Meet the Memphis teen who wore a gold gown when he was crowned Homecoming Royalty

White Station High School senior Brandon Allen, 17, gets crowned 'Homecoming Royalty' on Friday.
White Station High School senior Brandon Allen, 17, gets crowned 'Homecoming Royalty' on Friday.

Being crowned White Station High Homecoming Royalty on Friday night was years in the making for Tennessee senior Brandon Allen.

And to mark the occasion he wore a sparkly gold dress.

"I decided to wear a dress because I strongly believe in the fact that I'm a queen," said Allen, who is gay.

His "queen-like" attitude and personality are what made him "deserve a dress to wear for Homecoming Court," he said.

"When I won I felt so relieved and so happy because I had been fighting for something that I wanted for the longest amount of time and then I finally got it," Allen, 17, said.

Allen attempted to join the court as a sophomore and junior. Those attempts were unsuccessful. He credits staff and fellow students with helping him get accepted and crowned Homecoming Royalty this year.

"Majority of the school population was supporting me," he said. "It's because I'm such a social bird."

Emmett Campbell, 16, shot the image of Allen receiving the crown for the school's yearbook. The White Station junior is transgender and said he teared up in the moment.

"I was standing in front of Brandon and his mom when his name was announced, and I can't begin to explain how intense that moment was for me," Campbell said. "White Station has always been a supportive environment, but to see someone so openly supported in such a public way was incredible."

Allen participated in the Memphis Pride parade and festival the next day.

Social media posts about Allen's crowning have drawn a mixed reaction.

School district officials were among the many who voiced their support for Allen and White Station.

In a tweet, Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray said he supports "student voice and expression."

White Station High Principal Carrye Holland commented on the school's Facebook post.

"It's Brandon's right to run for homecoming court under Title IX," Holland said. "It's the students' choice of who they want to support as homecoming royalty."

Allen said he has received numerous texts from friends asking if he's OK. He hasn't paid any attention to the comments, he said.

"As an individual who wants to help others be confident to be themselves, I'm glad that I am the first person to take this step up," Allen said.

Alexa Imani Spencer covers suburbs and breaking news for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at alexa.spencer@commercialappeal.com or 901-304-9740. Find her on Twitter: @AlexaImani

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis teen wore a dress when he was crowned Homecoming Royalty