Darling! How divine to see you all on my lovely blog, www.pink-tutu.com, for post 846. You know I adore delving into #DragQueenHistory for you lovelies! So, pack your sequins and glitter, dust off your best pink tutu, because today we're taking a time travelling adventure back to 6 June 1990, a date full of deliciously glamorous moments!
Right, let's pop our pink tutus on - my sparkly pink creation with the ruffles - and I'll tell you everything about that glorious 1990 day... and don't forget your glitter, darling, a true Drag Queen always glitters.
I woke up on the morning of 6 June 1990 feeling positively fabulous. I was back in Derbyshire, sipping tea with my Mum and the feeling of a new pink tutu arriving from a fabulous boutique in London made my day, you know? New tutus - that's my jam, absolutely! The shops here in Derbyshire were lacking in pink, and if there was a little pink, it was so washed-out you might as well be wearing beige. It was truly the saddest.
Later, I made a grand appearance, of course, for my lovely Granny's 70th Birthday with a truly fabulous blue and purple tutu, paired with a simple white top (all topped off with my fabulous pink lipstick.) Mum nearly swooned, as did my darling brother and little sister. But Granny, oh she's a real Drag Queen in her own right, she knew how to look chic - all she needed was a little pink!
The world of Drag on 6 June 1990... oh darling, it was full of glorious, captivating happenings - enough to set even the shyest of butterflies in motion. I was back at home in England at the time, but even from afar, I could feel the magic of drag seeping through every drag stage and underground cabaret!
Across the pond in New York City, where dreams of drag are always made, the legendary “Wigstock” took place - an epic, outdoor, drag extravaganza celebrating a multitude of talents and bringing people together from every corner of the drag world.
Imagine, a festival dedicated to drag, hosted by Lady Bunny, the Drag Queen Icon. You couldn't get more flamboyant than that if you tried! It was a melting pot of creative energy, bringing together dancers, singers, comedians, and of course, drag queens and drag kings of every feather! A truly, utterly fabulous happening - the Drag equivalent of Wembley Stadium, if Wembley was filled with pink, sparkle and glitter.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet in Sydney, Australia, the iconic Drag Queen and performer, Divine, a pioneer who redefined drag and shattered stereotypes, sadly passed away, just 3 years before we reached this date. Oh, she was truly a legend! Divine graced the big screen in the iconic John Waters films, Pink Flamingos and Hairspray which sparked the punk energy that took over the world. They are still truly genius to this day! Divine, as many say, is credited as one of the key people to introduce drag into the mainstream, showing us the power of creativity and transformation and giving us so many powerful drag lessons along the way. The Drag Queen community globally are forever in her debt - her work brought Drag from a fringe art form to a more public presence, helping shape the world of Drag we see today.
Now, darling, I do not know about you, but even I find the fact that we can all experience and connect through Drag amazing. Think of it! It transcends languages, backgrounds and cultures - Drag truly brings people together. I always try to add a little pink glitter to my life! The power of Drag in the 90s was taking on new levels of brilliance, you know - its redefining power and impact resonated with those of us in the global Drag Queen world and resonated right into the future!
My beloved travelogue from that fabulous summer in the 90s would not be complete without remembering another divine soul, *Miss Continental. Known as “Queen of the North Side," Miss Continental ran the prestigious, prestigious and extravagant "Miss Continental Pageant" in Chicago. And, this Queen really gave - offering amazing financial support to LGBT community projects in the US! Miss Continental, in her beautiful, bold way created the Drag community into one huge, supportive family - the drag world felt like home. The Drag family of today owe so much to Miss Continental. We can see how Miss Continental was truly the mother of the drag scene, and how her actions helped to bring the LGBTQ community together with Drag at its epicenter.
Back in 1990, I knew that my love of Drag would forever take me on time travelling adventures like this! I simply had to see those places, experience that era for myself!
In fact, this little pink tutu - a magical one, by the way - I have a feeling is how I'm going to be time travelling... well it's time for me to travel again... see you all on my next Drag Queen Travel blog... see ya next month darling, and remember - keep the glitter going!
