Twerk From Home: Legitimizing Exotic Dancing

Joe Mahavuthivanij—the co-founder and CEO of Twerk From Home (TFH)—aims to be the Dana White of twerking by legitimizing and growing the sport of exotic dancing.

The organization’s first tournament kicks off on Saturday, featuring dancers vying for a $10,000 grand prize. The TFH event will showcase dancers from across the globe competing in head-to-head twerk-offs via webcams—hence the “from home” branding.

Viewers will support their favorite dancers by purchasing “gifts,” which directly benefit the dancers, according to Mahavuthivanij. The dancer with the most gifts wins the battle.

Additionally, participants can gamble on outcomes through sportsbook Bet105, and dancers may receive payments in cryptocurrency due to issues with traditional banking in the industry.

TFH plans to host weekly livestreams leading to the grand final on October 4.

Upon founding TFH, Mahavuthivanij was inspired by conversations with exotic dancers in Las Vegas about their challenges, particularly regarding “legitimacy and professionalism.” He drew inspiration from the UFC’s journey to legitimize combat sports.

> JNLDOOM 🇺🇸 vs Emilia Uusitalo 🇫🇮
> The Prelims are closing out!
> 🔥 Final prelim battle — Sat, Sept 20 @ 11am PT (check local times)
> 📺 Only @ https://t.co/M7ktCeEBJe
> — The official X of TFH (@TeamTFH) September 11, 2025

Unlike mixed martial arts, which faced significant barriers to legitimacy, TFH will let the audience decide the winner, primarily targeting male viewers. Mahavuthivanij acknowledges this could present the competition as a popularity contest, similar to shows like “American Idol.”

In contrast, existing competitions like International Twerk Champions feature local events culminating in an international battle, with judges evaluating performances to ensure quality.

Mahavuthivanij critiques those competitions as irregular and lacking significant prize pools, aiming to elevate TFH’s visibility and regularity. He plans to introduce expert commentary over time to educate viewers on what makes impressive dance moves, transcending mere looks or popularity.

The CEO aims to address the stigmatization exotic dancers face, hoping to expand TFH’s reach beyond twerking after the first tournament. With many dancers experiencing banking issues, TFH offers crypto payment options to navigate the stigma associated with their profession.

“As I’ve been building this, I have experienced a lot of that same stigma they face every day,” Mahavuthivanij remarked. “It’s time to provide legitimacy for it.”