Wire Magazine Issue 1.2025 South Beach Wine Food Festival & Winter Party Festival by Wire Media Group

COVER MODEL: JOHNNY ODOM

SOUTH

SOUTH BEACH

WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL: +FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

+EVENTS PREVIEW +DRAG BRUNCH & CO-HOST ANA NAVARRO

WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL: +FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

+CO-CHAIR JASON HELLINGER

+DJ MICKEY FRIEDMANN & DJ DEANNE +EVENTS SCHEDULE

BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

8. COVER MODEL: JOHNNY ODOM

Meet our imposing cover model Johnny Odom with hot photographs by Photo Studio Miami.

10. SOBEWFF®: FESTIVAL OVERVIEW, EVENTS PREVIEW AND CHEFS & TV PERSONALITIES

Check out our South Beach Wine & Food Festival overview and events preview, and learned about some of the chefs and TV personalities participating this year.

14. SOBEWFF®: DRAG BRUNCH AND CO-HOST ANA NAVARRO INTERVIEW

We preview the SOBEWFF® Drag Brunch and interview Co-Host and LGBTQ community ally Ana Navarro.

16. WPF: FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

We preview the 2025 Winter Party Festival.

18. WPF: CO-CHAIR JASON HELLINGER INTERVIEW

Read our chat with WPF Co-Chair Jason Hellinger.

19. WPF: DJS MICKEY FRIEDMANN & DEANNE

We interview Beach Party DJ Mickey Friedmann and Pool Party DJ Deanne.

20. WPF: OFFICIAL EVENTS SCHEDULE

Our WPF Official Events Schedule will help you plan your participation in the Winter Party Festival.

Contact Information Tel: 305-520-WIRE Email: info@wiremag.com 1541 Brickell Avenue, #2004, Miami, FL 33129

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The views, opinions or positions expressed by contributors to and interview subjects of Wire Magazine are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of Wire Magazine, its staff or publisher.

Cover photo by Photo Studio Miami

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Jorge Freire @jorgino29official & Abel Cruz @abel4all Model: Johnny Odom Instagram: @johnnyodomfitness

PUBLISHER’S CORNER SOUTH BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL AND WINTER PARTY NOEL LEON IN MEMORIAM

The New Year starts with two great festivals that Wire Magazine loves to sponsor every year: the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival and the Winter Party Festival. So in this month’s Special Issue we preview both of the festivals by providing you an overview, telling you about the events and interviewing some interesting people participating in both fêtes. Enjoy reading this issue to decide which Festivals’ events you would like to attend.

For the South Beach Wine & Food Festival we interview Drag Brunch Co-Host Ana Navarro. Ana is a strong supporter and ally of our LGBTQ community, and she is Co-host of ABC News’ The View and a Republican political strategist and commentator with expertise on Latin American, Florida and Hispanic issues that you can often see on CNN speaking her mind. Ana is known for her honest and blunt commentary, speaking truth to power, her support of our LGBTQ community, and her love of drag queens and her very cute and spoiled miniature poodle ChaCha. For the Winter Party Festival we sat down with 2025 Co-Chair Jason Hellinger, DJ Mickey Friedmann and DJ Deanne, who will be Djing the Beach Party and the Pool Party. Check out what they had to say about Winter Party and why it is so important to get together and party with a purpose to support the work of the National LGBTQ Task Force.

In this issue, I also want to honor the memory of Drag Diva Noel Leon. The Wire Magazine family extends its deepest condolences to Noel’s mom Luz, her family and friends for their great loss. May Noel bring lots of smiles to the angels with her lovely performances and positive energy. I will always remember Noel fondly for her talents as a drag performer and the many shows I watched her perform during brunch at Palace Bar on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, with her dear mom in the crowd supporting and cheering her every step of the way.

Noel always got the crowd super excited during her shows at Palace Bar, Miami Beach Pride, and in all the other venues drag fans were lucky enough to see her entertain adoring crowds. Noel was a one of kind person, who worked very hard as a drag performer and gave it her all — including those famous splits!

Rest in Peace Dear Noel. We are so sorry that you lost your life so young and will always remember you with a smile on our faces.

