#DragQueenHistory during 2019 01

Hello my gorgeous darlings! Emma here, your pink tutu-clad, time-traveling, drag-obsessed, fabulous friend! Welcome back to my monthly journey through the glittering history of drag! I'm currently channeling my inner Marie Antoinette - can you even believe it's January already?! Time absolutely flies when you're having this much fun. Speaking of fun, I just got back from a fabulous trip to… wait for it… 1960s New York! I know, right?! Talk about a whirlwind of a time.

This month, I'm taking you all back to a time when drag was bursting onto the scene, with its flamboyant fashion and even more fabulous characters! And I tell you what, the sheer number of shows that were happening was positively shocking. This trip really hammered home for me just how vital the downtown scene was. This was drag in its purest form, full of experimentation and creativity. And you can’t talk about the 1960s in New York without mentioning the Stonewall riots. It was an incredible moment, and I feel privileged to have been able to witness such a momentous occasion for LGBTQ+ rights!

I wore my glittery pink tutu and I have to say, the boys were absolutely gagging. They had never seen anything like it. Well, not in the Meatpacking District, anyway. I’ve gotta admit, I may have stolen the show, or at least the limelight, but it’s a good thing I brought some serious sequins for that extra glam.

Speaking of glam, have you seen this incredible feathered headdress I picked up at a vintage boutique? The colours, the detail - absolute heaven! I mean, this is the sort of hat you wouldn't see out of place at a drag ball, even now. It’s all about making a statement. And let’s face it, we drag queens know how to make a statement.

Let's delve into the details of what the fashion scene looked like in the 1960s! Oh, darling, it was truly a world of extravagance. Imagine… platform shoes that practically sent you to the moon, colourful fabrics that just begged to be seen, and the boldest make-up imaginable!

And we can't forget about the wigs. The bigger, the better, as they say! From those classic beehives, which, let’s be honest, were practically architecture, to those incredible Afro puffs that literally gave us LIFE. It's so fabulous, and I’m already scheming up new styles for my upcoming shows, inspired by these icons of fashion.

While in New York, I even bumped into this fascinating character: Marsha P. Johnson. What a woman! Talk about a fierce drag icon! I tell you what, her energy was electric. Just by observing her performances I learned so much about drag's spirit. The drag she put on was so heartfelt and powerful. Her message about love and acceptance? So relevant then, so important now.

But alas, as all good time travelers must, I had to return to the present. As you know, this blog is financed by my incredible performances - I am the queen of fundraising. And it wouldn't be fair for me to let my beautiful Derbyshire family down!

Well, darling, speaking of drag, the 1st of January is a truly wonderful day in drag. This day marks the start of all those glamorous resolutions, including the biggest resolution for any drag queen… making sure our looks are absolutely flawless. This is drag season in all its glory, the season where our drag looks shine, the world becomes our runway, and every performance is the opening night of the West End. And you know I'm out there soaking it all up.

Today, in my part of the world, it’s a little chilly outside, but, no matter the weather, it's a perfect day for staying in and binge-watching some classic drag. Have a little think, darling, and get inspired. Is it “Paris is Burning” for an afternoon of poignant brilliance, or perhaps a bit of “RuPaul's Drag Race” for that added bit of camp glamour? Maybe I will go for an afternoon of fabulousness by checking out what the legendary Judy Garland has got going on - maybe I’ll even catch a movie marathon of the fabulous Dame Edna! Whatever you do, get that drag spirit going, get your tutu ready and channel those drag queens, past and present, to help give you a fab start to 2019.

Speaking of fabulous, darling, did you know that every performance I do in the UK, every penny goes towards funding my pink tutu adventures? I think this year we should aim for at least two or three of those fabulous pink tutus so that, for the whole month of August, we can celebrate every single day in a fabulous pink tutu. Imagine that - the whole world in pink tutus! Wouldn’t that be amazing?! I bet I could even get the queen to wear a pink tutu. Just think of that moment… cough, cough

Stay glamorous, my lovelies!
Emma

You know you’re fabulous!

(Don't forget to check back next month for my next time travel adventure! I’m sure it will be a whirlwind of fun!)