Hello my gorgeous girlies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel, your one-stop shop for all things fabulous and historical! Today, we're turning the clock back to a day steeped in history, the 12th December, 1941. Remember how I told you about that time I popped by 18th century France and got caught in a courtly duel? Well, this trip was a bit different, I promise!
I’m your hostess with the mostest, Emma, the time-travelling ballerina queen with a heart full of sparkles and a wardrobe bursting with pink tutus. Remember my mission? To get the whole world in a pink tutu – a world of love, acceptance, and pure, unadulterated fabulousness! It's tough work, but someone’s gotta do it! And while we're on the subject of fabulous, I recently clocked up a new milestone in my drag career – the amazing sum of 1750 sparkly pounds! That’s enough for about 3,427 glittery headbands or, well, at least, one very expensive pink tutu! Thanks to the generosity of my beautiful fans at the “Tickle Me Pink” night at the Derbyshire Drag Den! You girls know how to rock a night of lip-syncing, sequins, and shameless sass!
Speaking of sass, we’re stepping into a little bit of wartime history this month, folks! This day marked a very specific and iconic event - the day when the United States joined World War II! That's right, Pearl Harbour had happened a week earlier and the US was ready to defend their homeland!
I know what you’re thinking, “Emma, how can you even contemplate glamour and pink tutus during such a dark period?” I hear you, honey, but hear me out! You see, drag, especially in those days, has always been an act of resilience, of defying norms, of turning fear and adversity into dazzling moments of joy!
So, picture this, the world is at war, things are a bit, shall we say, precarious, but that didn't stop the spirit of drag, not for a moment!
For those of you who aren’t as clued up on your 1940s drag, well, let me enlighten you! In the 1940s, the world of drag was in its infancy, and mostly thrived in backstreet bars, clubs, and ballrooms. We’re talking, for example, drag balls, drag parties, a kind of underground haven of dazzling personalities. You know, like a super secret, glittering underground society!
Think glamorous entertainers like the legendary Madame La Zonga who made waves on stage at New York City’s famed Café Society in the early 40s! Madame was a stunning creature, a whirlwind of colourful sequins and theatrical elegance. And even back in those days, these ladies knew how to slay a song and make an audience howl with laughter!
Oh! And remember my favourite queen, the inimitable Christine Jorgensen? She was one of the first transgender women to undergo gender-affirming surgery. Her transition was splashed across newspapers in the 50s and made her a true trailblazer.
Now, if we go back a few years to our chosen date, imagine, I'm in New York, dodging a few (what I believe are) gangsters, slipping down a narrow alley and I hear a few tunes emanating from a dimly lit speakeasy! You see, despite everything, those nightclubs and speakeasies became important havens of joy and creativity! It was almost as if drag served as a much-needed antidote to the grimness of the war years! People were ready to laugh, to dance, and to celebrate – and who better to deliver that than a gaggle of glitzy drag queens?
Imagine me sauntering through those clandestine bars and underground clubs, sporting my pinkest of pink tutus! Everyone stopping dead in their tracks, jaws dropped! Even those grizzled war vets with their cigarette smoke eyes were looking with awe!
My heart melts a little thinking of the energy in those clubs, the sheer thrill of being different, of celebrating individuality, especially in the darkest of times!
Drag has a unique history of overcoming hardship, turning despair into fabulousness. Think of drag during those wartime years! Drag helped those at war or on the home front to momentarily escape from the daily worries, to celebrate life's little joys!
I'll let you into a little secret: the next time you’re at a show, take a moment to acknowledge the power of those who dared to be different, to celebrate their individuality!
For those of you at home wanting a bit of 1940s inspiration, why not take inspiration from the classic glamorous film stars? Imagine your hair in perfectly-constructed waves like those iconic Hollywood sirens! A touch of bright red lipstick – maybe even some vintage hats! Remember that time I styled that vintage frock in an authentic 40s look for my trip to pre-war New York? Totally worth the 5-hour hairstyling session!
Finally, to round off our time-travel trip to the 12th December, 1941, remember my goal: getting everyone in a pink tutu! Maybe those 1940s queens couldn't have quite embraced the full pink tutu revolution (I mean, the world wasn’t quite ready for its brilliance back then), but they were all about colour and dazzling glamour. The spirit of acceptance and self-expression is what counts, even if you’re rocking a navy blue cocktail dress instead of a dazzling pink tutu!
This time, I might not have been able to get everyone into a pink tutu, but we sure did learn a valuable lesson! Remember that, even during tough times, the desire to celebrate, to express oneself, is an unstoppable force! And that, my darlings, is why drag will always be a beacon of joy, even in the darkest of times.
So, next time you slip into a fabulous outfit, embrace the spirit of drag, and the fabulous resilience it represents. Until next time, my darlings, stay glamorous and always remember the history that brought you here!
Ciao for now, Emma xXx
