Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where the sequins are always sparkling and the pink tutus never stop twirling! It’s your girl Emma, ready to whisk you away on another fab-u-lous journey through time, all from the comfort of your very own sofa.
This month, I'm putting on my finest pair of pink ballet slippers and my most extravagant pink feather boa to sashay my way back to January 1st, 1987! Just picture it, dears - the eighties at their finest! The big hair, the bold makeup, and the most fabulous music you could possibly imagine. You bet your bottom dollar this queen was in the thick of it all, dancing my way across the disco floor with all the other drag divas of the era.
1987 - A Glittery Time for Drag!
Now, let's be honest, the world of drag was bubbling with excitement in 1987! Just imagine - a year before the release of Paris is Burning which, let's be real, became a beacon of drag brilliance and put drag history on the map for generations to come! We were all buzzing about how fabulous the world of drag had become. We were seeing some truly innovative queens grace the stages - with big personalities, larger-than-life outfits, and dance routines that would put a seasoned ballerina to shame. We were really finding our own flavour and making our mark on the world.
Just as I arrived in 1987 in my pink tutu - shimmering like a disco ball under the glitter-laden night sky – the legendary Divine was wowing audiences across the globe! It felt like the world had gone utterly Divine! We've lost her sadly, but we're eternally grateful for her sheer power and presence.
Across the Atlantic, in New York City, legendary drag ball queen Marsha P. Johnson was busy fighting for her rights! We're talking real change makers right here, darlings! Always reminding us how powerful a simple statement - a powerful queen can be - how one's appearance can change the whole world! It truly makes me swell with pride to think that the impact she made on the LGBTQIA+ community is still felt so strongly today! And let's not forget our very own Dame Julie Andrews taking on the part of Victoria Grant in "That's Life", a film that truly showed the world that Drag wasn’t just on stage. It was on the streets.
The Power of a Pink Tutu:
Honestly, I can’t remember where I popped up first in my sparkly pink tutu back in 1987! Maybe I was at the "Boystown" club in Chicago! They say it was one of the most popular gay clubs back in the day and with good reason - it was all about glamour and making memories with the best crowd! If you fancy channeling that Chicago spirit, dears, remember to keep it fabulous! The key is to always wear your pink tutu with confidence, darling. There's no wrong way to do drag. So let your flag fly, and dance your heart out! Because in this pink tutu I was wearing, I felt powerful, liberated, and ready to take on the world. And, let’s face it, when you’re feeling fabulous, the rest of the world will notice!
My Drag Queen Timeline:
Just for a giggle, here’s a tiny glimpse of how the rest of my year in 1987 was unfolding. I love time travel. It’s not as simple as it sounds you know - time doesn’t work the way we see in the movies, but that’s another blog for another day - we have the whole world to travel in.
I have to be really organised you know. Because, a good drag queen is always organised! And I was certainly well prepared for my 1987 trip. So I got busy -
February 1987: My big trip to The Stonewall Inn was on the cards. I’m still absolutely spellbound that it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, because everyone should know what a place this is! It's been such a pivotal site for the LGBTQ+ community – it truly is the beating heart of the movement, darling! I couldn’t believe I was walking through history, twirling my tutu like I was a ballerina in a glitter-filled dream. They say a Drag Queen is always a fashion icon, well, I felt that night.
May 1987: Oh how I was loving myself to bits, dancing all night with some absolute queens at The Peppermint Lounge! It was so full of character! It felt like New York City's finest dance hall with some fabulous performances from local queens like Peppermint Patty who had a big night and all the regulars and local queens, really got the place buzzing with energy. That night I saw Drag not as a fashion icon, but as an expression of who we were, a vibrant, fierce movement that challenged society’s rules, so I really danced with a smile on my face!
July 1987: Well, what better way to welcome summer in England than a trip to The Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London. I was truly excited. A place with so much history. Just imagine all the drag greats who have graced its stage - so many names whispered with awe! From Miss Lucy to Danny La Rue to the fantastic Phyllis Diller, that night, the whole place buzzed with stories, from back when the venue was the height of high-class entertainment in the early part of the 20th century. I know how much it still means to the London gay scene - such a powerful space and community!
August 1987: A day for dancing and twirling with an unbelievable amount of drag queens! A fabulous celebration at a New York ball and of course I made a big pink statement!
September 1987: London was calling my name and off I was to a brilliant club called Heaven. It was such an incredible evening, full of atmosphere and excitement, with the best dance floor I’d ever stepped foot on! Heaven - it truly is - they even held Drag Bingo there and it was completely fabulous! It all became about friendship, community and the joy of letting your hair down and, of course, the opportunity to catch some killer drag shows. And let me tell you, I had a fantastic time there - you just can’t beat the fun that drag brings!
December 1987: Well, what a year! What better place to round it all off, with a big bang, than a trip to The Paradise Garage in New York? That disco ball had so many sparkles on it - oh it was simply amazing, with its mix of fashion, music, and most importantly, fabulous company. They really set the scene for dance music that influenced a whole generation - the beat was divine and that made for the best party, just the one I was in need of. I left this place with a spring in my step, all that excitement - a year full of wonderful moments.
The World is your Tutu!
Well, darlings, I am so delighted that we could travel back in time, it really made my pink tutu fly! And please don’t think the world has changed in that time, because I can honestly say it hasn't. The power of drag remains the same - it's all about expressing ourselves and bringing joy into the world. I know you’re all out there in your own little corners of the world - ready to bring a little bit of drag magic! We don’t all need to travel back in time - we are all time travelers, we just don’t realize it! And when you put on that tutu - let your imagination fly and let’s celebrate the past and the amazing drag queens who made the future for us!
Remember to keep an eye on the blog - every month I'm going to go back and visit the most amazing Drag queens - let’s start creating our own memories so we can all create a time line for years to come! And remember, the only limit is your imagination, darling, so keep on dreaming!
Until next time, stay sparkly, stay fabulous, and remember to keep twirling. And as always, if you’re looking to rock a pink tutu, remember, darling, you’re always welcome to drop in at my website, www.pink-tutu.com.
Much Love, Emma xx
