#DragQueenHistory during 2003 09

Hiya darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing time traveler, ready to whisk you back to a fabulous September in 2003. Grab your tiaras, grab your feather boas, grab a cuppa, and get ready for a blast from the past – in the most glittery, glamorous way possible, of course!

As a true aficionado of all things drag, history always has me absolutely spellbound. And today’s journey, my dears, takes us to a period brimming with excitement. It's a time of fabulous transformations, iconic queens taking their places on the world stage, and some truly awe-inspiring fashion. We're talkin' about September 2003! Oh, darling, just writing about it makes me wanna shimmy!

So, where do I begin? The year 2003 was, shall we say, a time of "bold choices" in the world of fashion. You might see the likes of the Spice Girls struttin' the streets in their platforms and crop tops (a true throwback to the '90s). Remember Britney's schoolgirl getup? And let's not forget the rise of low-rise jeans and the controversial trend of the "baby tee" tucked into the waistband (that's a "hard pass" for me, babes!) But you know what? I've always said, fashion is cyclical, and if 2003 is any indication, everything is gonna be coming back in a flash! We just need to give it some time!

Meanwhile, as you might expect, my love affair with the tutu remains as steadfast as ever. Oh, darling, imagine the fun we're going to have today! Imagine the gorgeous tulle swirling around my legs as I go for a whirl in 2003 – that is my ideal form of transportation, you see!

Let’s dive into the world of drag, my little darlings. In the year 2003, we saw some absolutely fantastic transformations taking place across the globe! The UK scene was particularly bubbling! The legendary Divine was still serving some iconic looks – remember those bright orange wigs? - and you wouldn't catch a drag queen stepping out without a dash of sequins and feathers! Oh, my! It's just such a visual treat to re-experience it all. I am seriously having major stage envy!

But don’t just take my word for it, darlings, it’s time for a little peek into the time capsule. Now, while the world may not be buzzing with the accessibility of online content in the way it is today, the world was bubbling with exciting events - a reminder that fabulousness was everywhere, ready to be embraced by any of us with the guts to take it on.

Oh darling, you really have to make a stop to our very own London! Here, there was so much to see! We had everything from the glitterati in the West End theatres to the fabulousness in every pub. And, let's be honest, what would drag be without those pub performances?! Let's be clear: this wasn't some stuffy, upper crust business!

Take "The Glory," darlings, a fabulous haven for everything fabulous, the go-to for those who dared to dream in sequins and fishnets. It was a world full of raw, raw talent.

There were some absolute stars rising right before our eyes. Remember those famous, fun-loving London drag queen super groups "Drag Idol" and "The Scissor Sisters?" And just across the channel, France saw the rise of a queen by the name of "Miss Fame," the world just couldn't get enough! It seems our current generation of drag stars, like RuPaul and Bianca Del Rio, even have them as inspirations. So many icons and so much glam, I can't even cope!

The shows were packed with energy. Imagine those shows! There was music, laughter, lip-syncs... oh, I simply can't cope, I'm bursting with excitement. It feels like I just want to get out of my own time machine and go for a boogie. Now you're gonna get me started again on my time travel wish-list - you lot make my life way too difficult. It's ok, I know I'm gonna make a fabulous entrance into their show, but honestly, can you imagine if I could actually live this through?

Now, don’t get me wrong, darling, it’s not just the shows themselves that define this amazing period – It's the heart and soul of the community, the feeling that there was so much going on. Let's take it from those on the scene:

“We felt so empowered” said a local, Derbyshire queen, in a video released by local BBC Derby News on the 3rd of September. “We were really connecting with people, telling them ‘you're perfect just the way you are' - that was a big part of the scene!.”

And then there was an amazing club that went by the name of “Fabric” in the very centre of London! A drag club? My word! My head is spinning. How can one place have so much going on?! Imagine, a queen can strut through the doors, grab a few cocktails with her girls, and be ready to rock a legendary performance, just a step away from a fashion show that looked like it could have come straight out of "The Wizard of Oz"! But I promise, you darling, we are in a far more glamorous world today. Just wait until we take a peek into the fabulous trends...

It's no surprise, shopping for me was all about those must-have items - especially those shiny statement pieces for the show. My little tutu was a trusty sidekick, but what is a girl going to do about all these accessories. A great outfit isn't about the main show piece alone. Think of the detail darling! Those little details that make a real statement, you know what I'm saying?! We were absolutely obsessed with it!

Oh my goodness, and don't even get me started on shoes, I nearly swoon!

Imagine a girl grabbing a new pair of black patent, knee-high platform boots, or even a gorgeous pair of heels that glittered with a bit of bling? And you couldn’t leave the shops without picking up the latest sparkly handbags in rainbow shades of glitter or sequins, ready for a party of two!

So, you may be asking, where was it all happening, you little darlings? Where can we see those fashions and find those fabulous shops? Where are all those queens making magic happen? And how do I get a front-row ticket?! Well, don’t get too excited just yet because as you might expect - in the absence of Google maps and TikTok (which by the way darling, had no existence back then. No really! Try searching on Google yourself) - it’s quite hard to put my finger on these incredible spaces today.

But there was an amazing space by the name of “Camden Lock.” Have you ever heard of this one, darling? Imagine, you take a stroll through its open market space and see the trendiest fashion, the biggest collection of vintage clothes - oh it’s a must for any fabulous fashion queen who’s making a big entrance! The best part is, you could just browse all the lovely fashion on offer - all for a great price too! It was like our version of a very trendy Primark back in those days - you could find anything and everything for an affordable price! You didn’t need to be a celebrity to make a show-stopping entrance, darling! And you still don’t!

Oh darling, I just adore reminiscing about that era. Can you believe I am a little nostalgic about that fabulous period! And even though time moves on, so many things have changed. But remember, drag and all things fabulous is always here for us. So keep on rocking your sequins and feathers, darlings, and never be afraid to let your inner fabulousness shine. It’s in the heart, you see, not in the time!

Just remember what they said: Life is about living it, you know!

And speaking of living it! What has your journey been like? Leave me a comment! And be sure to join me next month for my next fantastic adventure, it’s going to be a blast, my darling! But until next month…

Your very own Emma in Pink www.pink-tutu.com