Helloooo darlings! It’s your girl, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here and guess what? Your favourite pink tutu-loving, glitter-sprinkling, and travelling drag queen has ventured north! Yep, I'm in Scunthorpe, darling! Can you believe it? And it's only my second post in this little series I like to call The Tutu Trails of Pink Tutu Sparkles! This journey, my dears, is dedicated to exploring the world one tutu and sparkly town at a time!
Now, Scunthorpe, my lovely, slightly industrial but definitely not industrial-chic town, isn't exactly known for its, how do I say it delicately... glamour. But listen, even the grittiest of places needs a little pink magic! And trust me, with this pink-tutu-wearing, glitter-obsessed diva in town, Scunthorpe is about to get a whole lot more fabulous.
Travelling in Style (on a Budget)
Right, the trip to Scunthorpe - I went by train! Not just any train, mind you, a proper steam engine. You know, the kind with those lovely old carriages and that wonderful 'choo choo' sound? I felt like I was in a scene from The Great Gatsby, except instead of flapper dresses, there was me, in a fluffy, fabulous, pink tutu.
Of course, the trip wouldn't have been complete without some serious travel prep! Before I even considered setting foot outside my flat, I had to have my perfect travelling look sorted. I mean, you wouldn’t expect me to traipse through the UK, even a little bit of a journey like Scunthorpe, without making an entrance. So I went for the ever reliable, oh-so-glamorous "Travel in Style" look. It's my personal favourite when it comes to travelling, and it’s a timeless combo of pink and floral. A pale, shimmery pink floor-length, elegant gown with a lovely floral pattern, accessorized with a tiny little, fluffy, pink tutu just below my hips and, obviously, pink heels with a sparkly bow. (That pink ribbon had to be from a boutique in Nottinghill, darling!)
Now, don’t you dare think this was some kind of cheap airline or budget bus travel. No, no, my dears. Travelling like this is all about the theatricality and the grand, theatrical gesture, making a statement, and showcasing the elegance of a queen! Don’t worry, the train fare was taken care of - one of my lovely sponsors arranged it! (Honestly, this life's the best - I'm going to keep my fabulous life of travelling, being fabulous, and showcasing how much I love tutus to everyone - who knew science could lead to this amazing opportunity! You guys, when I was in university at Derby doing my science degree, you'd have never seen me in anything else than a plain laboratory coat. I must admit, this change from labs to dazzling audiences is more than just a job, I have a real passion for bringing the glamour and theatre back to life! You're probably all wondering how this scientist girl managed to become a drag queen. It all began back in uni - there was this event, where the student union was running a fundraising event, with the university's ballet club. There was a section for folks to dress up in ballerina outfits, and of course, you can’t wear ballet outfits without a tutu! The tutu was, you won’t believe this, pink and a total inspiration - this sparked something within me! And boom - there was a Pink Tutu Sparkle ready to make the world a little bit more glamorous.) So my sponsors paid the train fare - that means I got to add to my fabulous travelling outfit by getting a big old straw hat - like those worn by ladies at Ascot - only bigger. I was the absolute picture of stylish, glamorous elegance!
* Scunthorpe Welcomes The Queen*
Scunthorpe has got this really cool vibe. Imagine all of the glamour of a vintage industrial town combined with this fun, welcoming atmosphere. I got a chance to chat with the lovely, local people. It turns out they were surprisingly eager to see the local ballet theatre group, even though Scunthorpe isn’t exactly known for the performing arts! Of course, I took advantage of this by taking part in the big pre-show opening on the evening of March 15th, just before the show! The theatre was beautiful and I got to strut my stuff in a stunning floor-length pink, silky ballgown - I must have worn 6 layers! And just the top layer was a soft pink, light cotton tutu! And because this is Pink Tutu Sparkles, we couldn't leave out the embellishments: glittery stilettos with pink satin ribbon, a shimmering tiara adorned with sparkling pink gems, and my signature fluffy pink tutu just above the knee - that was absolutely perfect for dancing around.
Let me tell you, I have to hand it to these Scunthorpe residents. They were absolutely delighted. I really got the feeling that they just wanted to have a bit of fun, you know? It was fantastic seeing so many smiling faces. One woman even had a go at spinning around and copying my ballet moves. So cute! It just shows that you can find that spark of joy anywhere in the world if you have a little bit of open-mindedness and willingness to get out of your comfort zone. And, of course, some sparkling pink attire!
After the show, I hung out backstage and made some new friends (one lovely chap even tried to put a pink tutu on! Bless him!). You'll have to look out for a photo from our fun-filled meeting in a post coming soon. I am very excited about that one!
Finding The Magic in the Everyday
You know, what I really love about these little excursions is discovering how ordinary places can transform with just a little bit of glitter and good old-fashioned joy. The folks in Scunthorpe reminded me it’s about those tiny everyday moments and finding a bit of sparkle within them. I have to confess, I don’t always appreciate the journey of being Pink Tutu Sparkles, and as Alex (me before I transformed into my dazzling alter-ego!), I just get so bogged down with things. Like that latest deadline for that tricky, delicate fabric, which my laboratory needs tested - we had some huge samples, like that stretchy satin - and well, it takes ages to process. Sometimes it takes all night to get one set of results from one type of fabric. It was very hard to find that 'sparkle', but now after a visit to Scunthorpe, I know there's always a reason to smile, a reason to dance, and a reason to wear that pink tutu - every single day!
And what’s a trip without souvenirs, my lovelies? Let's just say Scunthorpe provided me with some fabulous inspiration for a new Tutu Outfit - a dazzling metallic silver creation. Oh my word, you guys will not want to miss that one. You’ll have to stay tuned!
* Until next time, remember: The world is a much brighter, and frankly more fabulous place, with a bit of pink, glitter, and a sprinkle of Pink Tutu Sparkle in it! Love, your Pink Tutu Queen, *
*And remember to head on over to www.pink-tutu.com - it’s all about a touch of pink and fun! *
