General
opulence, you own everything
What does opulence, you own everything mean?
The signature call of ballroom emcee Junior LaBeija, immortalised in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning: 'O-P-U-L-E-N-C-E! Opulence. You own everything!' He spat it out while judging a queen, and it became one of the film's most quoted lines. It's a hype chant and a fantasy — the idea that on the ballroom floor you embody the wealth and ownership the world denied you offstage. Decades later it still echoes through drag and queer pop culture.
"She hit the runway and the crowd went off — opulence, you own everything!"
Origin
Coined by ballroom emcee Junior LaBeija (House of LaBeija) in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning.
Frequently asked questions
What does "opulence, you own everything" mean?
It's Junior LaBeija's legendary ballroom chant from Paris Is Burning, spelling out O-P-U-L-E-N-C-E.
Where does "opulence, you own everything" come from?
It comes from the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, where Junior LaBeija delivers it as a commentator's chant.
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