Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, the only drag blog taking you on time-traveling adventures in the magical world of drag! š šš
Now, before we kick things off with the usual whirlwind of tulle and fabulousness, let's address the pink elephant in the room (pun intended, my dears!): This is a BIG ONE, sweeties! We're not just popping over to the local drag brunch, no, no, no! This month, we're taking a leap of faith (or rather, a graceful pirouette) all the way back to October 10th, 1987! Buckle up your feather boas, darling, because we're in for a vintage treat!
But how do you, my precious pink peacocks, even begin to imagine drag in 1987? Think oversized hair, shimmering sequins that rival the Milky Way, and a dash of THAT 80s drama! This is where my trusty time-traveling pink tutu (because let's be honest, what else would I wear?) comes into play! One spin and a glitter-dusting later, I was transported straight back to an era when shoulder pads ruled the world and drag queens were queens of camp!
Now, 1987 was an absolute cauldron of drag excitement, a symphony of glamour from New York to London. If you've been following Pink Tutu Travels for a while, you'll know how much I love seeing a good drag show. And darling, 1987 was bursting with them!
In New York City, the drag scene was as vibrant as ever. The Pyramid Club was still a hot spot, playing host to drag icons like Lady Bunny and Jackie Beat. Imagine the energy, the music, the sheer spectacle of it all! Over in Los Angeles, the Labyrinth club was the place to be, where Divine, the Queen of Camp herself, was still electrifying audiences with her outrageous performances! Just a bit further up the coast, San Francisco was witnessing the birth of Cockettes theatre. This legendary company, born out of the counterculture, fused cabaret and drag, influencing the future of drag and theatrical performance.
Over the pond in London, drag was taking its own fascinating form. The Vauxhall Tavern was still a sanctuary for queer nightlife, a hub for London's vibrant drag community. The iconic Danny La Rue was still reigning supreme at the London Palladium, proving that drag wasn't just a club scene, but a stage staple.
Meanwhile, back in Derby, a young Emma, a true fan of the performing arts and an aspiring drag queen, could only dream of these amazing drag events. My heart yearned to see the extravagant drag numbers, the stunning costumes, and the infectious energy that must have filled these iconic venues!
So, naturally, what did this ambitious little drag queen do? Why, she jumped into her time-traveling tutu and set off on a pilgrimage! My mission? To pay homage to these legends and to understand what shaped the drag scene we know and love today!
My first stop? The Pyramid Club in New York. It was electric, darling! The energy, the laughter, the pure, unadulterated fabulousness! I watched in awe as Lady Bunny held the audience captive, her witty banter and signature style leaving everyone roaring with laughter. It was a lesson in charisma, a masterclass in comic timing! And as for Jackie Beat? She embodied that sassy, unapologetic drag queen attitude we all adore, making it impossible to resist her hilarious performances.
Then, I whisked myself away to The Labyrinth, and believe me, my darlings, I wasnāt prepared for the spectacle I was about to witness! Divine, a true legend in the world of drag, radiated charisma, owning the stage with her powerhouse vocals and unapologetic personality. It was pure camp at its finest! It was a night Iāll never forget.
Finally, it was off to London! The energy at The Vauxhall Tavern was as unique and inspiring as it gets, a true microcosm of London's vibrant gay culture. The performances were electrifying, a showcase of individual expression and self-acceptance. And then there was Danny La Rue! He truly is a national treasure, the embodiment of elegant, sophisticated drag. To watch him perform at the London Palladium was an honor.
While all this incredible drag was happening, something equally exciting was bubbling away behind the scenes - the beginnings of the iconic drag reality show, "RuPaul's Drag Race!" š¤Æ
This, my darlings, is where the story truly gets juicy! You see, 1987 saw the beginnings of RuPaulās career as a drag queen, long before the explosion of the reality TV phenomenon! She had released her debut album, āSupermodel of the Worldā, and had become known in the New York club scene. Itās an extraordinary thought ā all the years that separated that 1987 moment and the massive impact of Drag Race! This glimpse into the genesis of it all fills me with even more respect for the drag scene as a whole and how itās evolved over the years.
However, letās not forget the beauty and power of drag in the 80s. The community, the performance, the absolute defiance in the face of prejudice: this is something we must continue to celebrate.
As a self-proclaimed lover of all things pink and tutu, I have to confess that Iāve developed a particular fondness for 1987. Thereās just something about the sheer spectacle, the rebellious energy, and the raw talent that makes the drag scene of that era so unique and inspiring! But thatās not the only reason why I was so excited to revisit this era!
1987 also brought us the birth of a symbol of drag-fashion dominance: the iconic pink tutu! Now, let me just tell you, the tutus worn in the 1987 drag scene were like nothing I'd ever seen before - more feather boa, more sequins, and absolutely, positively, MORE pink! You might call me biased, but for me, the tutu has been a core component of drag and performance, even going back to early ballet. This decade proved to be a glorious testament to that, and if you donāt have one in your drag wardrobeā¦what are you waiting for, darling?
There is absolutely no better feeling than swirling your tutu, strutting across the stage, and embracing the joy of pure, unapologetic fabulousness.
That, my darlings, is what makes me tick! Itās the beauty of self-expression, of pushing boundaries, and celebrating everything drag. I am so passionate about inspiring everyone, from little children to grown-up glamazons, to pick up a pink tutu, embrace the joy of it, and spin it with the same abandon and joy as those queens I met back in 1987!
Remember to check out www.pink-tutu.com to find out where you can catch me performing live. Who knows, I may even be time-traveling back to 1987 very soon for a performance myself! š But until then, stay fabulous, keep those tutus twirling, and always, always, embrace the glitter and the grace that makes drag so wonderful!
Yours always,
Emma x
