Hello my darlings! Emma here, your pinkest, twirliest drag time traveller!
Itâs me again, and welcome to another episode of Pink Tutu Travels! Buckle up, lovelies, as we're going on a magical adventure back to March 1997! I can practically smell the hairspray and glitter in the air just thinking about it. Now, you wouldn't believe the fabulous fashion we're about to witness â hold onto your wigs, darlings, it's going to be a wild ride!
But first, darling, I simply must gush about this stunning pink tutu I'm wearing today. This shimmering pink number is positively bewitching. The tulle is so soft it practically melts against your skin, and the layers create a dreamy cloud of tulle-y goodness. This pink is like the inside of a bubblegum shop on a sunny afternoon, only, well, more elegant! Letâs just say it was well worth sacrificing half a dozen performances to afford. You see, drag life is a balancing act: perfecting those death-dropping splits while balancing your glitter budget! But my loves, nothing's more rewarding than having that flawless fashion for a showstopping entrance!
And speaking of fabulous entrances, can we just chat about how gorgeous drag was in 1997? Seriously, the glamour! Think perfectly feathered hair, shimmery gowns and the most exquisite contouring known to man! Itâs like a glorious explosion of fabulousness, and I wouldnât have it any other way.
Now, letâs talk about the happenings in March 1997 in the drag world. This is a date that truly sparkles, my darlings! It was the month where RuPaulâs Drag Race season 1 (okay, so it wasnât really called drag race then - just 'RuPaulâs Drag U!') was in the making! Now, before you go all âhuh?â, imagine a group of sassy drag queens going to school and learning some real life skills. You could say this season laid the foundation for all the sass and fabulousness we now see in our iconic reality shows. But, in 1997, the queens were strutting their stuff in nightclubs across the USA and Europe - paving the way for a new era of drag and inspiring all of us to take to the stage.
This is when drag queen culture really started to blossom. In New York City, the drag scene was booming at places like Boy Bar, where legends like Peaches Christ, Lady Bunny, and Miss Fame were setting the stage for the modern drag queen world as we know it. They weren't just performers, they were creating art.
Youâd be surprised how far drag queen performance had travelled too, right into mainstream culture! And not just through RuPaul's Drag Race â weâre talking 'Saturday Night Live,' music videos, magazine spreads⌠You name it! The glitter was everywhere! We really were living in a fabulous bubble of colour and sparkle. And it was divine.
And in London? Letâs just say "The Only Way is Essex" was drag back then â don't worry darling, I'm being very camp, it wasnât a reality show, not yet anyway, it was the place for Drag Nightclub Extravaganzas!
Now, here's the thing, darling. 1997 wasn't just about nightclubs â drag was in the streets, too! Imagine Pride marches overflowing with colours, a flamboyant parade of tutus, and every colour of the rainbow flying high! There was a genuine feeling of acceptance, a feeling of community⌠and I truly hope that never fades.
This is when I felt drag was at its most powerful, a cultural phenomenon like a shimmering comet â stunning and glorious, shining its light on acceptance, diversity, and celebrating self-expression in the most dazzling way possible!
Of course, I have to talk about the FASHION darling, Oh the fashion! This was a time for sequins galore! You'd find drag queens looking absolutely GORGEOUS in a multitude of fabulous fabrics, including velvet, lace, and leather. The makeup was all about that sharp, defined cat eye, with super shiny lips in all those stunning colours â and of course, a healthy dusting of glitter! They truly were, my dears, fashion icons.
My biggest drag inspiration back then was, well, everyone, frankly! But one star did shine so brightly it really stood out: Miss Divine, with that fabulous hair and those big olâ sparkling costumes⌠My oh my! To be a glamorous queen like her, now thatâs the ultimate dream!
And as we wind down my dear lovelies, it really is so interesting to look back on a time of such flamboyant evolution, right? What a fantastic time! But do you know what's truly the best thing about going back in time and exploring drag history? Well, besides finding a vintage pink tutu to rival those you'll see in a '50s film, of course⌠The legacy is that the whole drag world is a wonderfully collaborative space. Even now, everyone supports each other! Itâs all about celebrating our individuality, embracing the differences and using them to inspire one another. The glitter and gowns might change, the trends come and go, but one thing's for sure â the power and impact of drag will continue to flourish in the most wonderfully unpredictable ways, year after year.
And now my darlings, time for me to put this time travelling pink tutu away and back to the present time! Keep that love for the glitter and self-expression alive in your own fab way, and never be afraid to make a splash! Because in a world where weâre all looking for that extra sparkle in our life â drag, as weâve seen, can be that very magic!
Till next time lovelies, keep twirling, keep sparkling, and always, always, embrace the glitter,
Love and fabulousness,
Emma x
[This is just the beginning, the first half of the post. To finish the post, add a few more paragraphs in the style of the first part, further fleshing out her travel memories and her reflections on the history of drag during this month. You could consider including some further aspects like:]
- Personal reflection: Mention a specific drag show she witnessed during her journey or even the effect of going back in time had on her view of drag and performance today.
- Discussion about the evolution of makeup techniques: Make a mention of how makeup in 1997 differed from today (especially as a contrast to a current makeup trend), and what you'd find particularly beautiful about that time.
- Call for action: Encourage readers to visit local drag venues, embrace more vibrant colors and create their own glitter bombs! Let them know that drag's about having fun with your style, owning your uniqueness, and creating joy!
- Additional historic event or context: Mention other interesting drag-related news or happenings that took place in March 1997 that made the month a truly "fabulous" one!
I hope this helps get you started! Let me know if you want to expand on any of these ideas!
