Hiya darlings! It's your favourite tutu-tastic time traveller, Emma, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com! This month, we're dipping our toes into a very special date - November 11th, 2011. But first, let's talk sequins and savings, darling! I've been performing my socks off in the Derbyshire drag scene, which is a riot! Just last week, I even wowed the crowd with my âSugar Plum Fairy Goes To Glastonburyâ routine (spoiler alert, it involved glitter cannons!). The cash I made from those shows, coupled with my little savings from selling vintage tulle at the local market (did you know, a few tweaks can turn grannyâs curtains into a divine tututu?!) has funded this month's time travel extravaganza, because darlings, we are going international!
The sparkly whispers in the air, they said Germany was calling. So I threw on my lucky pink tutu (the one with the sequins that spell "OMG!" in neon pink), packed a suitcase full of sparkly essentials (you never know when a fellow drag queen needs an emergency feather boa, right?), and popped the time travel switch on my magic pink tutu. And voilĂ ! Itâs like poof, November 11th, 2011! The air crackles with anticipation for a legendary night in Dusseldorf.
Now, before we get into the drag spectacle of the decade, let's have a quick chat about 2011 itself. In this year, dear reader, we saw the dawn of a new era in drag. On the worldwide stage, "RuPaul's Drag Race" was already shaking up the scene, season 3 had just finished with Raja, the âQueen of All Queensâ taking the crown! A Queen, no less! Drag was gaining popularity, and drag balls were coming into their own, with fierce performers from all walks of life and identities joining the glamorous battleground of fashion, beauty, and fierceness.
The night's energy in Dusseldorf was palpable, and I was ready for a performance explosion. Now, imagine this: neon lights, pulsating beats, a crowd buzzing with anticipation. I walk into "Das Bunker" - a club pulsating with music, drenched in darkness, where the crowd is electric with the anticipation of seeing the infamous and spectacular drag artist âBarbie Botoxâ! Itâs not often I get to say this, but her look - she truly looked like she could break you in half. Letâs just say she was the epitome of "I'm here for a good time, not a long time!" The stage was adorned with glittery disco balls, strobes flickering over the performers' bodies in a dazzling kaleidoscope of lights.
Barbie Botox gave us a theatrical spectacle with choreography that could only be described as "fabulous and daring" (think a little bit âCabaretâ and a whole lot of sass!) - she's got her own flair for sure. She held court with such stage presence that everyone in the room was completely captivated by her performance! Imagine, darlings, a scene straight out of a Hollywood film â you know, with glitter cannons and a dazzling, captivating atmosphere? We were truly dancing our way into drag history.
What I discovered on this time travel trip was just how vast and diverse the international drag scene was. It wasnât just a big city phenomenon! From a cosy pub in England, to the electric atmosphere of Germany's best club scene - there were always fierce, fun, talented, and truly glamorous people making history in drag! So many performers, all in their unique style, and all rocking a distinct persona and sense of style!
Here in Dusseldorf, the locals absolutely adored Barbie Botox. I saw them laughing, dancing, singing along to the tunes. Theyâd never seen a drag performer who wasn't a drag queen - they were floored. There was even a bit of "I'm sure there was a real lady somewhere on the planet before all this!", you know what I mean, dear reader? That whole "drag canât be real" mentality. Well, let me tell you, the energy from that crowd as Barbie Botox delivered their final bows? Well, darling, that was a "donât say anything" kind of silenceâŚyou know the type!
As I slipped back into my magic tutu for the trip home (one can only stay in 2011 for so long), I realised the biggest takeaway wasn't the performance itself. It was the feeling of community that made this adventure so special. This was before the internet explosion of the last few years, but the camaraderie, the inclusivity, the excitementâŚthat feeling was the same then as it is now. I saw real love and passion for drag, and the most infectious energy!
You know, when I got back, I even found some cute new ideas for my own performances â the most important takeaway of every trip! We always learn something new from those we admire! It seems like drag's a constant source of inspiration and innovation - no wonder it's never gone out of style, darlings! And thatâs all thanks to brave performers like Barbie Botox.
Now, I'll be back next month with another pink tutu journey â perhaps to the sunny shores of⌠gasp! Who knows where weâll end up next? For now, letâs have a giggle at some fun drag facts. Did you know that the origins of drag can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Roman times?! Absolutely bonkers, right? That means drag's been part of culture and theatre for a heck of a long time.
So, my darling drag enthusiasts, stay fabulous, stay true to yourselves, and donât forget to wear a pink tutu! Catch you all next month for another grand time-travel escapade!
Yours truly,
Emma
XOXO