Sincerely,

Rafa Carvajal Publisher & Editor in Chief rafa@wiremag.com

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Photos by Photo Studio Miami Jorge Freire & Abel Cruz

SOBEWFF®: THE FESTIVAL, EVENTS PREVIEW & CHEFS

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos Provided by SOBEWFF®

The 24th annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) will be back February 20-23, 2025 to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. and you can purchase your tickets by visiting sobewff.org before they sell out. The Food Network’s biggest culinary icons and stars, Grammy-winning artists, and 500+ famous chefs, winemakers, and spirit producers will come together with guests from around the nation and the world for this beloved culinary fête. This world famous Festival has also raised over $40 million to date for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.

Amongst the plethora of events and special dinners and wine tastings, guests will experience some returning fan favorites such as:

According to Festival Founder & Director Lee Brian Schrager, “The Festival not only celebrates the vibrant spirit of South Florida but also highlights the incredible food and beverage that has put Miami on the map as a premier culinary destination. Miami’s unique setting makes it an ideal host for the annual Festival, attracting amazing local, national, and international talent, which keeps fans coming back every year. It’s incredible to see how far the Festival has come – from its beginnings on the FIU campus to now being a global event that supports the next generation of hospitality leaders.”

• • • Rachael Ray will return to host the 18th annual Mike's Amazing® Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® on Thursday, February 20.

Aarón Sánchez will host the wildly popular Tacos & Tequila presented by Tequila Cazadores, featuring chefs serving up various iterations of one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes on Saturday, February 22.

The 135,000 sq. ft. culinary playground featuring live cooking demonstrations from Food Network personalities, 1,200+ products for sampling, over 45 restaurants and more at the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23.

SOBEWFF®: THE FESTIVAL, EVENTS PREVIEW & CHEFS

The Festival will also feature a diverse lineup of new events to entertain you throughout the weekend. Some of these include:

•

Alex vs. Miami, hosted by Alex vs. America’s Alex Guarnaschelli and Eric Adjepong on Thursday, February 20, that will be a late-night dance party where participating chefs will go head-to-head, competing to create the best dish of the night inspired by local flavors.

Inspired by his hit series of the same name, Guy Fieri will host Tournament of Champions, an epic culinary competition where four teams, each led by a past TOC winner, will battle it out on the sands of Miami Beach for top honors on Friday, February 21.

Tyler Florence will host the new Masters of Fire, celebrating the art of grilling and outdoor cooking, on Saturday, February 22.

Duff Goldman will host the comedy show and dessert party A Dozen Eggs and a Dream: A One-Man Show and Dessert Party on Saturday, February 22.

A new grand finale event, Asian Night Market hosted by Andrew Zimmern, Jet Tila and Aarti Sequeira, featuring a special performance by Rev Run, will close out the Festival

Other Festival events that will take place from Miami Beach to Design District, Coconut Grove, Kendall and everywhere in between will celebrate our vibrant local cuisine, the culture of these neighborhoods and their significant role in shaping South Florida. Some of these include:

A Taste of Italy hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, part of the Miami Design District Event Series, on Thursday, February 20.

Steak and Whiskey hosted by Michael Symon, part of the Miami Design District Event Series, on Friday, February 21.

A Sunset Feast sponsored by Grove Bay Hospitality Group & Friends hosted by Belkys Nerey & Dan Le Batard, part of The Hangar Event Series presented by Capital One, on Saturday, February 22.

Noche Cubana hosted by Michelle Bernstein, David Martinez, and Gio Gutierrez on Saturday, February 22.

Taste of Paradise hosted by Niven Patel and Mohamed Alkassar on Saturday, February 22.

Miami Bakery Brunch hosted by Zak Stern on Sunday, February 23.

Overtown Eatup! hosted by Marcus Samuelsson on Sunday, February 23.

Drag Brunch featuring Mistress of Ceremonies Athena Dion

SOBEWFF®: THE FESTIVAL, EVENTS PREVIEW & CHEFS

The prestigious 2025 Tribute Dinner, part of The New York Times Dinner Series, will take place on Saturday, February 22 at the Loews Miami Beach. The Tribute Dinner will honor renowned chef Dominique Crenn and acclaimed vintner Gérard Bertrand, by celebrating their exceptional talent and artistry, and will be dedicated to Crenn’s and Bertrand’s passion, innovation, and excellence in both the culinary and wine worlds that Festival guests love so much.

