Hello, darlings! It's your fabulous friend Emma here, ready to whisk you away on a delightful voyage through time, all in the name of our beloved pink tutus, of course! This month, we're hopping back to 2000, a year overflowing with glorious drag!
Remember those golden days when pop culture was buzzing with queens like RuPaul who, you know, literally created the whole “Drag Race” thing, and the iconic Divine continued to be our all-time drag idol? It was a time when drag was beginning to explode, bursting out of the nightclubs and onto the mainstream stage, and I was absolutely ready to get my sparkle on.
Now, onto our journey back to the past: I hopped into my time-travelling pink tutu (which, by the way, has been upgraded for this trip – think glittering sequined layers with feather accents!), and whoosh! 2000! My goodness, the first thing I noticed was the fantastic vintage shopping! Think: oversized sunglasses, floral patterns, and enough denim to dress every drag queen on Earth. Just heavenly!
I popped into a vintage clothing store, and imagine my delight when I found a perfectly pristine pink tutu. It’s going to be a fantastic addition to my already stunning collection – you simply can't have too many, darlings!
Drag Queens & Performances: In the UK, 2000 was seeing a blooming of independent drag nights across the country! From small, smoky underground venues in London, to the bustling nightclub scene of Manchester, drag was on fire! It was so inspiring!
Oh, I absolutely had to see a show! So I did! There were the queens from The Only Ones, a Brighton-based collective. A truly fabulous and innovative group, they pushed the boundaries with their comedic and provocative performances. I absolutely fell in love with their bold use of fashion – imagine, sheer black fabrics and bold makeup! Pure artistry!
Meanwhile, across the pond, things were starting to get truly exciting! Drag Race wasn’t quite the international phenomenon it is today, but, on August 8, 2000, the legendary drag queen Divine was featured in the cult classic "Pink Flamingos," proving just how ahead of her time she truly was. A true drag icon, this film showcased Divine's incredible talent and fearless approach to drag, making her a legend. She became an inspiration to generations of queens – she proved you could be bold, unconventional and unapologetically fabulous!
And then there was RuPaul! This fabulous queen was gracing television screens all around the world with her fierce energy and larger than life persona! She’d just released her third album, "Queen of the Night" – which I absolutely love! So many brilliant anthems like “Supermodel (You Better Work!)”. You better believe I had that on repeat.
You know, I couldn't resist – I had to share the fabulous news of all this delicious drag with the whole world! So I dashed to the nearest payphone and called up the London office of The Pink Tutu, our very own Drag History Magazine! That little interview ended up being my first-ever mention! Such a momentous occasion, and what a blast from the past!
And just as I thought my adventure couldn’t possibly get any better – drumroll, darlings! - RuPaul's Drag Race premiered! August 14th, 2000! This incredible TV show opened doors for drag queens across the world. And, wouldn't you know, it even featured some absolute fashion darlings who were, as they say, just the start of something big – a generation of stars, ready to take on the world!
Speaking of stars, don't you think my time travelling adventures are getting more exciting by the month? I think I am officially the best-dressed time traveller in the world. (And with all that vintage shopping, who could blame me?!)
But it's time for me to travel to the next exciting time! Remember, darlings: *drag is an art form that demands expression, individuality, and an absolute devotion to pink tutus! *
Until next time! Stay fabulous and wear those pink tutus loud and proud!
Love,
Emma xx
P.S. Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for all your Drag history news and my blog posts every month!
