Hiya darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu wearing time traveller! It's the 3rd of March, 2049, and this month, honey, we're venturing all the way back to the year 2049! Gasps in dramatic fashion Now, I know what you're thinking, "Emma, darling, how is that time travel, you're in the same year! How's that possible?"
Well, my lovelies, this isn't just ANY 2049, it's the 2049 I travelled through 34 years ago when I was just a baby-faced, barely-legal, time-travelling, pink tutu-sporting newbie! Now, let's grab our popcorn, get comfortable and allow me to whisk you back through the time portal of memory...
2049 - The year Drag Went Global
Oh darling, you wouldn't believe the scenes! It was the year that Drag truly went GLOBAL. From the drag balls of Paris to the underground drag scene of Tokyo, Drag Queens ruled the world, and let me tell you, they were making waves! The queen of the moment? Oh, honey, let's not even start.
That year, it was Miss Valentina "Valentina the Valiant" Vance. A phenomenal performer with the stage presence of a warrior queen and the charisma of a billion dollar brand, she was EVERYTHING! We had drag shows on the moon! We had Drag performances beamed onto Mars, thanks to some fancy space age technology!
The drag shows back in good old Derby were positively electrifying. They were more diverse than ever, celebrating a rainbow of backgrounds and expressions. There were big fat lip-sync battles on the main drag, and on the theatre scene, there were shows like "Glitter & Gobstopper", where every song had been reworked with witty drag puns and camp choreography! And it didn't just stop there... The local drag shows were filled with iconic figures of the time like Miss Penny 'Pixelated' Peters. This drag queen, with her electrifying, futuristic tech-infused, glam, had us ALL mesmerised! Oh and Miss Penny Peters wasn't the only queen who stole the show. Remember "Divine Divine" - he was a hilarious camp creature from Derby with a huge drag family! And then there was Miss Trixie "Time Travelling Trixie" Tremaine - oh, she was my absolute favourite. You'll be hearing a lot about her in this blog!
The world of Drag Fashion in 2049 had a touch of "retro-future" We had sleek, neon colours, intricate metallics and dazzling laser patterns. A new generation of drag designers were making names for themselves with innovative concepts.
I had been blessed enough to meet "Valentina the Valiant" that year, she was actually staying at the Rose Inn in Derby, right near where I grew up. Now, Rose Inn has had some major renovations since 2049! You would have a fit if you saw how boujee it is! Anyway, back to that story... Valentina told me how she dreamt of getting into time travel, just like me. In her spare time she would spend her life studying the past to try and create her very own Drag Timeline!
After Valentina left for her show that evening I couldn't contain my excitement! So I dashed down to The Starlight Room. This is one of the best nightclubs in Derby for watching a drag performance and it's actually been in the same spot for over 300 years, with its iconic, old style art deco front! They have great cocktails - that's how I always knew to come to this place for a treat. It is one of those places with an electric atmosphere, the lighting is insane, and it is packed every night. That night I watched "Time Travelling Trixie" take the stage! Oh darling, it was magnificent, she wore a beautiful white, lace tutu and a sequined neon jacket, with wings!
Trixie always has had an amazing knack for choosing fashion items that can match her routines perfectly. For her final act, she turned her whole routine into a spectacular, dazzling light display, the stage literally seemed to shimmer and light up. I was left speechless, darling! That night at the show is what made me realize, you just can't resist the excitement of Drag shows, they have so much soul. The costumes and sets have always blown me away! There’s just a joyful energy in these rooms. This night left me determined that one day I would see a Drag performance in the same club in another time, so I knew where I had to go...
The Year My Time Travel Adventure Began
As fate would have it, on March 3rd, 2049, at 10.15 am (I remember this because I saw the time on my old Time-travelling Tutu app, which is still around, I should take better care of this technology), a powerful surge of energy ripped through the fabric of time and my magical, pink time-travelling Tutu was suddenly activated. This happened completely by accident, the Tutu, as you know, had a life of its own! Well, next thing I knew, I was whirled back through the years to that exact day back in 1995.
Darling, the experience of going back through the timeline is like floating through a technicolour dream, every colour and sensation coming and going at supersonic speed, all a beautiful haze until you're there, finally at the date you have chosen. When I came out the other side I found myself standing right on the stage of the Starlight Room...and there it was! This amazing space.
Standing on the same stage in a world that was decades apart... was so exciting, It was as if everything was frozen, yet full of energy. The place had such character and a kind of quiet energy that had almost evaporated by 2049. All these decades later you still could sense the essence of an iconic nightclub where dreams came true! The whole thing felt more spiritual than anything. It felt so... special... like there was some kind of powerful magic still lingering.
For me, the Starlight Room is not just a club but an incredible, exciting time travel experience!
Oh, how I wish you were all there, dear reader. If I didn’t mention earlier, all my lovely friends at www.pink-tutu.com. - That’s where I post all my favourite drag fashion finds and recommendations.
That's all from me, loves! Until next month, stay fierce and remember, the future of drag is here! You may be able to find more information about what's going on today if you follow us on TikTok - search for: Pink Tutu and we have an instagram too.
Don't forget to give the internet www.pink-tutu.com some love and join the pink tutu club. As ever, I would love you all to be rocking the pinkest and most delightful tutus. Remember to wear a tutu everyday!
Love Emma.
Bonus Information:
About The Starlight Room nightclub, Derby:
Built in 1913 on the site of a demolished market square, this beautiful venue has hosted everything from musical performances, ballroom dancing, comedy, and live theatre. The interior retains many of the building's original features. In 2015 the bar area had its historic facade exposed which added a real wow factor! They installed some spectacular Victorian tiles. I am a fan! I must get back there for a look round!
*This Blog Post is just a taste! Here's why I have included a ‘Bonus Information’ Section at the end. It's all about Drag History! I think you will agree it's an important subject and something we all should spend more time studying. *
It has taken years of dedication and hard work by hundreds of pioneers. For some people, the beauty and importance of drag history is more important than anything. If we don't take the time to celebrate it, or look at what it took to get to where we are now, it will be forgotten, like a story whispered on the wind. This is what happens if you take everything for granted - if you are too caught up in the everyday, you can forget that life is beautiful!
Emma is on a Mission...
Remember the Pink Tutu movement? This is the very mission at the heart of my work, this is why I time travel. It is my duty, I mean what’s more beautiful than a magical tutu?!
For years now, we have all known the importance of being free! This is why my mission is to get the whole world in pink! My main target has to be my home town! That’s the next area to go back in time and get more history from, right there!
I must confess though, sometimes my life does feel as though I am trying to achieve too much! That's where all those drag performance nights have helped to pay for all these time travelling shenanigans! I get really exhausted! Being a Drag Queen can be hard, all the shows, making costumes, practicing - I'm so glad I got my magical Tutu!
I'm not giving up on my mission, though. I will have the whole world wearing a tutu, one dazzling sequin at a time. But I am also an advocate for equality and tolerance - in everything I do. If I can use my magic tutu to change the world one tutu at a time I will have achieved my goal.
Until next time, keep on dazzling, darlings!
Emma x
