#DragQueenHistory during 2023 10

Hello darlings! It’s your fabulous friend Emma here, ready to whisk you away on another whirlwind journey through the magical history of drag. As you all know, here at pink-tutu.com, I believe life is too short to not wear pink tutus, and it's also way too short to not get a good dose of drag history every single month! So, put on your fanciest frock, grab your glitter, and hold onto your boas because today we’re jetting back to October 1923, with my time-travelling pink tutu!

Now, I’m a firm believer that a good time traveller must be prepared for anything. So, when I set my sights on 1923, I packed my trusty travel guide: a collection of fabulous 1920s fashion magazines. Honestly, the roaring twenties were a glorious period for women’s fashion – think flapper dresses, bobs, cloche hats, and stockings - all designed to break the conventions of the stuffy old Edwardian era. They were truly rocking the world, and darling, drag was right there with them, rocking the world in its own spectacular way!

Imagine the scene. You’re strolling down a street lined with shimmering neon signs, heading to a cabaret. Music spills out from every door, a heady mix of jazz, blues, and Charleston rhythms. As you approach your destination, the buzz builds. You can feel it in the air, that delicious blend of excitement and rebellion – this is where you’re meant to be, this is where the magic happens.

The year is 1923, and the drag scene is hot, hot, hot! Though things may be more subtle than the glittering stages of today, believe me, the drag queens of this era are absolutely shaking things up. The nightclub scene in New York is particularly lively, with the likes of the Club D’Orsay and the Plantation Club pulling in the crowds with some serious show-stopping performances. We’re talking singers, dancers, and performers in some truly extravagant costumes. Forget sequins, darlings, the 1920s were all about feathers! The bolder, the better, the bigger, the bolder - remember, we're talking roaring twenties here!

But it’s not just the cities where drag is making its presence known. Imagine being a drag queen performing for soldiers at a US Army camp! It’s wild, it’s flamboyant, and it’s undeniably subversive. Imagine the impact! It was a way to express yourself and defy conventions, all whilst bringing a touch of fabulousness to a sometimes drab, monochrome world. It was the birth of the bold statement that made the stage a true home for all drag queens.

Of course, these were pioneering times, and there were also hardships, and challenges to overcome. But what stood out to me, and really cemented the true power of drag during this period, is the sheer spirit of it. It wasn’t just about entertainment; it was about forging a new path, breaking free from the rigid expectations of society, and expressing oneself in ways never seen before.

The roaring twenties saw the birth of “Drag Balls” and with it, a blossoming underground world of expression, one that celebrated its own set of rules and beauty standards, defying the world’s perception of masculinity and femininity. It’s all about pushing boundaries, smashing those societal norms, and having a truly fabulous time! And that's why I think the 1920s drag queens were true visionaries! Their boldness and creativity continue to inspire us even today.

Now, as a proud Derbyshire lass, you might think I’m just a big-city drag queen, but let me tell you, our little corner of the world has a fabulous history of drag! It wasn’t so widespread, of course, and in those days, there were very few opportunities for large-scale drag events. Still, let's be honest, this period in history was all about expressing your unique personality. So, you can just imagine, it’s highly likely there was someone in Derby, perhaps in a hidden basement, perhaps in a local theatre, dressing in flamboyant clothes, singing along to a phonograph, and showing off some seriously sassy moves. They were living their best lives, defying norms, one dazzling look at a time!

The 1920s drag queens really inspire me. Their flamboyance, their confidence, their courage to express themselves even when facing resistance – they are true icons in my eyes. They carved a path for us, showing us how to use fashion and performance to be unapologetically ourselves. So, let’s raise a glass, darling, to those brave souls who dared to step into the limelight and shake things up.

And let's celebrate their legacy! What do you say? Are you ready to make your own statement with a fabulous pink tutu? We can be the visionaries of our own era, the queens of our own times, paving the way for future generations to express themselves and create magic. Let's wear pink tutus loud and proud and continue the legacy of this era's boldness and freedom, together.

Remember, dear reader, you don't need a time-traveling pink tutu to tap into the history of drag, just the courage to embrace it!

See you all next month for a new historical adventure on www.pink-tutu.com! Love, Emma!