Hiya darlings,
It’s Emma, your favourite tutu-tastic time traveler, and welcome to post number 913 of my #DragQueenHistory blog! January 1996, a glorious year full of sparkling sequins and fabulous frocks. It’s a time for looking ahead, dreaming big, and most importantly, embracing all things pink, and all things TUTU!
Now, where on earth did my magical pink tutu take me this month? Well, darling, hold on to your feather boas – this time we’re heading to the Big Apple! New York City, land of the free, home to fabulous drag queens, and, of course, my dearest friend and fellow drag icon, RuPaul!
(Now, darling, before we embark on this magnificent journey, let's have a quick cuppa and a slice of Victoria sponge! You can find me on Insta at @pinktututimetraveler - don’t forget to follow!)
New York was already buzzing with the vibrant, exciting world of drag. We're talking legendary performers like Divine, Lady Bunny, and, oh my goodness, the absolute iconic Sylvia Saint, all queens who paved the way for the drag we see today. It was truly the golden age of drag. I simply had to experience this glorious time, so off I twirled in my pink tutu!
(My darling, did you know that Divine, a drag icon for generations, actually came from Baltimore, Maryland, but moved to NYC! What a fab tale, right?)
Now, my dear, 1996 New York City was an explosion of creative energy, with fabulous drag balls taking place everywhere. The Balls! Darling, let’s take a moment to appreciate these wondrous events where drag was not only embraced but celebrated! Each one a display of outrageous, dazzling costumes and a dazzling celebration of expression! (This year was the beginning of the “The Legendary Children of the Ball”, a fabulous underground scene full of extravagant drag – just imagine, all that fashion and glitz! Divine.)
My highlight of this trip? Well, darling, imagine the scene! It was a drag performance like no other - I stumbled upon a legendary, world-renowned, underground venue that's still beloved to this day! (Just take my word for it - if you’re ever in NYC you absolutely need to find it… wink wink.) I was practically levitating, completely mesmerized. It was a real-life performance of pure art and, darling, all those tutus… simply stunning!
*(Yes, it's none other than that legendary NYC institution – the Pyramid Club! Oh, the stories we could tell... Let's just say it was the hot spot for all the legendary queens like Divine, RuPaul and the truly wonderful Lady Bunny. Pure drag heaven. ✨) *
Now, dear, imagine me sitting in this glorious bar, sipping on a pink lemonade and watching the most iconic, absolutely magnificent performance - it was drag royalty right before my very eyes! These were the legends, the innovators, the queens who helped shape drag and set it on its brilliant journey! And oh, how we should all give thanks!
**(Don't worry darlings, I snapped plenty of photos - you can find all the glorious vintage delights on my website! www.pink-tutu.com )
So, darlings, that’s it from your resident pink tutu time traveler! My heart is still aflutter from the glorious events of January 1996! Just a reminder to never, ever let anyone dim your sparkle! Remember to celebrate the history of drag, the pioneers, and the amazing queens who came before us, inspiring us with their beauty, grace, and glamour!
I'll see you next month!
XOXO
Emma
