Hello darlings, welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! It's Emma here, and as always, I'm absolutely buzzing to share my latest time-travel adventure with you. Now, buckle up your pink sequins and prepare for some fab-u-lous history. This month, my trusty pink tutu took me right back to 10th October, 2011, and let me tell you, it was a simply dazzling trip.
The 10th October, 2011! Imagine it, darlings - we were just coming out of the fierce, fabulous reign of the early 2010s, and oh my, what a glorious decade that was! Everyone, I mean everyone, had some major lip syncs under their belts, and we were all absolutely wild for fierce makeup looks and outlandish, camp fashion.
To truly absorb the atmosphere, I did as any self-respecting drag queen would and made a beeline for a drag show. And darling, the energy was positively electric. A heady mix of house music, bright colours, and some fierce lip-syncing queens had everyone going absolutely wild.
Of course, as an avid historian of all things drag, I was absolutely delighted to be experiencing the drag scene right as "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 3 was just reaching its climax. Those fierce queens were showing the world just how diverse and thrilling drag truly is, and their talents were inspiring all sorts of new drag stars!
Let me tell you, the scene back in 2011 was brimming with creative energy, and the queen's confidence and charisma were truly captivating. They embraced every style, every theme, and each queen really stood out from the crowd with their individual flare. It was truly exhilarating!
In fact, if you were a queen hoping to find some inspiration back in 2011, you could take your pick from some absolute drag titans. Bianca Del Rio was showcasing her fierce drag in Los Angeles. She was then fresh off the stage from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 6, and absolutely owning her style as a truly avant-garde drag performer!
The divine Jinkx Monsoon was also gracing us with her presence and iconic "Hava Nagila" act on her first tour - a trip around the United States! She would go on to win "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 5 the following year and cement her place as a truly incredible comedic performer.
I also saw some of the fabulous Drag Race season 7 contestants like Violet Chachki, Katya Zamolodchikova and Pearl slaying the stages. I mean, imagine being at a show and catching glimpses of future iconic queens on stage before they made history! Absolutely brilliant!
This era, my darlings, was also a crucial time for drag's international journey. While the United States was bubbling with fierce creativity, queens all over the world were breaking barriers and proving that drag is a truly global phenomenon.
From Europe to Asia and across the globe, drag was becoming a mainstream force.
Over in the UK, a drag ball was taking place in a famous Brighton club and, let me tell you, those queens were absolutely turning it out in a celebration of beauty, artistry, and true LGBTQ+ empowerment.
That night in Brighton, queens like Divine (no relation to the divine Ms. Divine, bless her soul!), who would later go on to join "RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” in season 4, were absolutely stunning the crowd with their fabulous performances. This event just highlights how UK drag was becoming a global force in itself!
These are just a handful of highlights from the glorious drag scene on 10th October, 2011. It was truly an exciting and monumental moment for the history of drag. And guess what, darlings?
It wasn't just drag! This day was also notable for other exciting developments. A brilliant fashion designer named Alexander McQueen held a retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring some truly extraordinary garments.
Now, Alexander McQueen was a visionary when it came to creating fashion, and I am a huge fan of his work - so much drama, so much beauty, it just spoke to the avant-garde and fierce side of drag! He had this way of creating costumes that seemed to almost come alive! Just stunning!
This exhibition served as a true testament to the incredible power of creativity in all its forms. And let's not forget, darling, creativity is at the heart of drag! Just like Alexander McQueen, we drag queens love nothing more than transforming ourselves and inspiring others.
This month's journey to 2011 left me so inspired by the talent, creativity and inclusivity of the drag scene at the time. But honestly, it also reminded me just how far we’ve come! Just thinking back to 2011 makes me realise how drag is truly one of the most powerful forces in LGBTQ+ history and culture, and how exciting it is to see its growth!
Remember, darling, the world of drag is never ending, and our stories are woven through history. Keep exploring, keep celebrating, keep pushing boundaries, and most importantly, keep your pink tutus twirling.
Catch you next month darlings! Love always, Emma xox
