09/09/2026
“Tonight is a wonderful night. I’ve never seen this one before.”
This Cory-remixed version of Maya Angelou’s beautiful words came to mind as I frantically made my way through those ballroom doors and took in all of your cheers, applause, support, and love. Maya may have given us the graceful version, but my remix came somewhere between holding it together, seeing that room FULL of people, and realizing the support was louder than anything I could have prepared for.
The First Pose was more than a marketing-driven launch party. It was a room full of people reminding me that this next chapter in my life and profession is WAY real, that I am not walking into it alone, and that learning how to pose again has never only been about me…
The party was intentionally planned (I said planned—things happen, and unfortunately, they did) to offer anyone learning to grow, become better, or find themselves a spark of self-worth and the reassurance that they get to choose how they are seen. I truly hope everyone experienced even a small moment of joy, especially those who needed it most. That was THE goal behind my vision.
To everyone who showed up, cheered, applauded, hugged me (yes, I even hugged), tagged me, texted me, sent photos, sent love, and supported me, Ben, and Pose—thank you. Truly.
“Daddy” Brad Wilson and “Papi” Alex… the GREEN bar and the six 100-pound, awful-to-construct colonnades… thank you both so much. More thanks to Meg Rhea and Valerie Marshall Mansuetta for the last-minute help and photos; to the striking bartender, Eileen (she was actually our bartender on my first “date” with Ben, circa 2015); to Tayler Phiapalath and Mark Phiapalath for the photo booth; to the Pink Palace for allowing these antics to take place; and, of course, to the QUEENS.
I also can’t forget our long-distance friend David, a recent BSN-RN grad, who brought love and support all the way from Las Vegas. My nursing school classmates and even former faculty-turned-colleagues showed up for me just as they did during the trauma many call nursing school. Thank you all so much.
A slightly overdue but necessary thank-you to Ben Barnett: my husband, Pose’s operations director by both title and survival assignment, and my best friend. Thank you for standing beside me, behind me, and occasionally only near me while watching me spiral in real time with impressive restraint. I know I have been unbearable (both during the party planning and the last 11ish years), but that is also what you signed up for. Love you most.
To my momma Teresa Childers, my brother Brandon Wilbanks, sister-in-law Julie Hernandez Wilbanks, my aunt Peggy Childers Bennett, and all my close and extended family, thank you for singing my praises long before any room like this existed—even all the way back in my hometown of Walnut, Mississippi—the place that tolerated me, shaped me, and influenced my personal views that would for sure change as I have changed. Walnut probably knew early on that it couldn’t grow into what someone like me needed it to be quickly enough to keep me there. But even Walnut showed up—my high school classmate and friend Chrissy Kirkman made her way to Memphis (even with Josh!) to support me, as she always has.
That love, even from 70 miles away, was always the loudest.
Love you most.
Thank you all. I know I have missed people, and that is why this is not my final thank-you post!
It has almost been 2 weeks now, and I know this is delayed, but I am still processing the night, the faces, the emotions, the surprises, the laughter, the tears, the sentimental moments, and the overwhelming amount of love in that room. That includes the surprise and panic on my face as my wonderful mentor-turned-colleague and now friend Jamie Roberts delicately took me into his arms and hurled me into the air for a photo. I will thank each of you individually—here, by text, or in person—because that is very important to me.
NOTE: I am also processing the fact that I packed a belt, had it in my hand at some point, yet still forgot to put it on, and then spent the evening tugging at my pants like that was somehow part of the official Pose experience. Growth is not always glamorous.
If you don’t see your photo, there are more photos and proper thank-yous coming.
For now, this is my first attempt at saying what I still do not fully have words for:
Thank you for showing up for me.
Thank you for showing up for Ben.
Thank you for showing up for Pose.
The official grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration for Pose in High Point Terrace (481 High Point Terrace, to be exact) is happening VERY soon! So keep an eye out for the details I send your way—no dollar bills requested this time 😉
With infinite gratitude,
Cory 🖤 🌱
P.S. Getting the mailed invitations to everyone was a whole struggle. Invited guests two streets over have yet to get theirs, but guests in Mississippi got them within 48 hours. So, if you know you should have received an invitation and are feeling some type of way because it never arrived, please know you were not intentionally left out. There will be other pose events in the near future. I truly apologize—and you may direct any concerns to the always dependable United States Postal Service.
