#DragQueenHistory during 1973 04 April

Hello darlings! Your favourite Derbyshire-born, pink-loving, tutu-obsessed time-travelling drag queen Emma is back! Grab a cuppa, settle into your comfiest armchair (or preferably, your most fabulous chaise longue!), and get ready for another jaunt into the history of drag.

This month, I'm whisking us back to April 4th, 1973, a date that practically oozes camp in every direction. I’m always keen to find out more about drag queens who inspired us, but also how this colourful art form has influenced and evolved! We’ll have a bit of a chat about what’s happening on this day, then a trip to the US to meet the wonderful Divine, so let's get started, darlings!

Just a few days ago, on April 1st, there was a right old hoo-ha in Los Angeles. Our fabulous sister Divine (of "Hairspray" fame, yes you heard me right!) kicked off her new show “Pink Flamingos”. A truly iconic film for the world of drag and cinema in general. Now I won’t spoil the film, you really do need to see it for yourself, but I just adore the sheer confidence of Divine. A true goddess. You'll find a sneak peek at this cinematic masterpiece in my Pink-Tutu-Time-Travel-Trivia-Quiz later on in this blog post.

Over in New York City, it seems as if there’s some sort of Drag Convention happening on the 7th. If it’s anything like the conventions I’ve attended (all dressed in my most splendid pink tutu, obviously!), it'll be absolutely jam-packed with drag divas from far and wide, sharing tips and trading sequins!

However, our adventures don’t end there, darlings! Let's get all gussied up in our finest feathers, lace and sequins for a time travel adventure to April 4th, 1973! Hold onto your wig and get ready to sashay, darling!

As always, my faithful pink tutu, resplendent in the finest lace and pink feathers, whisked me off in a whirlwind of glittery stardust. This time, we found ourselves in the middle of Manhattan!

This vibrant and energetic city truly lives up to its "Big Apple" nickname, the air abuzz with a sense of freedom and expression that permeates everything! Now, my fashion-loving heart was fluttering in all the right places - you can practically smell the creative energy. You just want to twirl in a pink tutu through the bustling streets, darling, let your hair down, be utterly yourself and show the world who you really are. It’s what drag is all about, really!

I took a trip over to the Village and popped into a place called The Stonewall Inn where I bumped into a queen by the name of Sylvia Rivera. Her passion for helping queer communities was truly inspirational, particularly as her voice was challenging traditional thinking in the face of inequality.

As my time travel continued, it was a delight to hear tales of another incredible queen from this period, the one and only Marsha P. Johnson . Now, the legend of her life as an activist, as a drag queen, and the role she played in the Stonewall uprising is truly an example of courage in the face of adversity. Her infectious spirit really radiates through everything she did, and she’s still making waves as an icon for LGBTQ+ communities today.

And if I’m honest, I even spied Jackie Curtis at the Rainbow Room . Now, Jackie’s story as a truly avant-garde queen, challenging perceptions, inspiring others with their fashion, talent and art… well darling, you just know their impact is still very much alive in the drag community!

Let’s face it, darlings, the legendary Divine was one of the stars of drag who simply had to be on my time travel agenda. She wasn’t afraid to push boundaries, to make bold choices, to challenge assumptions and most of all, she just went for it. There’s so much we can learn from Divine.

Oh, the camp! The theatricality! Divine was such an exciting character, who inspired artists across the globe. Her flamboyant and dramatic stage persona, her incredible sense of fun, the fact that she just knew how to capture an audience - Divine had all the qualities you could want in a drag icon! Her influence on both drag and the world of cinema was really evident as I caught a glimpse of this cult classic that everyone wants to talk about!

And yes, of course I’m talking about the fabulous Divine starring in the legendary Pink Flamingos. I mean, this film certainly captured the zeitgeist of the 70’s, that’s for sure, as I found myself sitting down to a viewing of this utterly wild, bizarre and iconic movie. It is a must-watch film for everyone wanting to understand a little more about the development of the art of drag. The music, the acting and the scenes…it’s the sort of drag extravaganza that you could only dream of and definitely wouldn’t get to see on television at this point!

I actually managed to steal a little chat with Divine, asking them for their top tips to anyone embarking on a life of drag and they gave the most amazing advice, I truly couldn’t agree with more. “Embrace who you are. Never compromise your truth. Own it, own your style, darling.” Words of wisdom, that's for sure, and something we can all truly learn from.

Now, here's the tricky part… I can’t really reveal the full impact of Pink Flamingos for you, darlings, for reasons that can only be revealed if you take a trip back in time for yourself. Oh, let’s face it, you just have to see this movie. It’s a complete visual, dramatic and sound spectacle for the eyes and ears!

So now it’s your turn! To really give you a test, I’m including a quiz for you at the end of the post on the Divine cinematic universe, so sharpen your pencil!

Okay, you’ll need to forgive me, I do have a thing for pink. Not only does this wonderful shade symbolise beauty, joy, happiness and love - but it just shows such personality and confidence too. You know how much I love this colour and how I always, always want to encourage everyone to try out a pink tutu for themselves. What's your favourite shade of pink, darlings?

I do believe, darling, that this truly fabulous shade has the power to connect us, to make us see the good in each other, and really encourage a world full of diversity, equality, and of course… joy! This is what our lovely world of drag is about and the world’s embracing it in a really incredible way! You know that I believe every one of you can really have the courage to stand up, to express themselves, to live your best life – in a pink tutu, no less!

We’ve got quite a way to go until we can get to a place where drag truly is part of the mainstream. For many years it has been an alternative art form but you can feel its reach across theatre, media and TV shows spreading further and further all the time! And this is wonderful to see, as this is an important form of cultural expression that’s vital to our global landscape!

Right darlings, time for a little fun. Here are some questions all about Divine. Answer them, test yourself, and maybe you can discover some hidden drag gems.

1. What year was "Pink Flamingos" released?

a) 1972 b) 1973 c) 1974 d) 1975

*2. Who played the iconic character “Divine” in the film Pink Flamingos? *

a) John Waters b) Divine c) Marsha P Johnson d) Jackie Curtis

*3. Divine became a major icon in drag, starring in films and plays, which included what popular television series? *

a) "Hairspray" b) "RuPaul’s Drag Race” c) "Saturday Night Live” d) "Eastenders”

4. What is “Pink Flamingos” a comedy about?

a) A pink flamingo who becomes a pop star. b) A drag queen seeking to win a contest as the ‘filthiest person alive' c) A group of women living their lives in a fictional small town. d) The incredible story of Divine in her early years, featuring amazing dancing!

5. What’s Divine’s best known film?

a) “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” b) “Pink Flamingos” c) “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” d) “Tootsie”

Answers to the quiz:

1. (b) 1973
2. (b) Divine
3. (a) “Hairspray"
4. (b) A drag queen seeking to win a contest as the ‘filthiest person alive'
5. (b) “Pink Flamingos”

How did you do, darlings? Did you get all five correct? I think Divine would be proud of you. Now I know many of you can’t all get in a pink tutu and travel back in time. But what’s wonderful is that you can create your own history. This is something we can all do! The beauty of drag is that you don’t need to be a star or have lots of money or any kind of recognition to be a drag queen! The spirit of drag is all about having fun, about expression and individuality and it is something that each and every one of us can truly do!

Right then darlings! If you love drag and pink as much as I do, why not subscribe to my blog or head over to www.pink-tutu.com and give me a shout! It’s the greatest place for fashion, drag and more… until next time darlings!

Keep the faith, stay fabulous and wear a pink tutu with pride. 😉