This year’s SOBEWFF® will also feature an assortment of engaging intimate gatherings that include seated brunches and lunches, master classes, exclusive one-night-only intimate dinners, family-friendly events and late night parties, where guests will experience the art of gastronomy, engage in meaningful conversations, and speak with their favorite chefs, local restaurateurs, vintners, and mixologists. These events will feature a curated selection of premium wines and spirits from the Festival’s exclusive provider, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Some of these will include:

Dinner hosted by Niven Patel and Maneet Chauhan at Ghee Indian Kitchen Wynwood on Thursday, February 20.

Dinner hosted by Michael Solomonov, Stephanie Izard, and Adeena Sussman part of The New York Times Dinner Series at Aviv at 1 Hotel South Beach on Friday, February 21.

Cigars & Spirits hosted by Guy Fieri presented by Cigar Aficionado on Friday, February 21.

Croissant-Making Master Class hosted by Casa Bake part of the Master Class Series presented by Capital One on Saturday, February 22.

Delilah Miami presents Jazz Brunch hosted by Michael Symon and Michael Teich on Saturday, February 22.

Vietnamese Cooking Master Class hosted by TÂM TÂM part of the Master Class Series presented by Capital One on Saturday, February 22.

Dinner hosted by Andrew Zimmern and Diego Oka part of the American Airlines Dinner Series at La Mar by Gastón Acurio on Saturday, February 22.

BBQ-Making Master Class & Lunch hosted by Apocalypse BBQ part of the Master Class Series presented by Capital One on Sunday, February 23.

Farmers Market Brunch hosted by Michael Schwartz part of the Miami Design District Event Series, Sunday, February 23.

Dim Sum Brunch hosted by Dale Talde at Hutong on Sunday, February 23.

A Sushi Omakase Collective hosted by Uchi, Kissaki, MILA Omakase, Mr. Omakase, and Sushi by Scratch Restaurants at SGWS Wynwood on Sunday, February 23.

• Enjoy the 2025 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. I will see you at some of the events!

SOBEWFF®: DRAG BRUNCH

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos Provided by SOBEWFF®

This year’s SOBEWFF® Food Festival Drag Brunch will be presented by ABSOLUT Vodka and hosted by Ana Navarro and her spirited dog ChaCha, and Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski. This unforgettable dining and drag experience will also feature dazzling Mistress of Ceremonies Athena Dion, host and producer of Miami’s Best Drag Brunch at R House Wynwood, plus show-stopping appearances by special guests and fabulous queens Meatball and Alexis Michelle from RuPaul’s Drag Race. The Drag Brunch will be on Saturday, February 22, 12-3 p.m. at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

Drag Brunch guests will enjoy delicious brunch dishes from some of South Florida’s most acclaimed chefs accompanied by refreshing wines and craft cocktails that will keep you well fueled for an electrifying celebration of all things Pride. The Drag Brunch will also get you out of your seat and into the spotlight shining brightly on the queens and their fun-loving and drag-adoring fans. Since the Drag Brunch takes place outdoors at the Miami Beach Bandshell, I want to suggest that you also put on additional sun protection with your best, fierce-looking hat and some sunscreen.

Ana Navarro is Co-host of ABC News’ The View and is a Republican political strategist and commentator with expertise on Latin American, Florida and Hispanic issues that you can often see on CNN speaking her mind. Ana is known for her honest and blunt commentary, speaking truth to power, her support of our LGBTQ community, and her love of drag queens and her very cute and spoiled miniature poodle ChaCha. Ana also loves cooking with lots of butter, shopping on the Internet, and engaging in no activities requiring significant attention span or physical exertion — such as watching great drag shows!

Antoni Porowski is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Emmy Winner, and star and food and wine expert of Netflix’s Awardwinning series Queer Eye. Antoni is also a self-taught cook with a lifelong passion for food whose first cookbook Antoni in the Kitchen debuted at #2 on the New York Times’ Best Seller List in 2019, followed by his cookbook Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner released in 2021. You can catch Antoni next in his highly anticipated docuseries No Taste Like Home, produced by Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global, which will follow Antoni on a fascinating journey with global celebrity guests exploring their diverse cultural heritages by way of their ancestors’ culinary traditions, techniques, and experiences. Antoni is also an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights everywhere, especially his family’s native Poland where he serves on the board of the Equaversity Foundation that was established to organize international fundraising to support the LGBTQ+ community in Poland.

