Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

When FX’s Pose premiered in 2018, the groundbreaking series was instantly hailed for its illuminating portrayal of New York ballroom culture and the HIV/AIDS epidemic alongside its comparable focus on the complexity in the humanity of a community that has long been reduced to a monolith. As diehard stans fell in love with the House of Evangelista’s curative nurturing of a neglected community, it was almost impossible to not swoon over Papi, whose endearing naïveté and darling eyes were nothing short of captivating. Portrayed by Angel Bismark Curiel, Papi transcends in the show as an emblem of warmth that endures as his family wrestles with society’s frigid temperament toward the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Now, with the acclaimed show coming to a close in its currently-airing finale season, Curiel reflects on molding his character into the heartthrob the world immensely adores. 

Couple Janet Mock and Angel Bismark Curiel seen outside in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

The 25-year-old points to his romantic relationship with Pose director and producer Janet Mock as an intimate avenue to understanding the scope of the experience of trans women and queer femmes (specifically from the intersection of race and queerness). In an interview with Buzzfeed, he revealed, “For me, it’s been a blueprint and my foundation. My pillars to know that I have this relationship that can guide me; that I feel safe enough to come with questions or things that I may not know and have [Janet] as a resource to be able to direct me in the right way.” Curiel has remained transparent on how he transformed Papi’s storytelling, which significantly revolves around trans culture, through poring over as much research as possible. He continued, extending his gratitude to his girlfriend, “There’s the meaning and there’s emotion. And there’s this sense of wanting to do right, particularly by Black trans women that live in a society that never does right by them. My relationship with Janet has very much influenced my want to show up for Black trans women.”