Public interest in the ballroom scene began to grow in the late 1980s, providing Jose the opportunity to showcase his talents to a broader audience. In 1988 he appeared in Details magazine, photographed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders for an essay by Chi Chi Valenti about the House of Xtravaganza.Valenti, Chi Chi. "Nations". Details, October 1988, p. 159 - 174. He also appeared in the December 1988 issue of American Vogue magazine alongside Naomi Campbell and other models,"Economy Class". Vogue (U.S.), December 1988, pp. 368–371. the May 1989 issue of Time magazine, and other local and national publications. In 1989 he participated in the Love Ball, an elaborate celebrity fundraiser organized by the Design Industry Foundation for AIDS that used the basic structure of the original balls as a template for the evening's festivities.The Love Ball (program), Design Industry Foundation for AIDS, 1989. Love Ball participants included designers Carolina Herrera and Thierry Mugler; supermodel Iman; artists Keith Haring, Francesco Clemente, and Julian Schnabel; and performance artist Leigh Bowery, among others. Jose Xtravaganza took the Voguing competition grand prize trophy created by Keith Haring, likely the most valuable ball trophy ever created. That same year, Jose and other House of Xtravaganza members toured Japan, introducing voguing to an international audience. In collaboration with GMHC, Jose appeared in a safe sex public service announcement geared toward the ballroom community. In subsequent years, Jose and the House of Xtravaganza frequently lent their talents in support of organizations related to the LGBT community.
