Hello darlings! Emma here, back with another instalment of my time-travelling adventures. It's a pink tutu-ful Tuesday, and this month, my magical time-travelling tutu whisked me back to February 2nd, 1993. Hold onto your feather boas, it's gonna be a twirly journey!
As a Derbyshire girl, the excitement of travelling to a different time, a different place, is a hoot, darlings! So, to really embody the fabulous spirit of the 1990s, I packed a little extra flair, a sassy new feather boa, and my best shoulder pads, just for the occasion. You see, I knew that the early '90s was a period of iconic style – think high-waisted jeans, crop tops, and enough glitter to dazzle the stars! And what better way to blend in than by going full glam in my fabulous pink tutu, obviously.
So, picture this, I poof my way to 1993, tutu twirling in the most spectacular fashion imaginable, and suddenly... drag queen heaven! My dear, the drag scene in the early '90s was a whole different world! A vibrant explosion of colour, a kaleidoscope of creativity, a gloriously unique blend of theatrical and street style. And oh darling, the queens were absolute stars!
Now, I know some of you love to follow your girl on the runway and those of you who aren’t as familiar with drag may think of RuPaul's Drag Race, a divine gift, and for good reason! However, that show only arrived on our screens in 2009, so we were travelling way back to the golden age of the original drag scene! The queens in 1993 weren’t competing for a crown – they were all about bringing joy, spreading fabulousness, and making sure the party went all night long!
On February 2nd, 1993, I happened to be in New York City, a drag powerhouse, and landed right smack in the middle of the biggest gay party of the week at a club called The Pyramid, on 42nd Street. They've long since closed down now, and frankly, if they still existed I would be a regular customer, a fan, a dedicated devotee... let's just say a pink tutu loving "Queen Bee", wouldn’t you say?
Imagine! A room full of dancers, glitter-bombs, fabulous outfits, and an electrifying energy. On the stage was a Queen by the name of Divine, (no relation to the 80s pop-icon, of course), the star attraction that night, who stole the spotlight with his lip-sync performance to none other than...wait for it... “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot! A song that remains one of the hottest, sexiest, and, darlings, the most controversial pop hits in music history. Oh my, what a drag!
After catching the final curtain call and basking in the energy of the club, I made a beeline to The Stonewall Inn. It’s almost impossible to talk about 1993 without mentioning the history of The Stonewall Inn. Remember, 1969! And while I was only just a teen then, I knew all about it! The fight for LGBTQ rights that the world remembers! Well, 1993 was all about how that history became part of everyone's lives.
It’s difficult to describe the significance of The Stonewall Inn - it was a haven, a safe space for LGBTQ folks. Now it’s a national monument and symbol of the ongoing struggle.
But enough of serious history, darlings, back to fabulous fun!
After the glitz of NYC, my magical tutu and I travelled to London. In Soho, I was on a quest to spot some vintage clothing finds! London in 1993 was still the world capital of fashion, so it's no surprise that drag style reflected the boldness and eccentricity of the city's fashion scene. Imagine - leather jackets with chain detailing, platform shoes, and some gloriously, sparkly bodycon outfits! I think I even snagged myself a cheeky little black catsuit, perfect for channeling a little feline flair. It truly felt like a kaleidoscope of amazing style!
But London wasn’t the only drag capital. Remember that amazing UK television program that started that same year - The Drag Race?! That was it, darlings - I loved watching drag and street theatre, and that's what got me started on all of this! I was only six years old then but the show and that spirit stuck with me to this day!
The queens back then, and to this day, don’t just perform on a stage - They own it. The stage is their platform, a chance to showcase their individuality, their passion for self-expression, and frankly, darling, their joy at spreading joy, love, and glitter!
And darling, as for the performance side, 1993 had some incredible moments in drag history! This year, the iconic Divine starred in the hilarious, and sadly very brief, TV series, Divinely. In this show, Divine (and, if I am honest, most of the drag queens from back in the day) took risks and pushed the boundaries! *No holding back, darling! They had so much personality and their unique flair took them from nightclub stages to TV shows to, eventually, Hollywood!
I spent hours reading through drag magazine articles, glued to the latest drag shows, all because of Divine! It was a whirlwind of fun, darling. So, thank you, dear Divine! Thank you for being a pioneer, for breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes.
Now darling, before I let you go, let's not forget the crucial factor that fuelled all these fabulous moments! That, my dear, is YOU! And all of your lovely souls, those who love drag, those who perform, those who go out, and, of course, those who support the queens, every day! Without you all, drag would not be the glorious phenomenon it is today! So, from a pink tutu-wearing girl to all of you – you go, girl! You do you!
And, of course, while you're doing you, be sure to do it in pink! Now go and buy a pink tutu – darling, it’s just too much fun! See you next month!
