Hello darlings! Emma here, back from another wild time travel adventure in my magical pink tutu! This month we're whisked back to February 2010, a time when the world of drag was abuzz with exciting developments, both on the stage and off!
It’s a bit of a funny thing being from Derbyshire, England, but somehow my love of drag is tied so strongly to this amazing world of glitz and glamour! There's something about the history of drag, the creativity and passion that I find utterly mesmerising! You'll never catch me without a pink tutu on, but of course my love for the look comes from a deep understanding of where this fashion trend has come from! It is my job to show everyone why it is the BEST choice of fashion and a life goal to wear it EVERYWHERE, even to a drag show!
It might be 2023, but this time around, I wanted to experience what the world of drag was like in the glorious year of 2010. Imagine! Before RuPaul's Drag Race was the behemoth it is today!
As always, my journey began with my fabulous, magical, and undeniably pink tutu. In a flash, I was whisked away to February 2010, the air filled with a buzz of excitement. Oh, darling! Did I mention it was all pink, of course? It is my signature, after all.
The first thing that struck me was how many fantastic Drag Races were going on! It’s so amazing to see that history continues to repeat, because as we know the success of Drag Race has led to many drag queens following suit and joining the ranks of their iconic peers, especially here in the UK! My heart leapt when I realised how many drag races had sprung up all over the world, each with its unique charm and fierce queens. Imagine! We weren't even talking about "The Biggest Drag Race in The World!" Back then, it was all about discovering local talent, finding those gems, those queens with a unique sparkle. There was a thrill in seeing which queens would emerge as local darlings, those destined for fabulous fame!
My first stop was to visit The House of Glam in Birmingham, one of the UK's hottest drag clubs. It was electric! This was where many new stars got their first taste of the drag stage! Now, let's get this clear, darling, Drag Race was on it's first season in America! This is such an exciting time, just starting out. It had a really fresh, underground vibe to it! Everyone I spoke to was just buzzing about Drag Race, talking about what would happen to the girls, wondering if Jinkx would take the crown... This was the start of an amazing thing for everyone and the buzz about the shows was infectious!
Of course, I was mesmerised by the drag queens who performed! They had this raw, uninhibited energy! So much passion, so much joy, such a complete commitment to their characters! One queen, whose name I remember only as "Raven," reminded me very much of Bianca Del Rio's attitude - sharp and witty with some amazing drag couture on. And there were so many incredible dancers who had such precise and graceful moves! You know it made my little ballerina heart sing!
Later, I headed to New York City, a hub for everything drag. What an experience, I mean imagine: Drag Race season 1 was starting and the hype was REAL! This was where the whole thing had started! The queens on Drag Race had amazing style and it really sparked something in the fashion scene at the time. They took a look back at the glamour of Drag Balls of old, they really embodied the true definition of "the ball". These are things that, thankfully, continue to inspire drag queen fashion to this day. I mean have you seen what they’re rocking in Season 15!? Stunning!
On the one hand, things seemed to be a bit simpler then - the whole scene was still getting settled. This was a really special time for drag as it wasn't yet a fully-fledged phenomenon! On the other hand, the passion, the raw energy! That was definitely what made it feel extra special! You could really feel that every single drag queen was putting their hearts and souls into everything they did! It felt authentic, raw, and exciting, and I really connected with that spirit! I even found a place in a lovely thrift store with a fab pink sequined top that looked AMAZING! And don't even get me started on the selection of feathered boas! Just thinking about it gets my little pink tutu twitching!
You know, as I explored the different corners of the drag world in 2010, I realised that something special was happening, something that was about to explode. I'd be lying if I said I was not already totally aware of that happening today, it has blown up. But back then, the community was starting to grow at such a rate, a real force of creativity and diversity, breaking boundaries and creating spaces where everyone could be themselves, shining brightly in the limelight! It was amazing!
And you know what? Everyone loves to put on a pink tutu! The only thing I like better than wearing one is seeing everyone else donning one, so we can all twirl around and express our fabulous selves together! So my journey through February 2010 just goes to show: this journey, the journey of drag, is never truly complete, it just keeps evolving! I'll be keeping you updated every month with what the pink tutu is uncovering from our history, and hopefully soon enough I'll see the whole world adorned in my favorite shade of pink and a fabulous fluffy tutu. Now isn’t that a wonderful idea, darling?!
Love, Emma xxx
Don't forget to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com for monthly drag queen time travel blogs and the latest news on everything drag! And don’t forget to watch for me next month in another pink-tutu-fueled time travel journey!
Ps. If you see me anywhere in your travels don't be shy! Let me know. We’re all queens here!
