Hiya darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels, your monthly dose of drag history with a sprinkle of glitter and a whole lotta pink. This month, weāre swirling through time to the very start of 2010! Buckle up, girlies, itās gonna be a campy, glamorous journey!
Now, I'm Emma, your fabulous Derbyshire drag queen who lives, breathes, and twirls for the pink tutu life. And my mission, should I choose to accept it, is to get everyone rocking a pink tutu. Because honestly, life is simply more fabulous with a frothy, tulle masterpiece gracing your derriĆØre.
Letās chat about 1st January, 2010. I remember it fondly ā a fresh start, a new year, and an abundance of fabulous drag on the horizon! In my sparkly time machine, my magical pink tutu whisked me to all the exciting corners of the drag world.
A World of Drag
The United States: The States was ablaze with drag talent back then! From New York Cityās iconic drag scene, to the underground queer spaces across the country, the drag scene was vibrant, wild, and always evolving. We saw powerhouse queens like Bianca Del Rio and Alaska Thunderfuck slaying the competition on RuPaul's Drag Race, while drag houses like House of Xtravaganza were creating iconic ballroom history. And the fabulous queens of the downtown scene were giving us avant-garde fashion, sharp wit, and powerful performances at places like The Pyramid Club. Oh, the glorious diversity and talent!
Canada: Up north in Canada, the drag scene was heating up. In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, we witnessed an eclectic mix of artistry and boldness. Queer nightlife venues were buzzing with fabulous queens performing all manner of drag - comedy queens making crowds cackle, glamorous theatrical queens wowing audiences, and powerhouse drag vocalists belting out show-stopping anthems. It was truly an exciting time to be a drag fan in Canada!
The UK: I wouldnāt be true to my Derbyshire roots if I didnāt highlight the UK! Here at home, we were experiencing a true renaissance of drag. The āalternativeā drag scene was gaining momentum ā think more burlesque, cabaret, and art performance mixed with some sassy British humour. The big London clubs like Heaven were alive with fabulous queer nightlife, and iconic venues like The Royal Vauxhall Tavern were continuing to nurture groundbreaking and subversive performance art. It was an electrifying era for drag, one full of creative energy and a celebration of all things unique and unconventional.
And then thereās me, strutting through the world of 2010 in my pink tutu! Imagine it ā me, dancing on a London stage, a shimmering pink cloud of tulle floating behind me, and the crowd going wild for my fabulousness!
I spent 2010 taking in all the drag, getting lost in the energy of the moment. I loved experiencing everything ā the glamour, the camp, the powerful storytelling, the raw emotion ā all wrapped up in the beauty of the art form.
Time to Reflect on the World of 2010 Drag
Looking back on this drag journey, Iām reminded of the power of drag. It was, and remains, a truly powerful expression of self and a rebellion against societal norms. It gives voice to the LGBTQ+ community, challenges traditional gender expectations, and most importantly, spreads joy, creativity, and laughter.
Iāll be back next month with more pink tutu adventures in #DragQueenHistory. Until then, stay fabulous, stay curious, and maybeā¦just maybe, think about sporting a pink tutu for a night. You might surprise yourself!
And donāt forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com ā I've got more photos, fun stories, and maybe even some fashion inspiration waiting for you there. Love you, love you, love you!
xx Emma
