Miami’s nightlife scene is known for its exclusivity and velvet rope culture. But what happens when the requirements for entry go beyond dress codes and guest lists?
Two women trying to attend a Central Cee event discovered the unspoken rules around appearance and body weight that some clubs use to control who gets through the door.
Was This Promoter Harsh?
In a viral video with more than 462,000 views, Marija (@geminiblondy) captured what some are calling an uncomfortable conversation with a Miami club promoter.
Marija and her friend are chilling on the beach when a promoter approaches them to get them to come to an event that night. But he says they needed to stick with his strategy if they wanted a chance at entry.
He says Marija needs to wear all black, can’t bring a Pringles can (Marija had been carrying one as part of an ongoing social experiment to see if she could get into Miami clubs in casual clothes), and needs to suck in her stomach.
Marija jokes that she should enter behind her friend so she can “hide behind her.” And the promoter laughed with her in agreement.
Then he says the quiet part out loud.
“We don’t discriminate, but—” he starts, then corrects himself. “We do; we have some weight rules here.”
But the promoter, whom Marija describes as “really nice, actually,” continues giving advice. He tells Marija’s friend she needs to fix her facial expression.
“You gotta turn your b—- face upside down. All right? You got a resting b—- face?” he asks.
Did They Get In?
In a follow-up video, Marija showed that she and her friend came back dressed in traditional club attire. She was specifically in the “all black” she’d been instructed to wear. But they were still denied entry and told to go to the back of the line again.
The Pringles can incident was part of a larger social experiment Marija had been documenting. She’d been testing whether she could make it into any Miami clubs wearing a hoodie and carrying a Pringles can. So far: no success.
Commenters noted that the clubs were particularly packed during this time because of Art Basel, the prestigious art fair that brings wealthy visitors and celebrities to Miami every December. The event creates even more competition for club entry than usual.
Understanding Club Promoters
To understand what happened in this video, it helps to know what club promoters actually do.
According to MTS Productions, a club promoter is “someone who works closely with venues to bring in crowds, ensuring that each event or party reaches its maximum potential.”
Promoters handle marketing, social media, and guest list management to create buzz around events. They bridge the gap between venues and guests, offering special deals or VIP packages to attract people. Some work freelance for multiple venues, while others are employed directly by a single club.
But promoters also act as gatekeepers and make subjective decisions about who “fits” a venue’s desired image.
The Pattern Of Size Discrimination In Clubs
The “weight rules” mentioned in Marija’s video aren’t new. In 2022, two influencers, model Alexa Jay and Sports Illustrated curve model Ella Halikas, said they were denied entry to The Highlight Room in Los Angeles because of their size, NBC News reported.
“He looks me head to toe, takes his time, up and down, and goes, ‘Not tonight,'” Jay told NBC News, describing the bouncer’s behavior.
Halikas, who is a size 14, said the experience shook her. “Even as a Sports Illustrated model myself, I could not get let into a club because I’m a size 14. That shook me to my core,” she said.
The two models started the hashtag #NotTonight to encourage others who’ve experienced discrimination for being plus-size to share their stories. The comment sections of their videos were flooded with similar accounts.
“I am the lead singer of a band and one time the bouncer of the venue I performed at TRIED TO TURN ME AWAY AT THE DOOR OF MY OWN SHOW,” one person commented.
A spokesperson for The Highlight Room’s parent company said they don’t “tolerate discrimination of any kind,” but Jay and Halikas said they never received an apology.
Commenters React
“He’s being nice about it but I would still cry,” a top comment on Marija’s video read.
“Him leaning in and laughing with you as you said ‘they’ll probably see me behind her’ we would’ve been tussling in the sand IMMEDIATELY,” a person said.
“Girl stand up for yourself,” another wrote.
“I’ve partied with him before he’s so nice! Took care of me,” a commenter shared.
@geminiblondy central c u there 👀@CentralCee @Oliwka #miami #clubpromoter #promoter #centralcee #clubbing
BroBible reached out to Marija via TikTok direct message and to the club for comment. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.