Reclaiming Space & Style: B-Girls at Red Bull BC One cypher uk
Words FIYON GIBSON // Stills & Motion ELIZABETH QUEK // Polaroids EMILY ALMODOVAR
Spotlighting the B-girls who paved the way for change in the breaking scene.
What makes a B-Girl’s flavour unmistakable? Red Bull BC One is the place to find out, as the top B-girls battle it out and continue to shape the future of breaking along the way. From 70s hip hop culture in the Bronx, to becoming a global competitive art form, its raw intensity shines through the craft.
Since 2004, Red Bull BC One has given the floor to generations of inspiring breakers. The competition marked a turning point for breaking in 2018, introducing a B-Girl category and its first B-Girl World Final, amplifying B-Girls in a space long-defined by masculine energy.
Red Bull BC One landed in the UK last week (April 11, 2026), where some of the country's best B-Boys and B-Girls went head-to-head for a chance to compete at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto, Canada later this year.
This annual competition is not one to miss, but if you couldn’t attend, here’s a round-up of what went down… the MOVES way. We’re shifting the lens to how the movement and the intentionality behind a B-Girls ‘fit’ shapes their unmistakable flavour. Here, B-Girl Stefani, B-Girl Roxy, B-Girl Munirat and B-Girl AYU dive into their style and craft, reflecting on the breaking scene and the impact of Red Bull BC One.
B-GIRL STEFANI
London-based Ukrainian breaker and 2024 Olympian, B-Girl Stefani secured her spot at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Toronto after winning Red Bull BC One UK. The three-time UK Cypher Winner has been breaking for 16 years, during this time she has merged her style with movement after featuring in Vogue Magazine, and has competed and judged across the world.
What does winning Red Bull BC One UK mean to you?
“It’s a really nice feeling winning my third Red Bull BC One UK title. I felt much more excited this year. Two years ago I was injured, last year I was a wildcard. This year going through all the cyphers, when I got to the final stage I felt like I really earned it.”
How does it feel making it to the world finals?
“I’m excited and am going to get ready for the finals in Toronto. My focus right now is to take a break and recover properly from the UK competition. This year I’m going to really focus on the Red Bull competitions only.”
How does competing at Red Bull BC One UK differ from other competitions you’ve participated in, such as the Olympics?
“Other competitions like Olympic sport events, we have so much pressure because it's under the, let's say, political and country federations, you're not doing just for yourself. Red Bull, BC One is, it's my own decision, it's my goal. I want to do it. I'm doing it for myself.
So the sport competitions are the country you represent, and they’re calling you to do that, they're putting it on you. You have to do this because it's part of your job, part of your responsibility, which it's under the pressure in our style, because it's still like dancing, you know, we have to feel it. It's not just the movements like other sports. So it's hard from one side, but from another side, it’s motivating as well, because you feel like you're doing something serious. But I still prefer cultural events like a Red Bull, so I feel I can always feel myself and show who's really me.”
What advice would you give to B-Girls who are still discovering their unique flavour and style?
“I would say you have to understand that there is no one who is special or unique, or there is no one who is best. So everyone can beat everyone. You have to work hard to achieve your goals. If you really like it, if you really want it, you shouldn't think that there is someone better than you, because you have everything to be yourself. And if you're gonna be unique. You're going to be the best, the best version of you, and everyone is going to see it. So just do what you love to do.”
B-GIRL ROXY
South London-based breaker, B-Girl Roxy has been a part of monumental change in the breaking scene. She battled in the first ever B-Girl world in 2018, and has competed and judged at multiple Red Bull competitions worldwide. This year at Red Bull BC One UK, B-Girl Roxy judged 2v2 breaking competition and hosted the Cypher prelims.
How do platforms like Red Bull amplify B-Girls within a male-dominated scene?
“I think especially when Red Bull like BC Once started, there were not a lot of B-Girls in general. You know, it's like 99% men and 1% women. So I definitely think that the B-Girls who were around had to grind hard to be in a space and actually be respected in such a male dominated world. But that also kind of pushed out people who are maybe not as confident starting off.
