Hello my darlings! Emma here, back from another fabulous voyage through time, and this time, my magical pink tutu took me right back to 1991! Oh, how those golden 90s were the era of glitter, grunge, and the rise of some iconic drag queens!
I popped up in the middle of Derbyshire, just like me! Can you imagine the confusion? Turns out, drag back then was still very much about the pubs and clubs, but a few sassy souls were beginning to make a name for themselves.
Now, 1991 was all about big hair, a whole lotta attitude, and of course, fierce lip sync battles. Imagine me, standing in the middle of the dancefloor, my pink tutu shining under the disco ball!
Speaking of the dancefloor, I stumbled across this absolutely incredible drag event happening in New York City. The legendary Kiki Ballroom scene was in full swing, where a whole bunch of voguing legends like Jose Gutierez, Jose Xtravaganza, and Pepper Labeija were making waves. Can you imagine those sickening lewks, honey?! I almost couldn't contain myself, my tutu started bouncing with excitement! I just knew that the world needed to see their magic!
Now, my little lambs, you're probably thinking "Emma, what are these 'Ballroom' things?" It's like a performance extravaganza, darling, with a twist. These drag performers create houses, families of chosen ones, and the whole vibe is full of competition, confidence, and fierce realness. These queens would absolutely slay, and you'll find them serving lewks that are all about big hair, outrageous makeup, and the best-ever fashion! Oh, the looks I saw that day were absolute shocking! I wouldn't even dare try them, because my darling, it would be way too much for a Derbyshire girl like me.
This was the beginning of a big movement that's all about showing the world who's the most stunning! We're talking about 'house' fashion, darling, where drag became a social and cultural phenomenon, giving voice to those often unheard. The House of Xtravaganza, a pioneer of this style, gave us legendary queen Angel Xtravaganza - whose stunning lewks, sass, and amazing talent were beyond legendary! Can we all agree that the house system made drag accessible, allowing all types of fabulous souls to find a place? Well, at least that's how I felt in that time warp.
After that incredible journey to the ballroom scene, I decided to visit San Francisco. What did I find there? Well, this was the golden age of the gay nightclub and drag was big! Mother RuPaul, she was all over the charts, serving us glam and that infectious charisma. I actually managed to see her perform in a club! The energy, the music, the look - she was fierce! And trust me, she definitely showed me how to own it with her signature big hair and powerful voice. I could practically hear all of San Francisco screaming "RuPaul!"
And of course, San Francisco always has that avant-garde flair! It felt like I was in a scene straight out of "Hairspray" (but way less white). One thing I learnt from those times: if you want a vibrant drag scene, darling, head for San Francisco.
My next stop was the United Kingdom! Oh, I felt so at home, you know. My little British heart was practically bursting. In London, drag wasn't about big nightclubs. In London, they were showing us how to do theatre, honey! They were bringing their drag out in full-on spectacle with musicals and drag shows - think, big productions with the best makeup and costumes imaginable. This was drag that was accessible to all and it felt so revolutionary to me, as it seemed all I could get at home was the occasional camp nightclub and pub acts.
So there you have it! My incredible September 9th, 1991 adventure through the magic of my time-traveling tutu! As usual, I'm all about spreading the pink tutu love!
And if you are in the UK, dear readers, don't forget to check out Miss Fame's amazing book “Fame: The Essential Guide to Makeup and Style,” which just released a new edition, just for you!
That’s all from me for this month, darlings. Now get out there, make your own pink tutu fashion statement and be proud!
Until next time,
Emma xoxo
www.pink-tutu.com
