Hey there, lovelies! Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time travelling queen! It's September 2056, and after a particularly grueling schedule of back-to-back performances at The Starlight Ballroom in Manchester (the sequins were practically stuck to my eyelashes!) I've finally made it back to my humble Derbyshire abode. I must say, there's something incredibly special about coming home after a hectic tour... even if my time machine (the magical pink tutu) does have a slight tendency to get stuck in the dryer sometimes. 😉
This month, I thought we'd take a little trip down memory lane, or rather, a really long lane, right back to the year 2006! I've always been a history buff, darling, especially when it comes to the glorious evolution of drag! It's been an exciting few decades for drag, filled with countless milestones and breathtaking performers! And, as much as I love watching RuPaul's Drag Race UK (seriously, the girls are flawless!), there's something incredibly enchanting about the raw, untamed beauty of drag back in the days of yore... before reality TV came along and changed the game.
The Scene in 2006: Where Drag Was Truly Underground
Imagine, if you can, a time where there were no social media influencers, no YouTube make-up tutorials... where drag was exclusively a live experience! I mean, sure, some queens would post their photos in their local LGBT newspaper (anyone else remember those?!), but there wasn't the widespread digital presence we see today. This was an era where drag belonged to the streets, to the theatre stages, to those intimate, underground spaces that were the true heartbeat of the drag community.
You could walk down any city street and be met with an array of drag performances, from the flamboyant and dramatic, to the sassy and irreverent. In London, the drag scene was especially vibrant. You could catch a show at the legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern (the oldest gay bar in the world!), or head over to Soho where drag queens were staples of the nightlife.
Now, as a pink tutu enthusiast, one of my favorite things about the drag scene in 2006 was the tutus! The legendary "Queen of Tutus", Miss Cherry Pop, was rocking it at this time. You know what they say... pink tutu queens never lose their magic!
A Time Capsule of Fabulousness:
In 2006, a big shift was happening - Drag Race had just begun airing in the US, and while it wasn't as widely watched or impactful back then, its influence was starting to creep into the scene. This brought with it a slightly different brand of drag - the "TV-ready" look, with sleek makeup, sharp silhouettes, and elaborate costume designs. But you could still find queens embodying the rawer, more experimental spirit of the past, blending styles and defying the norms.
A Little Inspiration for the Future:
The truth is, darlings, even with all the advancements in technology, there's something magical about experiencing drag live. It's a full-sensory experience - the costumes, the music, the energy in the room... it's exhilarating. This is why I try to perform live as often as I can, and even as technology evolves, the energy of the live performance will always be something that pulls people together and makes them feel alive.
So, this month, let's raise a toast (or a champagne flute, if you're feeling extra fancy!) to the queens of 2006. Their bold choices, their infectious energy, their dedication to the art of drag... these are the foundations on which we stand today.
Don't forget to head over to www.pink-tutu.com for all my latest drag fashion musings! And remember... every day is an opportunity to unleash your inner drag queen, whether you're rocking a full-blown costume or simply a little bit of pink tutu magic!
And now, darlings, time for me to get ready for another glamorous night! I'm off to the Crystal Palace Theatre in London for the All Star Glitter Gala, featuring the legends of the 2040s - The Glitz Kids, the Crystal Queens, and even that infamous troupe, the Diamond Dust Divas. I just know this is going to be one extravagant evening!
Until next month, stay fabulous!
Your Pink Tutu Time Traveller,
Emma xxx