Stages like BC One have been really major in putting a big stage for B-Girls, a big light on B-Girls particularly. So then girls kind of have someone to look up to, like me… I think it's been a really major thing. Like, I'm really super grateful that Red Bull has been a part of breaking history.”
Are there any key moments that you feel were pivotal for B-Girls?
“I feel like maybe, 10 years ago, there was just, an absolute sea of B-Girls that just came out and the scene just kind of turned upside down for B-Girl…
Now getting into the top 32 of a worldwide event is difficult for everyone. It’s completely changed, there’s so many amazing B-Girls now. I don't know what changed it specifically, but, yeah, it's definitely changed quite a lot since then. It's just the popularity.”
How have B-Boys (or the wider dance industry) responded to B-Girls reclaiming their space in the scene?
“To be honest, I definitely want to support women fully. But we also have to be realistic in the fact that a lot of B-Girls are not up to scratch. The numbers are still really heavy, way more B-Boys than B-Girls. So if they are dismissed a lot of the time, I feel like B-Girls have to take accountability that there aren't as many that are going to be super, super high level. So you are still going to be disregarded to some degree. I mean, women in general just get disregarded like, in life more than men. So it's like, we have to work twice as hard to, like, get there. But that's just what we have to do. We know that's life.
I still feel like hip hop is raw. Breaking is still raw. You still need to be like, ‘Nah, you didn't do good’. Help people? yeah, but not like ‘oh, wow, that's so good for a girl’. So B-Girls still have to fight for it, which I think is still an important part of breaking.”
B-GIRL MUNIRAT
B-Girl Munirat is one of the UK’s notable breakers who represents Force 10 and Leeds the Way crew, and was this year’s BC One Cypher UK’s runner-up. Based in the UK and originally from Nigeria, Munny expressive style flourishes in the cypher; impacted by her visual eye as an animator and video editor.
What does competing at Red Bull BC One UK mean to you?
“Competing at Red Bull BC One UK for me, means challenging myself in an environment where the pressure is high but learning how to stay true to yourself within that. It also means representing the strong foundation I have from my crews.”
Has your visual eye as an animator and video editor influences your style as a breaker?
“It’s probably made me more aware of the angles and shapes in my dance and how I take up space on the floor. It has helped me see how I can further push my expression.”
What does presence over permission mean to you as a B-Girl in the breaking scene?
“I would say that it means building your own path at your pace and believing in your vision of how you want to express your breaking style while still honouring the history of the culture.”
What makes you feel empowered as a breaker, and how?
“As a breaker, I feel empowered when I am able to connect with others in the cyphers, also motivates me to take better care of my health and body so I can continue to dance for as long as possible and empowers me to keep learning about myself on and off the floor.”
b-girl ayu
Japanese breaker and GOOD FOOT crew member, B-Girl AYU was on the judging panel for the BC One cypher. The elite competitor, known for her ‘footwork and flow’ is a key part of the Japanese breaking scene. AYU made history by becoming the first ever B-Girl to compete against a B-Boy in the Red Bull BC One Finals in 2017, leading the way for the Red Bull’s B-Girl category and its first B-Girl World Final.
How does your fit impact how you express yourself in a battle?
“I think what I wear is a very important part of expressing myself. My outfit can change the vibe of my dance, how it looks, and even my own energy. So I always choose what makes me feel the most confident and excited at that moment.”
When you step into a battle, what do you want people to feel through your movement?
“I want my dance to make people feel excited. I want them to think, “That’s dope, I want to see more,” and feel drawn in by what I do.”
What does competing at Red Bull BC One UK mean to you?
“I was really happy to see so many B-boys and B-girls in that country. Judging was challenging at times, but I stayed true to my values and judged with sincerity. Red Bull BC One is a very special event to me, so it was truly an honour to be part of it as a judge.”
To learn more about the Red Bull BC One World Finals happening in Toronto, Canada later this year, visit https://www.redbull.com/int-en/events/red-bull-bc-one-world-final-toronto.
