Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! Your one-stop shop for all things glamorous, fabulous, and steeped in the rich history of drag! I'm your host, Emma, and let me tell you, honey, this month we're taking a trip to September 1994! Hold onto your wigs, because this month's journey is about to get deliciously decadent!
Before we set off, allow me to tell you about my divine outfit, because darling, you know I don't time travel in just any old thing. Today, I'm sporting a vibrant pink tutu with cascading tiers of tulle, like a marshmallow dream! My bodice, oh honey, a symphony of pink satin and rhinestones! You've simply got to see it. I mean, imagine all those rhinestones sparkling, just begging for a spotlight. Absolutely glorious! I even have matching pink gloves, my favourite pink high heels with little diamanté bows, and my crown of fluffy pink feathers perched perfectly atop my bouffant!
This month, the time travelling tutu brought me to... New York City! Can you imagine, darling? The Big Apple in 1994? Oh, the glamour! My dearest, imagine those fabulous New York queens! It's simply heavenly!
The big news this month is RuPaul's Drag Race! Well, not "Drag Race" yet, but you see, RuPaul is becoming quite the phenomenon with her groundbreaking album "Supermodel of the World!" She was practically everywhere in September of 1994, strutting those legs on television screens, on magazine covers, in music videos... everywhere! The world was captivated by her supermodel persona. And darling, let me tell you, it was an era where drag queens were beginning to take centre stage in pop culture. It was simply magical!
My trip began at the Pyramid Club on the Lower East Side, an absolute legendary drag hot spot. Can you believe it, darling, they had performances running five nights a week? We are talking the golden age of New York drag. The iconic Sherry Vine was holding court, showcasing her razor-sharp wit and brilliant comedic timing. Her performances were a symphony of camp, sass and silliness.
Speaking of camp, darlings! Another absolutely legendary queen performing at the Pyramid was Lady Bunny, the quintessential NYC drag queen, the ultimate party girl, an icon. Her legendary song "Chapel of Love" (with the cast of "Wigstock" for those of you who are unfamiliar!) was a total dance floor sensation. And Wigstock was happening in a big way this month, too! You could imagine the energy, the talent, the pure celebration of drag, just electric!
Of course, I popped over to Judy's, a famous New York dive bar, for some classic drag performances. These were queens that oozed old-school charm and a theatrical elegance. And while I was on my little outing, I picked up a few funky accessories! You can find a picture of my giant pink sunglasses, (absolutely necessary to see through the smokey haze of the 90's nightclubs!), in my photo gallery at the bottom of this blog.
You simply had to experience drag in New York in 1994, darlings! It was so alive! The energy in those bars, the passion of the performers, the sense of community. It was just, well, everything I love about drag!
You know, dear reader, my trip back in time taught me something incredibly important. It was about a time when drag wasn’t mainstream, it was underground. It was a secret, special club, an expression that didn’t always get recognition. But within that underground, there was so much creativity, so much innovation. It was an inspiration to the whole world, you see?
But here's the best part. I see this same spirit of innovation blooming across the globe right now! From Derbyshire to New York City, we’re seeing a global drag renaissance with diverse talent everywhere!
And speaking of Derbyshire... my trip to New York reminded me that it is never too early to bring the magic of drag back home! And with my brand new stash of bright pink tinsel, (you have to see it!), and a whole bunch of new moves I learned from some fabulous dancers I saw in 1994... drum roll.... I am ready to start preparing for Derbyshire's biggest drag event yet! Oh my dear, imagine, an entire town adorned in pink tutus! We'll have feathers and sparkles, high kicks and hilarious lip-syncs, laughter and love!
If you’re reading this and you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the amazing world of drag darling, please know that I’m here to support you all the way! Just start small and have fun with it! You'll make the world a much more colourful and expressive place just by simply doing you!
For all the updates, head over to my new website www.pink-tutu.com. And be sure to check out the photo gallery at the end of this blog post! I've added some absolutely gorgeous photos from my trip to New York.
Now, my darlings, go and wear your pink tutus with joy and confidence and make the world a little more fabulous.
Love, glitter and lots of pink!
Emma, (aka Miss Pink Tutu)
P.S. For any queens thinking about time travelling yourself... my trusty pink tutu is always up for another adventure! Let me know and maybe we can make some magic together!
Photo Gallery
Emma standing on the stage in the Pyramid Club in New York City wearing her glamorous pink outfit and her giant pink sunglasses.
A selfie of Emma posing with the queens at Judy's.
A picture of Emma's stash of pink tinsel in her room.
Emma standing on stage with all of the other drag queens in Derbyshire. The town is decked in pink and everyone is wearing tutus.
