Hello, my darling darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time traveller, bringing you another juicy dose of drag history from the hallowed halls of www.pink-tutu.com. Buckle up, buttercups, because this month we’re jetting back to January 2008, and oh my stars, it's a whopper!
Now, let's be honest, darling, a lot can happen in a year, let alone a decade. But 2008? My, oh my, it was a whirlwind. And let’s just say that back then, my pink tutu wasn't as readily accepted as it is now, although even back then, a girl can dream, can't she?
We all know a good outfit can transport you to a different world. My special pink tutu does that too, but instead of a glittery club, I find myself catapulted through time! Oh, the places we’ve been, the queens we've met, the fashions we’ve devoured!
So, what were the darlings doing back in 2008? Let's dust off the sequin-studded scrapbook and dive in!
Across the Pond in America:
First stop, the USA, the land of dreams, burgers, and... oh yes, drag! This month in 2008, the fabulous RuPaul was just wrapping up season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. That’s right, my loves, we’re talking Sharon Needles, the inimitable Jiggly Caliente, and of course, the winner herself - the magnificent, the outrageous, the unforgettable: Jinkx Monsoon!
Imagine, darlings, watching this now iconic season back then. You would’ve felt the very fabric of drag history changing before your eyes. It was an explosion of personality, a kaleidoscope of talent. You see, Jinkx’s victory was ground-breaking. It signalled a shift in how audiences viewed drag, allowing it to be something more than just an over-the-top spectacle - a glimpse into real stories, complex emotions, and genuine artistry.
Meanwhile, on a grander scale, the world was being introduced to Milk - a powerhouse of visual art and a true innovator within the queer world. 2008 saw him taking the artistic world by storm, collaborating with the legendary photographer David LaChapelle. Remember those incredible and powerful pictures? Well, darling, they really blew minds, cementing Milk's place as a pioneer, someone who could seamlessly blend performance, art, and drag into a visual and conceptual masterpiece.
Now, to further tantalize your senses, 2008 saw a resurgence of another fabulous Drag Race queen - Manila Luzon. Imagine her on Project Runway, looking fabulous and stunning! A true queen, she effortlessly traversed the worlds of fashion and drag, proving that one doesn’t need to be locked in a single box to achieve success. You go, girl!
And you know what else? Remember Bianca del Rio – that hilarious, sassy, and oh-so-fabulous queen? She was just starting out back in 2008, wowing audiences with her wit and incredible looks in the drag scene of New York City. Little did she know that she’d become one of the biggest queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race a few years down the line, wowing audiences all over the world.
Across the Channel in London:
Oh, London! Where better to soak up the energy of drag than in this vibrant city? My time-travelling tutu transported me straight into the heart of a burgeoning scene back in 2008, filled with up-and-coming talents, underground nightclubs, and some truly legendary drag shows.
London’s The Glory nightclub, a place for performance and activism, was buzzing with some truly special queens. They were paving the way for drag to be more than just a nightclub entertainment - it was a platform for art, for activism, for community, and above all, for freedom of expression. And you know what, darling? It truly felt like the whole city was taking notice, embracing drag as something to be cherished and celebrated, just as we should be.
A Global Drag Party:
Oh, and darling, you haven’t seen anything yet! This is when the real fun began. Because 2008, even though I couldn't wear my pink tutu with as much confidence then as I do now, saw a truly exciting wave of drag talent starting to emerge across the globe, taking centre stage, from Russia to the Netherlands and beyond. It truly was a new era, where the art form wasn't restricted by borders.
And the very same energy that drove me to time-travel, my love, the need to embrace bold fashion and wear a pink tutu with absolute unapologetic joy? You could feel that all over the world. Drag queens everywhere were using their performance as a powerful voice for change, pushing boundaries and celebrating self-expression like never before.
And that, my sweet darlings, is where I really came into my own. Not that this happened overnight. Like a glamorous caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly, my journey towards confident self-expression began a long time ago. Remember, darling, a truly stunning transformation takes time and dedication!
That’s why, even back in 2008, I knew that I had to follow my passion for drag and use my own style - yes, my very special pink tutu - to spread the love of drag and share a piece of myself with the world. After all, a life without a little bit of sparkle and joy just isn't a life at all!
So, until next time, darling darlings! Remember, keep those tutus bright, those hearts full of sparkle, and always embrace the beautiful mess of being yourself.
And please, visit my website at www.pink-tutu.com, and follow me on all social media. Because a girl's gotta find her way in this big, glamorous world, one pink tutu at a time!
Your eternally stylish friend,
Emma 💕✨
