A Missouri teen has broken tradition and made history as his high school’s first-ever male homecoming queen.
Zachary Willmore, 18, was a senior at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia when he took the crown of Homecoming Queen.
He decided to run for homecoming queen instead of king after asking his TikTok followers for advice.
“They thought queen would look prettier on the sash,” Zachary told KOMU-TV. “So I chose queen.”
His crowning moment was caught on video and quickly spread across TikTok.
The viral clip shows Zachary in a glittering gold gown with a white sash draped proudly across him.
The post has racked up more than 10.9 million views and over 1.2 million likes.
From TikTok Star To Queen
Zachary is no stranger to online fame. He already has more than 2.3 million TikTok followers.
His videos often showcase his bold fashion choices and love for standing out.
One of his most viral clips — now over 22 million views — shows him dressed like Cher from Clueless.
Wearing a yellow checkered blazer and matching shorts, Zachary dances confidently before revealing the outfit got him dress-coded.
He says those moments highlight how his style often clashes with school rules.
“It was literally a dream,” Zachary said about being crowned. “It showed people actually did care about me.”
He added: “It was the final step for me to realize, people like me. I feel happy.”
Haters And Hurdles
While thousands cheered him on, Zachary still faced online hate.
“After I won, my TikTok account got reported and banned for a couple of days,” he shared.
TikTok hasn’t explained why his account was briefly suspended.
But the setback didn’t stop Zachary from continuing to share his life and his wins.
Now, he’s using his platform to push for change at his school.
Zachary and a group of Rock Bridge students are working to revise their school’s dress code.
He believes current rules unfairly target students with unique styles, especially LGBTQ teens like himself.
“Teachers decide what’s appropriate, and I feel singled out,” he explained.
Columbia Public Schools confirmed they’re reviewing the policy.
“We hope to have a revised code by the end of the school year,” spokesperson Michelle Baumstark told KOMU-TV.
That means changes could be in place before Zachary graduates.
Inspiring Others
Zachary identifies as gay and says he wants to empower young LGBTQ people to embrace who they are.
“I want to show that rebellion can spark change,” he told NBC News.
“I want to inspire people to dress the way they want. That’s the truest expression of individuality.”
He’s also joining a growing list of LGBTQ students making headlines at school dances.
Earlier this year, a lesbian couple in Ohio was elected prom king and queen.
And in Florida, a transgender student was crowned her school’s first-ever trans homecoming queen.
Zachary says he’s proud to be part of that change.
His message to others is simple: “Be yourself, no matter what.”
Featured image credit: zachwillmore/tiktok
