Today we’d like to introduce you to Napoleon Jinnies.
Hi Napoleon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I guess I’ve been a performer my whole life. I was never shy dancing at family gatherings or any type of school performance. It wasn’t until end of seventh grade I auditioned for my first competitive dance team. I instantly knew I found my calling and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Along with the good came the bad, The constant bullying for being different. Being biracial, gay, and the only male dancer. Set me up for having tough skin. Not only for my dance industry before the world.
Midway through junior year of high school, I decided to remove myself. Sometimes you have to save yourself, I knew I couldn’t change my bullies but I could change my environment. Finishing the year off with homeschooling, I had time to travel from my hometown Santa Barbara, to orange county to train at a dance studio. After year of training with the best of the best, I turned 18 and got my license. I asked my parents if I could move to orange county to be on a dream team of mine, Esperanza song. They said I can audition and if I make it, I can go by myself. Against all odds, I made it, the first mail on Esperanza song. I move to orange county stayed with a fellow senior teammate and her family that year. Although winning over an entire school that was straight out of a movie where are the cheerleaders dated the jocks. In the end, it’s all worth it.
I went on to dance for Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. Becoming a two-time national champion and a world champion representing the United States of America. After college for dancers, you will become an instructor what you break off into the dance industry. Which is exactly what I did. I started training with A dance company Maker Empire, going on auditions in LA, and dancing at the Disneyland resort.
At my show at Disney, I heard one of my classmates talking on break about auditions coming up for their team. I was interested for I haven’t been on a team for three years at this point so I asked about it. She said it was for the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders. I asked her how to register and she sent me the link and I went home that night and registered. I went through a month long process I dance auditioning, business interview, and a final dance round. At the very end I made it, I accomplished what no other mail has done before the first NFL male cheerleader. As if that wasn’t enough, our team took it all the way to the Super Bowl. Now earning the title of the first male cheerleader to perform at the Super Bowl.
I am currently in the process of auditioning for my fourth season for the rams. It has been an amazing three years doing what I love and showing no only other dancers. But queer youth of color. They can do anything they put their minds to.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, the constant bullying was a challenge throughout junior high and high school. But I knew I wasn’t hurting anybody by being myself and loving when I do. Once I figure that out, I realized The problem really wasn’t me and that it was all them.
The dance industry in general has a huge challenge you have to be mentally strong more than anything, you hear no more than yes. So deciding to join a NFL team it’s a bit scary if I sat around to think about it. But they treated me like any other dancer auditioning.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As well as being a professional dancer I had a strong interest in make up back while growing up. So much that I turned into a part-time job. Mainly specializing in bridal makeup, special events, and commercials. I’m quite a visual person so an Instagram came around. I loved sharing and presenting my work in the digital space. I also created a YouTube channel for entertainment. You can find makeup tutorials, dance videos, and vlogs.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Napoleonjinnies
- Twitter: Napoleonjinnies
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIGtFVUj6pCYetWRc9X3qdg
Image Credits:
Curtis Kuo Patrick Quezada Maxwell Poth
