Hello my darlings, it's Emma, your fabulous pink tutu-wearing time traveller, and welcome to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com, where we delve into the magical, sparkly history of drag! This month, my trusty pink tutu whisked me away to August 2001, a time ripe with iconic drag moments, fashion revolutions, and a healthy dose of sass. Let's put on our sparkly eye shadow, darling, and step back into this dazzling time warp!
Oh, but first! A bit of a shout out to the Derbyshire drag scene! You know I'm always rooting for my fellow East Midlands queens! Did you catch "Divas of Derbyshire" at The Spotted Cow last weekend? Absolutely fabulous! We need more of those kind of events, you know? More drag in Derbyshire! Now back to the time machine...
So, as you all know, time travelling is a very tiring business, especially with my penchant for tutus that just wouldn't stop spinning. Honestly, they get everywhere. But I digress. August 2001! The energy of the drag world was simply electric, bursting with creativity and new, groundbreaking performers.
First off, I sashayed right into the heart of New York City, the Mecca of drag, where, darling, the drag scene was simply sizzling! RuPaul's Drag Race Season 1 had just wrapped, crowning the first ever drag superstar, Chad Michaels! I mean, talk about iconic! I can’t even believe I'm still wearing this same pink tutu after being there when that history happened. But then again, it is magic, this pink tutu. Now, my darlings, I know I shouldn't compare queens, but the real winner, in my opinion, was the show itself! It launched a whole new era of drag queens, putting them in the limelight, breaking down barriers and making the whole world sit up and take notice. We needed a show like that back then, and, oh, how we still need it! Now excuse me while I throw on a pair of leopard print stilettos and shimmy my way down the catwalk.
I made a pitstop in London, too, which was brimming with its own drag magic! Divine (RIP, my beautiful darling!) was just beginning her reign as London's premier drag cabaret star at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern! You wouldn't have caught me dead anywhere else, but there I was, dancing with the rest of the excited, glamorous crowd, bathed in the glorious technicolor spotlight. Her sharp wit and iconic stage presence, along with the stunning choreography and costume designs, just had everyone on the edge of their seats. Divine was a force of nature on the stage! That night I learnt a valuable lesson in being daring. I was still very much a "ballet tutu" girl, so to see her daring looks with feathers, sequins and body paint made me think, you know, "why not?" And from that night forward I added some of her fashion inspiration to my "tutu-pertoire!" You just can’t go wrong with a little bit of drama, you know what I mean, darlings?
However, my absolute highlight, and it takes a lot to top Divine at her peak, was the "Queen of the Night" pageant at The Phoenix in Brighton, where we were blessed with a dazzling spectacle! A gaggle of local queens was ready to compete for the ultimate crown, each more spectacular than the last. What a display of creative talent and captivating beauty, darling! I’ve never seen so many sparkly pink feathers! It really reinforced why Brighton is, and will forever be, the vibrant epicentre of drag in the UK.
Oh! Brighton reminds me of my "tutu-mission," of course! You all know, as devoted readers of this fabulous blog, that my dream is for everyone to embrace the pink tutu! In Brighton, I spotted several drag queens, dare I say diva queens strutting their stuff in hot pink feather boas! They just get it! I was able to persuade a couple of queens to add pink tulle skirts to their wardrobes for a more ballet-inspired look...which I mean, darling, you know this is what it's all about! Sharing my love for tutus. A shared passion is just the most wonderful thing, and seeing these fabulous women in their tulle tutus with a dash of sparkle, oh, I felt a swell of pride! It was almost, almost, more fulfilling than time-travelling!
By the end of August 2001, my darling, I was positively drained, but utterly delighted! It was truly an electrifying month to be a part of the vibrant drag scene. I simply cannot wait to see what other surprises await in future time travels, though honestly, after all the sequins, sparkles and feathers, a little break to buy more pink tutus might be in order! I've got a few ideas swirling around my mind right now. Think glittery, fluffy, and… a little bit punk rock? The pink tutu has some secrets, and a story to tell.
Until next time, darlings! Keep those tutus high, and remember to always be the diva you were born to be!
XOXO,
Emma,
Your Favourite Pink Tutu Time Traveller!
This blog post is for entertainment purposes only, please consult trusted historical sources for a complete overview of the events of August 2001.
