Hiya darlings! Your girl Emma here, ready to whisk you away on another dazzling, time-traveling adventure in my fabulous pink tutu. Today, we're zipping through the portal back to September 2000 ā oh honey, can you believe it's been over twenty years since we were rocking out to Britney Spears and shuffling to Christina Aguilera? Honestly, the years fly by when youāre having this much fun.
And where else would a queen be in September 2000 than in the dazzling world of drag? Weāre heading to New York City for some divine entertainment. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like catching a drag show in NYC! The energy is electric, the performances are top-notch, and the fashion, well, let's just say it's always fabulous. You know me, I adore a good costume and, baby, New York City drag queens always serve the looks!
Speaking of serving looks, letās talk about the outfits! September 2000 was all about embracing bold colors, sassy sequins, and statement hairstyles. We were loving everything from fierce club kid styles with holographic fabrics and feather boas, to that glam rock aesthetic with glitter galore and a hint of goth, perfect for a dark room rave. Of course, you canāt forget the all-time drag classic ā a show-stopping gown with a killer train. Honestly, you couldnāt throw a glitter ball in September 2000 without landing it in a sequined garment. It was truly a glorious time for all of us queens.
My fabulous tutu-time travelling took me to The Pyramid Club, legendary for its underground vibes and edgy performances. You can find so many famous drag queens who honed their talents here! Can you believe Divine, RuPaul and Lady Bunny all performed here, amongst other big names? Now thatās some history! It truly is a mecca for drag. Oh, and letās not forget about the legendary Wigstock. I mean, just imagine, queens of all shapes, sizes and ages, gathered together, celebrating life, music, and self-expression, it was truly magnificent.
Another event that blew my mind, was a drag revue that took place at the very stylish nightclub called Splash in Chelsea. Oh honey, I am telling you, this show was iconic. You see, I've always loved those legendary balls - the kind of big costume spectacles that capture the essence of drag and really let the queens show off their creativity. The themes ranged from a glamorous "Evening Gown" to a punk rock āTrash Bagā, which was certainly, shall we say, an inventive display of artistic ingenuity! You see, drag has always been more than just looking fabulous, itās about challenging the norms, pushing boundaries and expressing yourself, in your most authentic way.
That said, whilst being a Drag Queen in 2000, was not the cakewalk it is now. The girls had to work hard to break down stigma and stereotypes to gain respect and build acceptance. A huge shout out to the fearless pioneers, the groundbreakers who paved the way for future queens. The early 2000ās brought so much excitement, change, and progress. We witnessed an amazing explosion of visibility for LGBTQ+ communities through films like "The Laramie Project," TV shows like "Queer as Folk", and incredible music, featuring out and proud queer artists like the legendary Melissa Etheridge and k.d. lang. You see, with every groundbreaking move, came greater opportunities for Drag to flourish, not just on stage, but across all areas of society!
I really encourage all my pink tutu darlings to read up on the legendary Queens of the early 2000ās like, well, the wonderful RuPaul of course. Oh honey, Ru was at the height of her fame, serving you sassy looks and catchy music. And if you didn't hear her hit "Supermodel (You Better Work)ā, well then, you were missing out. Another Queen to watch in 2000, was the phenomenal and uniquely sassy, Lady Bunny. Now, you might recognize her from a few TV appearances, she certainly knows how to work the room, and bring the house down! It was so exciting to see all these amazing queens breaking barriers, smashing expectations and inspiring an entire generation of queens and drag enthusiasts, in the process.
Being from Derbyshire myself, the heart of England, and spending all this time exploring Drag Queen history around the world, it really struck me just how much drag has impacted so many, everywhere you go! The stories from each era and location are truly unique, and they all combine to give us this vibrant, incredible, constantly evolving art form we call drag. Now darling, thatās not to say, Drag doesn't come without challenges. I mean, letās be honest, sometimes we are made to feel ostracized, criticized or even targeted. But, donāt worry darling, we have found amazing ways to overcome these challenges, like showing off our brilliance, our beauty, and most importantly, using our voices to advocate for our rights!
Remember girls, the fight for equality continues! Our collective power, whether on stage, on screen, in our local community, or, in my case, through this time traveling tutu, makes a difference! Thatās what makes us truly fierce and phenomenal! And now, darlings, as we wave goodbye to September 2000, I encourage you to step out in your own dazzling, bold fashion. Go big, embrace your true colours, have fun with it. And never forget, thereās a pink tutu out there waiting for every queen, you just have to find it!
Donāt forget to keep your eyes glued to pink-tutu.com for my next adventure! Until next time, darlings, keep those pink tutus shining!
XOXO
Emma
