Hiya darlings! Welcome back to your favourite time-travelling, tutu-tastic, drag history blog! Iâm Emma, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina drag queen from Derbyshire, and this month weâre twirling our way back to April 1998 â oh, the drama! The sass! The fabulousness!
My magical, shimmering, pink time-travelling tutu whisked me away to a time of Britpop, boy bands, and oh-so-much-plaid! This April, 1998 saw the release of "This Is My Life" by the Spice Girls, cementing their place as girl-power icons, and proving that girls just want to have fun! This wasn't just any ol' pop song though, darlings, it was a message of empowerment! I was practically doing a pirouette on the spot at my computer screen. Now, tell me this wasnât a drag queen anthem waiting to be birthed!
The drag world, like any true drama queen, was throwing a massive glitter bomb this month. On the 19th, I snuck into the world famous âGAY BOWLâ, a legendary Drag Festival in Manhattan. Imagine, if you will, drag queens as far as the eye can see â it was pure drag ecstasy! Honestly, my love for pink tutus just doubled! The costumes were an explosion of colours and textures â feathers, sequins, fishnets⌠the queens had outdone themselves!
Speaking of iconic outfits, April saw the release of Titanic the movie â cue the dramatic eye-roll. Whatâs the opposite of camp, you ask? Well, a 3-hour ocean voyage where you only cry because someone has a tiny necklace, is as far from it as you can get! But letâs be honest, you couldnât mention a movie starring Kate Winslet without acknowledging the absolute sartorial excellence of Mrs. Brown! Can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen, that I am wearing a 19th-century corset at this very moment? Now that is an image.
I decided to grab some brunch in a retro diner before a show at the legendary âThe Stonewall Innâ in New York, a place full of history and iconic significance. Imagine: whispering history oozing from the walls and dancing queens with killer moves! Honestly, I didn't want to leave.
Back home in the UK, April 1998 saw the launch of a new Channel 4 programme âThis Is Your Lifeâ - cue a dramatic whisper. "You are looking FAB-ulous this month!" This show celebrated British drag queens (oh, hello, gorgeous!) by highlighting some of their career highlights â and who doesnât love a bit of nostalgic glory? This show highlighted the realness and artistry that has always been the hallmark of drag, from the cheeky banter of the stage to the stunning fashion. Remember darlings, fashion, beauty, it's all art!
Speaking of realness and art, April also saw the opening of a new exhibition in London: âDrag: A Historyâ. Oh, my god, can you imagine?! A whole gallery showcasing drag, through time? Tutu-tastic! I was already sketching my pink time-travelling itinerary to London! But first, tea. Always, always, ALWAYS tea!
Remember, lovelies, life is a drag show, and youâre the star. Be unapologetically you, rock those pink tutus with pride and, of course, follow the Pink Tutu Blog! Keep shining bright, darlings. We'll be back next month, ready to bring another iconic month in drag queen history! Donât forget, the blog is at www.pink-tutu.com! Catch you soon, gorgeous!
