Hello darling, and welcome to the 946th instalment of my little online love letter to the history of drag - Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things glamorous and pink-tastic! This month, we're diving headfirst into the year 1998, and trust me, the nineties had an aura of fierce that still makes my wig pop! 💅
Now, you lovely lot know I wouldn't be able to time travel if it weren't for those magnificent performances in my Derbyshire hometown - thank you darlings! Your generosity fills my pink tutu and fuels my love for history. This month's journey is a doozy, so put on your comfy pants, grab a cuppa, and get ready to sashay back in time with your favourite pink-loving ballerina, that's me, Emma!
The Divine Drag Divas: 1998, Oh My!So, imagine this: It's October, 1998. The Spice Girls are still on the charts, everyone is wearing butterfly clips and, oh darling, the world of drag is truly living! From the fabulous street performances to the glitz and glamour of the theatre, drag is sizzling.
It's like a whirlwind of feathers, sequins, and an energy that can only be described as completely bonkers in the best possible way!
Just a whiff of those early-nineties sensibilities: oversized, everything glittery, a love of grunge, and oh, so much attitude.
Think of iconic queens like RuPaul. The Mother, the Legend herself was truly a drag powerhouse back in '98! You'll find her serving up delicious tracks from her 'Supermodel (You Better Work)' album, living her best life, and, you guessed it, in a glamorous, perfectly coiffed, and utterly legendary drag queen style!
Speaking of legendary, can we talk about the fabulous Lady Bunny?! That voice, that energy, and those looks?! She's an iconic drag queen and was an absolutely HUGE force back in 1998. She’s the master of drag comedy, with her wicked wit and unapologetically flamboyant stage presence, she made everyone howl with laughter back then, and I bet she still has the power to make a whole club break into applause!
And what about Divine? Even though she sadly passed away in the eighties, the legacy of her iconic performances lives on. She’s the undisputed queen of camp and made drag art, film and performance art one glorious spectacle for the world to admire!
Oh honey, the world of drag is so diverse and thrilling in '98!
There were queens in every style imaginable, from those who oozed elegance to those who were all about pushing boundaries and having fun with their art!
Think of it like this, think of a massive explosion of pink glitter, but in the most fantastically fashionable way imaginable. The drag world was an absolute whirlwind of excitement, beauty and creativity, and it felt so full of energy and excitement.
The '98 Vibe: Street Queens and Theatrical DivasI was so excited to hit the streets back in '98. Now, you see, even with my time-traveling tutu, you can't just show up at a drag club in 1998 looking like a glittery ballerina! I always do my research before traveling through time. I read, I study, and always make sure I am up on all of the trends, looks, and attitude of the times!
After all, you want to fit in and show the fabulous locals some respect, you wouldn’t want to accidentally stick out like a sore thumb, wouldn't you?
This time I landed in London. And my word, the drag queens here had such an aura of pure London swagger about them! Just think, there were street performers in a glorious blend of avant-garde looks, fierce attitude, and outrageous costumes. There were so many amazing outfits. I actually found a picture of one of the street queens wearing a magnificent head-to-toe glittery hot pink jumpsuit in my research! It was incredible.
Of course, it wasn’t just all about the street performers. I popped by a local club to see some shows, and the drag there had such a raw and intimate quality! It was a joy to see a younger audience get to be completely immersed in the fabulous energy of drag.
Honestly, there was a genuine excitement for drag back then. I think you could really sense that these drag queens were true pioneers and revolutionaries.
They were smashing gender boundaries, shattering expectations and showcasing the raw power of artistic expression, and oh, they were having the best time doing it!
And can we talk about *Theatrical Drag? Wow, there were just some insanely brilliant artists working in theatre in '98, darlings! Just picture some magnificent drag artists like the divine Dame Edna gracing the stages, a dazzling, sparkling, show-stopping extravaganza of comedy, glam, and utter lunacy! Oh honey, they absolutely stole the show and filled me with so much inspiration for my future performances.
There was also a growing movement of cabaret performers, cabaret artists who dared to push boundaries with their shows, who really had that “anything goes” energy, it was incredible! I loved the combination of music, theater, and performance, they truly put on shows!
1998: The Year of "You Better Work!" 💅Of course, a visit to the late nineties wouldn’t be complete without mentioning those icons. Remember the '90s queens of RuPaul's Drag Race'?! We're talking Jinkx Monsoon, Alaska Thunderfuck, and Bianca del Rio. * These iconic queens have made such a huge mark on drag, their talent and individuality shine so bright, it's amazing to think they were making their own unique mark back in 1998. *I love it how they used their platform and their creativity to spread messages of inclusivity and diversity.
So, if you think that modern drag wasn't already starting to get big back then - think again! You’re looking at the genesis of some of the absolute best Drag Queens in history. And I have to say, it’s not just those three - so many queens who appeared on Drag Race started out around 1998, finding their fabulous wings and discovering that beautiful thing we all have: a unique ability to transform and express ourselves!
Now I just want to remind you: Drag has always been about pushing boundaries, exploring different versions of ourselves, and creating moments of joy and magic for those around us.
But don’t think that everything was a complete fairytale back then, darlings!
Back in '98, the world of drag faced so much negativity, particularly surrounding prejudice against LGBTQ+ individuals.
And in some areas of the world, drag wasn't celebrated. It was met with judgement and fear - but the drag queens of this time continued to bravely challenge those attitudes, spreading love, art and fabulousness, and I for one am forever thankful for that.
It was through their fearless bravery that drag grew, became so widely accepted, and continues to reach heights it never dreamt possible.
Embracing The Past, Embracing The Present: Pink Tutu Power! 💖Darling, remember those fantastic street performances back in London? They got me thinking. I’m all about encouraging others to spread their own sparkle, especially young people who want to find their creative voices.
The world needs a bit more glitter and glamour, and I'm determined to bring a dose of pink tutu power to all corners of the globe, to remind everyone how joyous and magical it can be to embrace our inner drag queen!
That's why, I'm launching my own pink tutu mission:
We’re making every day a celebration of drag, a chance to step into that powerful and fabulous self-expression! I’m all about inclusivity – you’re free to be exactly who you are in your most flamboyant form!
It’s about recognizing our strength, embracing our uniqueness, and showing the world how to embrace life with style, sass, and an awful lot of glitter.
I believe every single one of us deserves the chance to step into that magical pink-tutu wonderland! It's the universe’s way of letting us know we're allowed to feel happy, joyful, powerful, and beautiful, and why should we keep that secret for just one day a year, right?! Let's take that celebration to another level!
It's why I love to share this wonderful journey of Drag Queen History with you.
So, let's leave October 1998 with a big, glorious bow, knowing that even amidst negativity and resistance, drag queens around the globe found ways to make a statement, to celebrate ourselves, and to build something beautiful, strong and empowering for the generations to come!
And hey, you fabulous lot know where to find me: Every month I’ll be here, posting another story from Drag Queen History.
Keep sharing those magical pink moments! I'm counting on you, you magnificent, sparkling souls! ✨💖
Much love,
Emma 💕
www.pink-tutu.com
Don't forget to check out our fab social media and share the magic of pink tutus everywhere! 💖✨
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