Athena Dion is known as Miami’s very own Greek Goddess. She is a graduate of Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism and has put her degree to great use by running the most successful drag brunch in South Florida at R House in Wynwood and transforming the drag scene in our Magic City. Athena can also be found in the summer headlining at the Jackie O Resort in Mykonos Greece, bringing her talents back to her motherland on this popular party island where she often entertains famous celebrities.

Photo by World Red Eye

SOBEWFF®: DRAG BRUNCH & ANA NAVARRO INTERVIEW

Photo Provided by Athena Dion

Meatball is an iconic Los Angeles drag artist, comedian, and creator of the hit party Fat Slut, which celebrates drag, trans fats, and promiscuous behavior. She co-hosts the podcast Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper and Meatball, and is best known for her outrageous performances, campy drag, delicious aspics, and constant need for attention that Meatball will certainly bring to this year’s Drag Brunch. Alexis Michelle is an actor, drag artist, activist and accomplished cook who stormed the international stage on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9, and All Stars Season 8. Alexis received their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan, where they explored writing about the LGBTQ experience in literature and pop culture, and performed in musicals offBroadway, regionally, on tour, as well as their solo cabaret show at notable venues such as Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, and Club Cumming in New York City. You can also see Alexis in TLC’s Dragnificent! and Drag Me Down The Aisle, Blue Bloods, True Colors and the PBS series One Voice: Broadway. Alexis also made their Barrington Stage Company debut in the Summer of 2024 playing the role of Albin/Zaza in Mike Donohue’s production of La Cage Aux Folles to great acclaim from The New York Times.

I sat down with Ana Navarro to chat about the SOBEWFF® Drag Brunch and her strong support of our LGBTQ community.

Rafa Carvajal: What are you looking forward to the most about co-hosting this year’s SOBEWFF® Drag Brunch with Antoni Porowski and ChaCha?

Ana Navarro: Everything! It is my favorite, never-miss-it, event at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.

RC: What should guests expect during your SOBEWFF® Drag Brunch event on Saturday, February 22?

AN: It’s a fun, colorful, inclusive, and contagious celebration of people being who they are.

RC: What does participating in this year’s SOBEWFF® mean to you?

AN: I’ve been many times. This is the first time I host. It means a great deal to me to embrace and celebrate drag queens, at a time when they are targeted and rejected by others.

RC: Why do you enjoy being part of the SOBEWFF® Drag Brunch?

AN: Because I love the artistry of drag-queens — the hair, makeup, costumes, dancing, singing. It’s simply a big, fat, fabulous good time.

RC: Thank you for being such a great supporter of the LGBTQ community. Why do you think it is so important to support our community?

AN: The LGBTQ community is under attack. It makes it that much more crucial for allies to show their support publicly, proudly, and loudly.

RC: What is your message to the LGBTQ community in these difficult times when we feel that our rights are under attack from politicians in Washington and in several states?

AN: Do not give up. You are not alone. Many Americans will stand with you. Oh, and Anita Bryant is dead. Yahoo!

RC: What's new with you these days? Any new projects coming up that you want to let our readers know about?

AN: I’m trying to stay informed, stay engaged, and stay sane. We cannot allow the things happening in America to make us lose our joy.

WINTER PARTY: FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos Provided by Winter Party Festival

The National LGBTQ Task Force’s Winter Party Festival (WPF) 2025 is returning to Miami Beach for its 32nd anniversary February 26 to March 4, 2025. WPF will welcome thousands of international and national attendees with the theme ‘Dance is Revolution’ to raise vital funds for our LGBTQ+ community at a time when we are experiencing a rise in efforts to curtail or take away some of our rights that we have fought for years to obtain. Visit winterparty.com to purchase your tickets and passes to the Festival.

Winter Party is an annual dance and music festival party with a purpose that features a weeklong series of events benefiting our local and national LGBTQ+ organizations. This beloved celebration will feature an eclectic mix of music, community programming, and entertainment emboding the mantra, ‘Live free. Play hard. Give back.’ that so many of us have come to love. As President of the National LGBTQ Task Force Kierra Johnson explains, “For those who’ve joined us before, you know this week-long symphony of music and movement is part of what unites us to celebrate, connect, and honor the joy that fuels our strength. We would be remiss not to highlight why the Winter Party Festival remains a thriving cornerstone of queer culture as one of the last remaining community owned circuit parties. Part of the answer lies in the very ground we gather

upon. Florida — a state where hateful, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is rampant and harmful policies are piloted — has become a testing ground for authoritarian strategies designed to suppress our existence. Historically, the policies that take root here are then exported to harm other communities.”

