Welcome back, darlings, to my monthly journey through the fabulous annals of drag history! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast and time-travelling drag diva. This month we’re venturing back to October 1994 - and oh honey, you're going to love what's on the menu!
Blog Post No. 898 – Pink Power Through Time
This month I decided to pay a visit to dear old October 1994, just to see what my fabulously feathered ancestors were up to. Now, you might think that a drag queen's time travelling wardrobe wouldn't be complete without a glittery, sequined gown or maybe a fabulous, over-the-top wig. But honey, nothing is more powerful, more glamorous, or more utterly pink than my magical time travelling pink tutu! It's a swirling, twirling masterpiece, practically radiating with enough glamour to power a disco ball, and it gets me to all the most fabulous places – from the swinging 20s to the flamboyant 90s and beyond.
Where did I end up in 1994, you ask? Why, none other than the heart of New York City!
Picture it: the streets of New York, autumn leaves falling, the air abuzz with excitement. 1994 was a wild, fabulous year for the world of drag. I popped into a little bar called the Pyramid Club in the East Village - what a haven! The air was thick with cigarette smoke and energy. It felt like a mix of a theatrical performance and a dance club, and darling, I was just living for it. Drag shows in those days had this real "raw energy" that you don't see so much nowadays, everything felt spontaneous, chaotic, exhilarating. They had performances in the back of restaurants too! The queens were truly independent, creating their own performances with such passion. It was inspiring!
Speaking of inspiring, did I mention the stars of that show? Oh, the legends! I got to see Divine's The Female impersonator, a truly hilarious take on being "divine". John Waters is a true pioneer of camp cinema, I loved seeing him do his thing live!
*Divine was such an important part of my Drag Queen Education. * She was like a big sister of the queer community, her wild outfits, her hilarious, campy style, and that laugh!
And who can forget our fearless queen, RuPaul! This month in 1994, his hit single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)" was still soaring the charts. It was such a phenomenal moment, showing just how much drag had become part of mainstream pop culture. He was everywhere! He even got nominated for a Grammy that year. I still listen to that track!
And it’s not just about drag on the big stages - there was a drag boom in all areas of New York! There were queer discos everywhere – drag queens in their fabulous glory. From drag queen stand-up comedians in comedy clubs to trans performers, the energy was buzzing with a queer and liberating attitude.
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, darling!
In 1994, AIDS continued to devastate the queer community. I saw a lot of memorials for young, brilliant artists - it's heart-breaking, how many talented souls were lost. But through the heartbreak came resilience, and the drag community was the centre of this. They held fundraisers, awareness events and created vibrant communities where artists could be their true selves.
As my visit to 1994 drew to a close, I realized how much drag has changed over the years!
Back then, the art form felt so raw, more DIY and authentic. And don't get me wrong, drag queens today are incredibly talented and fearless! It’s amazing how much drag has blossomed, how it's become so mainstream, even going to Eurovision and being on our television screens daily!
But something special about 1994 - its unfiltered attitude, its fearless creativity, and it's fight to survive as a truly underground art form - that was truly unique.
I'm sure you're wondering about the fashion. What did I wear to such a momentous occasion?
Darling, naturally, I was rocking my magical, time-travelling pink tutu! It had a big fluffy white petticoat underneath, adding a delightful sense of poofiness! A little shimmer and shine from strategically placed rhinestones - you just can't have a pink tutu without a bit of sparkle! A cute pink cardigan, with a sprinkle of glitter to match, and some sassy pink lipstick!
My pink tutus - one for every occasion! You never know where the time machine will take me, so I keep them all neatly tucked away, ready for my next dragventure!
So that's all from me, my dear darlings!
Join me next month, as we venture back into the heart of Drag Queen History - you’re going to love it!
Don't forget to keep it fabulously fabulous and don’t forget to put on a pink tutu and unleash your inner queen! Until next time, my dears!
Find more blog posts on my website www.pink-tutu.com.
*P.S: Catch me performing in a glamorous drag show, fundraising for more amazing time-traveling tutus, next Friday night! You don't want to miss it! *
