Ballroom Legend Kirk Pressley Jr. ‘MC Boom Boom Balenciaga’ Passes Away

Legendary MC and community advocate Kirk Pressley Jr. passed away on January 21 at the age of 36, sending shockwaves through the many communities that cherished him as the leader and light that he was.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people took to social media to express their condolences and share their memories of Kirk, proudly known as “MC Boom Boom.” 

A DMV native, Pressley made a tremendous impact and dedicated his life to the communities he cared deeply about. As a self-proclaimed “Renaissance Man,” Pressley was widely known as a champion for the people. He was a community health advocate, MC, model, ballroom legend, member of a Black Greek-letter organization, and a true multi-hyphenate leader and organizer. 

His popular motto was “Get Excited”, a command meant to electrify the room and empower those within it. 

A day after Pressley’s passing, his family released a statement on Instagram sharing their reflections. 

“It is with profound sorrow that our family shares the passing of our beloved son and brother, Kirk William Pressley Jr. Kirk was deeply loved and will be deeply missed. He was a light in our lives, and his presence meant more to us than words can fully express. Our hearts are broken, yet we are grateful for the time we were given with him and for the love he poured into those around him.” 

Pressley graduated from Bowie State University (BSU) in 2011, where he majored in musical theater and communications. During his undergraduate career, he served two terms as Student Government Association (SGA) President at BSU and became a brother of the Mu Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated. He most recently served as the Program Coordinator for the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention Center at his alma mater where he helped lead efforts to provide vital prevention education to BSU students and the local community. 

“Whether you saw him around campus conducting outreach, facilitating a workshop, commentating, or MCing an event, one thing was always certain, when Kirk arrived, it was time to #GetExcited”, said Dr. Ina A Ramos, Director of the ATOD Prevention Center. 

Beyond academia and public health, Pressley’s influence extended deeply into ballroom culture. He began as a commentator in the DMV modeling scene, hosting and MCing balls, before fully segueing into ballroom. There, he joined The House of Balenciaga and competed in the Commentator vs. Commentator and European runway categories. 

Harold Balenciaga, The Overall Founding Father of the Iconic International House of Balenciaga, paid tribute to Pressley’s life in a heartfelt post on Instagram and Facebook. 

“It is with great sadness, shock and disbelief that I share with the many communities he brought love, life, and energy to that our beloved Kirk Pressley aka Boom Balenciaga @goforkirk has passed. At this time please keep his family, the many organizations, friends, and all those who loved him in your prayers. We will all miss the light spirit and good vibes he would bring to any room. We love you Kirk, rest in peace king!”

As if his résumé and record wasn’t enough, Pressley has appeared walking runway in a ballroom scene on the first season of Pose, served as a commentator in the Rihanna-inspired Super Bowl LVII commercial, and most recently appeared on Netflix’s Survival of The Thickest. 

Pressley was undoubtedly a one of a kind powerhouse across ballroom, Divine Nine, academia, and public health. Yet his greatest legacy did not live through titles and accolades, but in the relationships he built, the rooms he amplified with his iconic voice and spirit, and the countless lives he touched.