Every year, the Winter Party Festival attracts over 10,000 attendees from around the globe and across the United Sates. The 2025 Festival will feature over 12 exhilarating events spread at 10 world-class venues in beautiful Miami and Miami Beach. WPF guests will enjoy electrifying performances by world-renowned international DJs like Chus, Karsten Sollors, Tom Stephen and many more. According to Winter Party Festival Co-Chair Jason Hellinger, “With over 30 years of history raising critical funds for our community, this year's Festival is our most exciting to date. We're bringing a worldclass DJ roster that includes the international talent you've come to expect, as well as fresh faces to shake up our lineup and continue evolving the sound of the Festival. We want all of our guests to feel the love our volunteers put into the Festival while dancing alongside your chosen family. Prepare for a dance revolution.”

As many of us know, Winter Party has provided a safe haven for the LGBTQ and allied communities to celebrate queer joy and live freely since its inception in 1994. The National LGBTQ Task Force also donates a significant portion of the proceeds raised at Winter Party Festival and its sister event, the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala, to like-minded community advocacy groups in South Florida through the LGBTQ+ Equity Fund, which is a philanthropic collaboration between the Task Force, Our Fund Foundation, and The Miami Foundation. It is important to note that the Task Force has given back more than $3.8 million and supported over 100 community organizations in South Florida since 2005, and that the Task Force also provides much needed funds to social justice causes locally and nationally. Visit thetaskforce.org for additional information and to volunteer.

Photo by Wilsonmodels

Photo by Adi Adinayev

WINTER PARTY: CO-CHAIR JASON HELLINGER INTERVIEW

I sat down with Winter Party Festival 2025 Co-Chair Jason Hellinger to chat about the upcoming Winter Party Festival.

Rafa Carvajal: What are you looking forward to the most about the 2025 Winter Party Festival?

Jason Hellinger: This year’s Festival is happening February 26 to March 4, 2025. The committee of volunteers and the National LGBTQ Task Force staff that put in work year round to make the Winter Party Festival a success have become family, and I always look forward to reuniting with them. I’m very excited about bringing Under One Sun back to Miami Beach and to a pool for the first time since 2018 — in partnership with URGE and with support from Q Care+. The pool deck at the Sagamore Hotel South Beach will be the perfect setting on Saturday afternoon for some epic beats from DJs Dawson and Deanne who are both returning to our lineup.

RC: What is new for this year’s Festival?

JH: Aside from Under One Sun, one of the other exciting changes for this year is our partnership with Midnight Service to produce our Thursday night event, Ignite. Midnight Service residents and co-founders Miguel Clark and Naim Zarzour start off the night with deep grooves and irresistible rhythms, bringing their diverse electronic sounds to our lineup along with special guest Rosa Peligrosa (Dangerous Rose), known for her blend of trap, techno and house. You won’t want to miss our first dance event of the week at MAD Live!

$4 million dollars to support the work of the National LGBTQ Task Force and local South Florida LGBTQ non-profits. Come

RC: Why is the WPF so important for our community?

JH: This year's theme, ‘Dance Is Revolution,’ speaks to the heart of what makes the Winter Party Festival a truly unique and powerful experience. Throughout history, dance has been more than just movement — it has been a form of resistance, liberation, and social change. Our community has long used dance as a way to break down barriers, challenge norms, and create spaces where we can truly be ourselves. This year’s Festival honors that legacy and reminds us all that when we dance together, we become part of something bigger than ourselves. As one of the few remaining community-owned events of its kind, the Winter Party Festival has raised over

It is so hard to choose just one event to call my favorite. For me, it’s all about the music and the lineup is fire this year. On Friday night, we’re bringing the Heat to MAD Live with DJs Tom Stephan and David Tort — two global tech house powerhouses. Saturday night, we’re back at the massive M2 Nightclub in South Beach for Masterbeat Shipwrecked. DJs Karsten Sollors and Chus are two of my favorites, and I know it will be an unforgettable night. I would be completely remiss if I did not mention the majestic Beach Party, the crown jewel of Winter Party Festival. This year, DJs Erik Vilar and Micky Friedmann will create the soundtrack for what I think is one of the most magical events of the year. Dancing on the beach under the beautiful Miami Beach sun, seeing the sunset and dancing into the early evening with your chosen family is just pure magic.

