Hello darlings! Itâs Emma here, your fabulous fashionista, time travelling from Derbyshire, England, right into your hearts and onto the dazzling, sparkly, history-making stages of the world!
April 2002⌠What a date, what a month! Imagine me, a shimmering vision in my trademark pink tutu, floating through the air like a ballerina with a passion for drag, a pocket full of glitter, and a head full of history. Let's dive into this incredible world, and find out what was shaking, what was shimmering, and what was making drag history back in the year 2002!
It's the 2000s darling! A new millennium, a whole new era of drag, and a time that will never, ever be forgotten. Remember those iconic queens of old? The ones who paved the way for every fierce, fabulous, and truly inspirational drag queen today? You betcha! Back then, we had fierce legends like RuPaul, making us sashay and shout, and Divine whose campy charm is still giving us all those fabulous life lessons, to Bianca Del Rio, bringing the funny and the fierce together in one iconic queen! We were in a golden age of drag, darlings.
But where did the magic begin? It began here, darlings, with our time machine, the pinkest, most shimmering tutu ever conceived, ready to whisk us through the annals of time. Oh, it twirls and shimmers!
New York City: The Hub of Drag
Right then, weâve landed in New York City, a hub of drag that would change the landscape forever. Drag has always been more than just fashion, honey; itâs about telling stories, breaking barriers, and celebrating individuality. Itâs about challenging expectations and making the world a little brighter, one sequin at a time!
Walking down the streets of NYC, I catch a glimpse of the "The Drag Queenâs Guide to Love and Beauty" poster! Oh, the irony, it was just out that very same year! This book would come to be such a powerful guide for drag queens everywhere, helping them with their art, makeup, hair and their confidence! You wouldnât see so many legendary queens today without that little dose of magic!
Let's venture inside the famous "The Pyramid Club". You see darling, it wasnât just about drag, it was about performance, art, and the expression of self! Back then, Iâd hear tales of legendary nights with Divine, with the Village People taking to the stage, and of course The Cockettes, who broke barriers with their blend of art, drag, and performance art! They were trailblazers in their time.
Los Angeles: Glamour and a touch of Hollywood magic!
My magical pink tutu has flown us to the heart of California, baby! And right into the iconic "The Roxy" club. You wouldnât believe the names who were seen here. The queen herself, RuPaul was performing here, showing the world the power of a fierce runway, and an attitude to match! She was taking the world by storm, paving the way for a new generation of queens! And honey, with Ru, came Lady Bunny. One look at Lady Bunny, and you just knew that she was in charge of having the absolute time of your life, baby! A hilarious drag queen with a flair for comedy, who broke those gender stereotypes like there was no tomorrow!
Just then, on my way to the "Hamburger Mary's", I spotted an icon⌠The iconic, legend herself, Divine! You know, this woman had that powerful aura around her that transcended just drag, and landed her in iconic movies like âHairspray.â We had some fun! We caught up, and we made plans to meet againâŚ
Oh, the world of drag back then, I can practically smell the perfume and the popcorn!
London: The Cradle of Creativity
Next, darling, we're heading across the pond, to my home, England! Now, London is where itâs at. That vibrant spirit, that love of theatrical expression, you just canât get enough of it, and in 2002, London was already blossoming with talent! The world famous, âThe Gloryâ, a club for all that is avant garde, eccentric and utterly beautiful! Here, on that stage, stood some truly exceptional queens, pushing those boundaries, taking it further! This place was the cradle for some of our best UK drag, and a melting pot of performance art and expression.
Letâs step outside for a moment. Walking through the streets of Londonâs Soho, darling, was like being swept away on a current of creativity and a sprinkle of magic! A few little secrets of this amazing place. "The Royal Vauxhall Tavern," an icon that had the biggest names of the UK drag scene take the stage! Now, you didnât just come for the queens and the glitz! You came for the performances, you came for the night! It was something that was always on my bucket list. And oh darling, you wouldâve had me on the dance floor all night!
Remember back in 2002, a little program called "Ladyfag" popped up! It was all about drag queens, it had their photos, it had their lives, and the best bit? It helped launch their careers and their platforms! Such a valuable resource for these up and coming, absolutely fabulous drag queens!
Worldwide Wonders!
Weâre taking our pink tutu to all the corners of the world. Letâs talk Sydney, darlings, a place that truly embraces the fabulousness! This was the era of âSydney Mardi Gras,â and trust me when I tell you this, itâs not your everyday Mardi Gras, baby! They come out, in full force! In costumes and elaborate styles, they paint the town pink and let everyone know theyâre here, theyâre ready and theyâre fabulous! You should be there, darling, trust me! Itâs such a party, so vibrant and beautiful, you could feel it, and you could get swept up in it all!
Now, we take a spin down to Rio de Janeiro, darlings! You can imagine, in those famous vibrant streets, where beauty, vibrancy, and art come together, a scene of such wonder. I can feel it! That samba spirit. These festivals and those extravagant carnivals were all about expressing yourself through fabulousness! And oh darlings, letâs not forget those costumes! Such vibrant colours, it made you dance with just the flick of a feather! The spirit was infectious! It's that magic that truly gets everyone in the world to come together and celebrate the world of drag!
A little Pink-Tutu Wisdom:
As my magical pink tutu gracefully glides us back home, a lot of these events you might only find snippets of on Youtube or through a story someone might tell. Now you might think⌠âWhatâs the purpose of all of this history?â You know, when it comes to fashion, the past is never truly over. Remember what designers tell you - there's a vintage element to everything, there's always a new spin on a classic design, thereâs inspiration everywhere!
This blog isn't just about tutus, darling, It's about embracing history, appreciating the legends, and staying true to ourselves! Because let's be real, even a timeless pink tutu deserves a little bit of a modern twist, wouldnât you agree? That's what I'm doing with the pink tutu. Iâm taking something timeless, and making it relevant today! Let's always remember, that true fashion comes from a story and it's those tales that make fashion fun!
Donât forget to check my next monthâs blog for more adventures from Pink-Tutu at www.pink-tutu.com. Now remember darlings, lifeâs a stage, go out there and steal the show! Love, love, love Emma xoxo
