Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time traveler extraordinaire. It's the 8th of August, 2020, and this fabulous fashionista's ready to take you on a journey through the glittery annals of drag history!
This month, my time traveling pink tutu, Tulle-portation, whizzed me right back to the year... well, 2020 itself! Yep, I'm getting all meta up in here, babes. This past August was a time of both tumult and triumph for our drag family, and let me tell you, there's no better time to reflect than the present!
Now, if you've been following my ramblings, you know I'm a total sucker for a showstopping performance. And 2020 served up some real winners! You see, back then, we were all just discovering the joys of virtual drag! So many amazing queens like Aiden Zhane were using platforms like YouTube and Twitch to keep the flame of drag alive during the lockdown, with Nina West hosting the online show "Nina's Drag Brunch", and Jujubee getting us all moving with her fabulous "Jujubrunch."
Even Miss Fame herself joined the online party with the “The Fame Ball,” a whole drag experience, right in your living room, offering fashion, makeup and tips on building a brand as a drag queen. These online ventures gave fans the chance to connect with their faves like never before, proving that even a pandemic can't keep drag down. Think of it like the revival of underground cabaret shows from a bygone era!
But the online world wasn’t all there was, the queen of time travel, yours truly, saw an opportunity to check out what was happening in the real world of drag, even when the pandemic kept the bigger venues closed. “Rupaul’s Drag Race” Season 12 was drawing to a close, crowning the magnificent Jaida Essence Hall! The talent pool in this season was incredible!
And in London, a whole new breed of fierce drag performers were gracing stages! The Tuck Shop, with its alternative nightclub charm and "drag is drag" spirit was quickly becoming a favorite amongst London's finest performers. Meanwhile, The Drag Brunch at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a historic haven for drag queens for decades, was hosting its first ever digital drag show with a superb roster featuring drag superstars like Le Gateau Chocolat.
The history of drag, my dear lovelies, is so full of twists, turns, and amazing gowns it could make your head spin! From the fabulous ball culture scene of the 80s to the explosion of “Rupaul's Drag Race”, it is clear drag's cultural impact is still evolving and there is so much to celebrate.
It’s in these moments of adversity that we see the true grit and creativity of drag come to life. And this is where my own story intertwines with the timeline, my dears! While some queens found virtual refuge, I decided to brave the outside world, using my own pink tutu, my drag talent, and my cheeky charm, to help bring back the joys of live performance, one tutu-clad step at a time.
August saw me strutting through my beloved Derbyshire, performing in small, intimate settings, like quirky pubs and friendly cafes. I found that even the most casual setting became magical when draped with the fabulous, glitzy allure of drag!
With each show, I became even more determined to get everyone twirling and twirling in a pink tutu, embracing their inner performer and embodying the spirit of acceptance and inclusivity.
Let me know in the comments below which drag show was your absolute favourite in August 2020, and, of course, if you've started wearing a pink tutu yet. I’d love to hear about your fabulous fashion adventures, my dears! Until next time, may your lives be filled with sparkles and rainbows, darling!
XOXO, Emma