RC: Tell our readers who have never attended WPF why they should attend this year.

JH: Winter Party Festival is one of the biggest LGBTQ festivals in the world, bringing together over 10,000 guests from around the world to experience true queer joy in Miami Beach. The love that is poured into this event is palpable in every detail. Come dance under the warm Miami sun, on a dance floor, with your friends and your chosen family. The lineup this year is absolutely fire.

RC: Is there anything else you would like to share with Wire Magazine readers?

JH: Although Winter Party was born in 1994, the first edition produced by the National LGBTQ Task Force was in 2005 — exactly 20 years ago. Winter Party Festival is a labor of love for our volunteers and production partners who work alongside the staff at the National LGBTQ Task Force to produce this event that is deeply rooted in the history of our community. It is a true honor for me and other volunteers that help organize this Festival to carry on this legacy. This is an event for our community. Join us on the dance floor; join the movement. Tickets and passes are on sale now at winterparty.com

Photo by Wilsonmodels

WINTER PARTY: DJS MICKEY FRIEDMANN & DEANNE CHAT

We also preview everyone’s favorite Winter Party Festival event the Beach Party and the Pool Party by sitting down with DJ Mickey Friedmann and DJ Deanne to talk about the upcoming festivities.

Rafa Carvajal: What can guests expect from your Winter Party Beach Party set?

Mickey Friedmann: I’m honored to be headlining the legendary Beach Party on Sunday. The WPF Beach Party has always been the heart of the Festival, bringing together our community in a way that no other event does. It’s a celebration of inclusivity — all ages, all backgrounds, all identities. My set will take guests on a joyful journey through time, featuring tracks from the very beginning of circuit music to the present. Expect uplifting, high-energy beats that embody the true spirit of the Festival.

RC: Why do you think WPF is so important for our community?

MF: WPF is crucial for our community because it’s about charity, unity, and celebration. Festivals like this are becoming increasingly rare, making WPF even more special. What sets it apart is that the organizing committee truly understands music and knows how to create an event that represents the diverse layers of our community. It’s more than a party — it’s a movement.

DD: Now more than ever, we need to provide and maintain spaces for our community to gather and celebrate. It’s really easy to feel alone as an LGBTQ+ person, at times. These parties give us a chance to release, make friends and be reminded that we are not alone and that we are loved.

RC: What does WPF mean to you?

Which Party are you DJing at the 2025 Winter Party Festival and what can guests expect from your sets?

DJ Deanne: I am DJing the Under One Sun Pool Party on Saturday afternoon/evening. I’m so excited that this beloved party is returning to a poolside venue at the Sagamore Hotel in South Beach. You can expect a high-energy, house music set with lots of fun vocals and danceable rhythms as I take the party from day to night.

RC: Describe your style of DJing for readers who haven’t seen you perform before.

MF: My style is melodic and deeply emotional. It’s big-room energy with a progressive edge — main stage but also deep and sexy. I love taking risks by introducing unexpected genres and sounds to the dance floor, creating moments of surprise and pure euphoria.

DD: Surprises! Energy! New sounds. Good vibes. I am a house music DJ. For much of my career I have played circuit sounds, but during the pandemic I stepped away from the typical circuit beats and returned to my house foundation. I work to keep the audience engaged and excited to hear a fresh take on a club night or big party and inspire them to really dance. I like to push boundaries while remaining true to my commitment to being on the forefront of the evolution of the sound of our scene.

MF: To me, WPF represents the true essence of community. It’s about caring for each other, supporting talent, giving back, and standing together. It’s a reminder that we are stronger when we lift each other up, both through music and through charity.

DD: I have had so many amazing memories over the years as a DJ and a partygoer. I am able to spend time with my colleagues and support them. I, too, am able to dance and release and get some of that group therapy for myself. And, being a part of the event, I know that I am helping the WPF mission so that they can continue to do good work for our

Magazine readers?

MF: These are challenging times for our community — we all feel it. And soon, we may face even more negativity and hostility. But we must stay strong, stand together, and remain united in love. There is no other way forward.

DD: I just want to thank your publication, your readers, my Miami family, and all the dancers out there for all the support over the years. Believe it or not, I feel like I am just getting started and I hope that everyone continues on this amazing journey with me.

Wire

Photo by Adi Adinayev

Photo by Wilsonmodels