Hello darlings, and welcome to Pink Tutu Time Travels! This is your favourite Derbyshire gal, Emma, with the 1470th blog post on my fabulous adventures. And for those of you joining us for the first time, hello, sugar plums! You can read my older blog posts at www.pink-tutu.com, just follow the little pink tutu emoji!
Time Travelling Tutus - From 2042 To 1980
June 2042 has been jam-packed, darlings, what with my new performance at The London Palladium, which is divine! Of course, all that performing makes me thirsty for a little bit of #DragQueenHistory so I had to jump into my magical time travelling tutu and take myself for a whirl back to 1980. The energy of the 80s was absolutely phenomenal! My Tutu landed me right in the heart of New York, where the whole city seemed to be bursting with glitter, sequins, and pure drag fabulousness. I spent most of my time watching drag shows in dingy bars, soaking up the outrageous glamour. You wouldn't believe the massive wigs, the big shoulders, the daring costumes... I had to pop a few of them on myself to see if I could handle it! š
New York City's Drag Scene
In 1980, New York was the epicenter of the drag world. From the legendary The Saint, with its incredible history dating back to the 70s, to The Pyramid, a popular spot in Greenwich Village where you could find fabulous queens serving looks in between DJs playing incredible disco tunes, the drag scene was popping. Let me tell you, they knew how to party! I spent so much time marvelling at these fierce, stunning women, they weren't just entertainers, they were performers, artists, and pioneers, constantly pushing the boundaries of what drag could be.
And then, darlings, I found myself at The Copa! You know, that legendary nightclub that's featured in everyone's favourite films? Oh honey, the glitz, the glamour, the incredible costumesā¦ it was like walking straight into a glamorous Broadway production! Imagine, a beautiful cabaret show featuring queens with names like Ivy Winters, Sherry Vine (she actually is from Vine in Ohio!), and Carmen Carrera, strutting their stuff! It was seriously dazzling, and just when you thought it couldnāt get any better, the show ended with a giant feathered showgirl who literally transformed the stage! * * She was amazing!* *I even learned a few new moves from her, let me tell you! It felt like everything in that room was shimmering with energy. āØ
Shopping on the Scene
Oh my gosh, speaking of shimmeringā¦ did I mention the fashion, honey? My trip to 1980 wouldn't be complete without a shopping spree, right? I couldnāt resist grabbing a couple of outfits at The Plaza Hotel, (they've done up their boutique since the 80s and have some pretty divine, if expensive, tutu creations there!) and then popping by The Rainbow Room. Honestly, darlings, if the fashions in this hotel werenāt enough to make your heart melt, the view from their ballroom definitely would! The food was pretty fantastic too! š
Letās Go Out For A Drag Show, Shall We?
Youāve probably got it from the way I talk, I adore attending drag shows - what better way to spend a Saturday night? Now, I wouldnāt have felt so right about leaving 1980 without seeing some more of the Drag scene. There are so many cool clubs that were around then that have stayed with me to this day, some are even back now in 2042! Judyās * was amazing with it's retro look (weāve got lots of Judy Garland themes going on in 2042 so it's no surprise this one's stuck around!) The Eagle* (who'd have thought!) with a big and fabulous following and still going strong in 2042, just shows that the right places last, darlings! Of course, in 1980 there was also a big focus on Disco. Now we are all big on our glam-pop. The way fashion comes back around!
The Drag Scene Now
Here we are now, 2042, the scene has really blossomed, darlings, and the level of talent is astounding! š Just look at the big shows now like āRuPaulās Drag Raceā, āDrag Race UKā and all the spin offs from all around the world! There are even drag shows happening on space stations, darlings! Imagine **Miss Fame or Jinkx Monsoon performing zero gravity, thatās just what the universe wants, donāt you think? šŖ There are some wonderful groups and communities going on all over the place. My latest favourites are Black Girl Magic, which celebrates incredible talent from within the black community, and Trans Rights Now, which makes sure that our transgender sisters and brothers are not only visible, but given all the rights and respect they deserve. š The future looks fantastic, darlings! So letās raise a glass (of something bubbly and pink, of course!) to the beauty and artistry of drag queens all around the world. āØ
Get your Tutu On, Darlings!
That's all for this month, darlings. Itās been so wonderful to relive my 1980 journey. It's important to learn from the past, and we can truly see how far the drag world has come since then. But as I always say: the beauty of drag is the constant evolution. Itās so wonderful to see how drag continues to change, adapt, and innovate. Remember to stay connected with each other, because as queens we should support and encourage one another. Don't forget, I post on the last Sunday of every month at www.pink-tutu.com! Until then, donāt be shy about sharing this post with your fabulous friends! Be fabulous, be confident and be strong. And get yourselves a tutu! š š
