Alright, darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time travelling drag queen extraordinaire, coming to you live from⌠well, I canât actually tell you where! My magic pink tutu is a bit cagey with the details of where we are, only giving me glimpses and hints. But, you see those glittering neon lights in the background? You know itâs a good time!
Today, November 11th, 1991, darling, the tutu is taking us back to⌠drumroll, please⌠New York City! Now, Iâve been to New York in the present day, and let me tell you, the fabulous energy hasnât changed much over the decades. Back in â91, the city was already buzzing with an energy that makes you wanna strut your stuff down 5th Avenue in a sequined minidress!
This particular day in drag history, darling, we're not just gawking at the Big Apple â weâre headed straight for the heart of the downtown scene! Think⌠legendary clubs like Pyramid Club, where drag queen legends like Divine and Jackie Beat have graced the stage. Imagine, darlings, youâre at the Pyramid Club, the music is thumping, the drinks are flowing, and the performers are giving us life with their look! It's like a dreamscape, with the most creative, bold fashion ever, mixed with outrageous energy. Now THAT is drag, and a reminder of the importance of always pushing the boundaries of the art form, darling!
Speaking of legends⌠you wanna know who wasnât performing on the 11th November 1991? RuPaul. This fabulous queen was on the scene back then, yes, but she wouldn't rise to superstardom until later. Can you believe that? We would've loved to see Miss RuPaul slay it on that stage with a killer runway walk and a heart-stopping lip syncâŚ
But itâs not all about the queens, darling. In 1991, the drag world wasn't confined to stages and clubs. You could find it everywhere - in street performers, in local theatre shows, in the beauty shops, everywhere. That's what I love about the era! The whole world felt like a drag stage!
Remember, weâre in NYC â and everyone wants to see some glam. My trusty time travelling tutu informs me that drag was thriving across various spaces. It's not all about the glamorous big venues! Remember, back then, there wasnât a dedicated network like Logo TV or a Netflix reality series like Drag Race â there wasn't even MTV at this time (can you imagine?). That made drag performances even more precious, each experience felt so much more special!
And let me tell you, those clubs knew their audience. I mean, just think about what you want in a drag show! Killer music, outlandish costumes, high-energy performances and maybe even some witty banter. We need the whole package! So thatâs what these NYC nightclubs offered.
Donât forget darling, I fund my travels with my drag shows and, lemme tell ya, the crowds in Derbyshire just canât compare to the audiences here. They know their stuff in NYC. They know what they want, and let me tell you, these shows have got the whole shebang!
That reminds me! Have I shown you my new âDisco Queenâ tutu?! I just adore this piece. Itâs a bright hot pink (naturally!), with shimmering silver sequins. The tutu itself is made with feathers - itâs all so much fluffier and luxurious! I bought it from a vintage store here. They had racks full of the most glamorous outfits, you would never guess how old they are. This is why time travelling is amazing darling, you see so much beauty, creativity and amazing fashion! I've always been obsessed with vintage, even more so after being here! Just proves, fashion and drag are truly timeless!
Alright, time to finish up. I have so much more to tell you about my experience, from meeting amazing performers to grabbing a (very overpriced) cup of coffee with an adorable cat in a pink tutu - we truly live in a crazy wonderful world. Stay tuned for next month, darlings! And as always⌠let's get everyone in a pink tutu!
