Hello, darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time travelling drag queen, back with another adventure! This month, I've taken a jaunt back to January 1st, 1923, and let me tell you, it was absolutely divine! My pink tutu felt positively boujee against the roaring twenties backdrop, and the energy in the air was just sparkling with excitement.
I was in London, naturally, the epicentre of fabulousness even back then. The streets were bustling with life, and there was a sense of glamour everywhere you looked. Think flapper dresses, sleek bobs, and that heady mix of jazz and energy that defined the era. I spotted a dapper chap with a moustache the size of Texas, twirling a top hat, and a dame with a fur stole that practically grazed the ground! You bet your bottom dollar, I swanned about like I owned the place, radiating enough pink tulle to light up the entire city!
But where were the queens, you ask? Well, my darlings, drag back then was definitely a different beast. Forget about lip-syncing and death drops! This was the era of "drag balls," massive, elaborate, underground parties filled with flamboyant costumed characters, singers, and dancers. Think more "Moulin Rouge" meets a masked ball, and you're getting the picture!
The highlight of my 1923 experience, you might ask? Oh, it had to be a drag ball, of course! I stumbled upon this absolutely scandalous party in a forgotten alleyway, held in a crumbling warehouse. Stepping inside, I felt the energy of history pulsate around me. The crowd was a mix of everything you could imagine, all clad in the most extraordinary costumes. I spotted men dressed as women, women dressed as men, a whole troupe of showgirls sparkling with sequins, and a fella sporting a magnificent feathered headdress that could rival any queen on RuPaul's Drag Race!
There were singers belting out raucous blues songs, a burlesque performer shimmying her way through a number that would make even Bianca Del Rio blush, and dancers doing those totally forbidden moves. The energy was electric! Let me tell you, I shimmied and sashayed all night long!
The drag balls were more about freedom and rebellion than polished perfection. You didn't need fancy makeup, expensive wigs, or fancy lip-syncing routines! All you needed was the heart and spirit to embody a different character, and the balls were all about individuality, expression, and celebrating your true self. It was all very theatrical, a little camp, and a whole lot of fun.
What about the actual queens, you ask? Well, my dear darlings, back in the twenties, being a drag queen was not a profession, but a way of life. Many drag performers, mostly men, lived "double lives," leading regular lives during the day, and transforming into fabulous alter egos by night. They were masters of disguise, able to flawlessly create an entirely different persona, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Think of it like a living, breathing stage play!
And their style? Think lavish, glamorous, and overflowing with attitude. They embraced the "extra" like no one's business! Feathers, sequins, dramatic silhouettes, and opulent headpieces were all the rage, creating an era of extravagant self-expression and artistic exploration. Just imagine how incredible it was!
Even if you can't quite wrap your head around it, imagine the freedom and creativity involved! A man daring to present himself as a woman in a world where this was taboo? My dear, that is an absolute queen! Those pioneers were trailblazers, paving the way for the generations to come. Their audacity is what shaped the modern drag scene we adore today.
Now, let's fast forward a little bit to what was happening on that very same day in 1923 in the world of drag. The American vaudeville scene was bursting with incredible drag performers! Dame Evelyn Nesbit, a woman with a scandal-ridden past, was strutting her stuff on the stage. The famous actress, accused of killing her lover, transformed herself into a dazzling entertainer, a true "queen" ahead of her time! She was living proof that drag, then as now, was a vehicle for both creative expression and a platform to address societal issues.
Meanwhile, the renowned actor Julian Eltinge, known for his captivating drag performances, was performing at the famous Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. His drag roles were captivating the world and making waves. They proved that drag was not just a source of entertainment but a form of art and a means of societal commentary. I'd give anything to witness their captivating stage presence!
I can't wait to see where my next adventure will take me. Maybe I'll bump into one of those iconic drag queens and get to experience their world from a closer angle! And, remember darlings, while my heart always belongs to my pink tutu, it's essential to celebrate the beauty of drag's evolution. The history of drag is a vibrant, ever-changing tapestry of rebellion, self-expression, and true artistry. And you know, darling, as the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" But darling, in this case, break all the rules! Be yourself, wear a pink tutu, and enjoy the amazing, ever-evolving world of drag!
Keep checking back at www.pink-tutu.com for more drag queen time travel adventures, and don't forget, the next drag show is just around the corner! And while we're on the subject of adventures, how about adding some spice to your own wardrobe with a sprinkle of pink tulle? Remember, a little bit of pink goes a long way! 😉
See you next time, darlings! 💖
Emma xoxo
