBeija and ball culture in New York City.

The character Elektra Wintour, played by Dominique Jackson, delivers reads[20] similar to the LaBeija's speech at the end of The Queen.