Hiya darlings! It’s your favourite Derbyshire drag queen, Emma, and welcome back to the Pink-Tutu Time Travel Diaries! Today we’re soaring through time on the wings of my sparkly pink tutu to 2nd February, 1924!
Can you believe it’s been fifty whole posts since I started this blog? What a journey! (And no, darling, you’re not hallucinating, I really do have a time-travelling pink tutu, and it’s just as fabulous as you imagined!). Anyway, I wouldn’t be able to keep the time-space continuum twisting and turning without all of your amazing support! And trust me, you darlings have been fab! Just to remind you, this blog gets its sparkle by the magic of the amazing performances I do at every drag show I can find. Honestly, you guys are my lifeline to travelling through time in style. It’s quite tiring, being this fabulous all the time! 😅
So, what did I find in the fabulous world of 1924? Let’s just say: I wouldn’t have wanted to be in that “flapper” craze! I thought we loved fringe in the early noughties, darling!
Right now, in New York City, there’s a fascinating bit of theatre going on called "The Greenwich Village Follies." Can you imagine the amount of drag involved? This show really captures that “Roaring Twenties” attitude! A few of my favourite queens who made their mark in this era were Ethel Merman, Tallulah Bankhead, and Mae West! Don’t get me wrong, it wasn't quite "RuPaul’s Drag Race", but these amazing women had so much drag charisma! And their gowns - well, imagine me in a massive, flowing chiffon number, dripping in rhinestones!
Now, remember this was the era of vaudeville, my lovelies. So I had to make a quick trip to my favourite purveyor of sequins in, say, 1922, and grab myself some feather boas and a spangly beaded handbag. No matter what era I’m in, gotta stay true to my love of fabulous accessories. Now, for this post I decided to go a bit less flamboyant – the ladies here just don’t do much pink. Just me. 😂 But we’re just going to go with it and look as divine as ever in a simple (but sparkly) number, darling!
I did hear rumours of a little drag show going on down the road from a local theater. Can you believe? Drag has been happening even then! A lovely lady named “Molly" who worked in the theater called out some of the guys in the cast, saying: "You're too feminine! You walk like a girl!” How funny is that? It reminded me of a classic Drag Race quote! Who knew this history of our craft goes so far back! And don't even get me started on those “flappers,” they thought they invented the whole skirt and knee-length thing. Psh! We had that long before them!
I have to tell you darlings, finding those amazing old photos of drag performances is hard. You have to have a really keen eye to spot them, because the queens, at the time, probably didn't go "Oh darling, this looks great! Let’s document our fab selves!." It's an age-old problem for the community! But just like you're supporting this blog now, you'll be saving your faves for history! Because even though my tutu will magically transport me through time, you darlings can leave a mark on the world!
As I made my way through the vibrant streets of the bustling city, the crowds seemed quite enthralled by my pink tutu. Everyone was asking “What is that?” It was very odd – I'm used to getting compliments or some bewildered looks! And honestly? It was all worth it, for the reactions of the little girls in the streets, gawking with fascination. Some looked terrified, others amazed. My dream is to inspire everyone, young and old, to put on their most flamboyant outfit, and twirl their worries away! I was a little lost at first, trying to figure out what to make of this era!
The best thing about the past is that I can bring some of the iconic looks back! So next time I pop back, I’m definitely grabbing some feathered headbands for myself. Those things never go out of style, do they?
Anyway, I’ve got to go. My pink tutu has an urge to explore the Parisian night clubs in 1925! The art-deco styles and those glittering dance floors are just calling to me! Until then, darling, I’ll leave you to admire some fabulous pictures of myself in a stunning pink sequined tutu, from my time travels – so get those pinches of salt ready. And make sure you're following me on @pinktutuadventures, you know I’m going to keep making this blog even more glamorous! Now go forth and make the world a little more pink! ✨💖
Love, Emma 💖✨
