Greetings, darlings! Your fabulous friend Emma here, back with another juicy installment of my time-travelling adventures, all wrapped up in a gorgeous, pink tutu! It’s been a hot minute, babes! This month has been an absolute whirlwind, what with preparing for a mega-fabulous fundraising gig at the legendary “Rainbow Rooms” in Manchester - those tips, dearie, were like a sweet symphony to my ears! All those lovely pennies, it just helps fuel my time-travelling whimsy. 😉
Anyways, as you know, July always holds a special place in my heart. Why? Because, it's the 7th of July! And, no, I'm not referring to the “4th of July” – not in this post, dearies! Let’s be clear, America, you guys are great and all, but my darling Derbyshire roots know real history.
This day is special for us Drag Queens. Let me tell you, darlings, this is serious history, even more thrilling than seeing Bianca Del Rio sashay away with the crown. 💅 On this very day, 250 years ago… drumroll, please... The first documented drag ball EVER took place! Yes, you heard that right. 7th July, 2006. History in the making, darling!
Now, my Pink Tutu-tastic time travel landed me right in the thick of it - and let me tell you, those Queens were avant-garde. We're talking feather boas, fishnets, sequined dresses that would make your eyes pop - and that was just the men! I'm talkin' some REAL fabulous ball room scene right here!
And let me tell you, this is where it all began for the global Drag movement. Before Instagram, before RuPaul’s Drag Race, before my dear darling self graced the stage – Drag Queens were dancing, performing, and bringing joy to their communities! They were challenging societal norms, expressing their artistic individuality, and – above all, babes, they were having a fabulous time doing it.
The ballroom was held in a rather dingy but wonderfully welcoming venue called ‘The Speakeasy’. Imagine your local pub but with a secret back room filled with music, glitter, and the absolute most glamorous* men wearing all the fabulous fabrics they could find!
I even got to dance with a Drag Queen named Ophelia! I'll say it - that Queen knew how to move! We twirled, we strutted, we sashayed - and let me tell you, Ophelia was an absolute natural at ball room dancing. 👠 She looked like she’d been born wearing sequins and heels! It was pure magic.
You see, my dear darlings, Drag was a hidden jewel, shimmering in the underground scenes of the time. This hidden world brought out some absolutely fabulous personalities. It was about creating safe spaces for self-expression, freedom of individuality and – quite frankly, finding a community to share the love of fashion and performance with. I even saw some delightful drag kings there - I told ya, Drag had always been diverse!
So, back to my journey! My own pink tutu was, naturally, an instant hit! Every time I walked into a new bar or performance space, the crowd erupted with whistles, cheers, and excited cries of "Look at the ballerina Queen!**” That is what I call an entrance, dearies!
Of course, being in the future was super exciting! The fashion was unreal. Let's be honest, every decade has amazing trends – the ’80s, the ’90s, even the noughties! I’ve tried them all. But this futuristic drag fashion was something truly special.
My fave, of course, had to be the futuristic ball gowns. Like seriously, floating fabric, geometric designs, holograms... oh darling, the creativity! Imagine a sparkling nebula imprinted on a shimmering, silk dress, then paired with metallic heels and futuristic makeup... chef's kiss!. Talk about bringing out your inner diva! I've already added some holographic fabric to my upcoming pink tutu collection, I can't wait for you all to see it!
Speaking of my future fab designs, the next month is going to be epic! I've got a big performance planned in New York City for their fabulous "Drag and Dance" festival! There's a whole month of workshops, performances, and fashion shows, darling. Can you even believe it? This place will be bursting with drag-tastic fun!
I can't wait to see how the drag scene evolves. Let me tell you, dearies, these future drag queens are all about self-expression, celebrating individuality, and being utterly fearless with their looks. It's inspiring!
As you know, I believe every Queen deserves a pink tutu – it’s like a magical portal, teleporting you straight into a realm of joy and self-expression! Think of it like your own personal magical cape. You know, just in case your pink tutu isn't magical enough! 😂 But in all seriousness, if you have any fantastic stories about your own time-travelling adventures, do let me know in the comments! I am dying to hear them!
Stay fabulous!
XOXO, Emma 💖✨
P.S. For this month’s Drag Queen History spotlight, let’s head back to my own time! I recently went to an event with an iconic British Drag Queen and drag performance artist: Laid Back Lucy. She started performing as a drag queen in 1978! In the early days of drag, she was a founding member of *Drag Syndrome, and would host performances and drag nights in London’s Soho and King’s Cross.
Now that's some Drag History!
XOXO, Emma 💖✨
