Hello lovelies! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink, sparkly and fabulous! Today, your girl Pink Tutu Sparkles is bringing you a double dose of excitement: a blog post about my fabulous Chorley trip, AND this is post number 3016, which means we're over halfway to our goal of reaching 6000 posts before the end of the year! Can you believe it? It's been such a whirl of pink, sequins, and train journeys that I'm starting to feel like a whirling dervish... and what better place to do a whirl than in the lovely town of Chorley, where the streets seem to be begging for a good dose of pink tutu action!
This week, I was back on the road, swapping the lab coat for my best sequin top (it always takes a while to get those rhinestones back in!) for another round of sparkling performances, this time in the heart of Lancashire. I was a little nervous about Chorley – not a town I’d visited before - but the people were just absolutely lovely and made me feel right at home, especially the delightful crowd at the town's newest venue, a delightful little spot called "The Rainbow Ballroom."
Now, some of you may be asking: How does a drag queen, queen of all things sparkly and bright, manage to travel across the country to make all those fabulous appearances? Well, darling, you'd be surprised at the power of a well-worn tutu and a charming smile! Of course, I don't mean to undersell the talent of your favourite pink-tutu-wearing superstar! I’ve got my share of skills and tricks up my sequin sleeves (you’ll see, it’s the most surprising thing in my entire act!) I spend the day as your everyday Alex, a scientist with a serious love for fabrics (imagine all that glittery testing!) and then by night, poof! the pink tutu transforms me into Pink Tutu Sparkles, the world's most passionate advocate for all things pink and fabulous.
Anyway, back to Chorley! The journey there was something else, I decided to get out of the hustle of the M6 by catching the train, the carriages were a bit stuffy, but I had my lovely pink scarf ready to shield myself from the hot sun and the stares. The journey took me straight into the heart of Chorley, past a vibrant market bursting with stalls showcasing all the best Lancashire has to offer. It felt just like a scene out of a vintage movie - but instead of black and white, I was seeing everything in Technicolor with my fabulous rose-tinted glasses on!
Chorley's Rainbow Ballroom was perfectly suited to my sparkly style - I love intimate venues, and the crowd was buzzing for a little Pink Tutu magic. The stage lighting was superb! (Always the most important thing in my mind - the light makes or breaks the glitter, darling!) And after some quick hairspray and powder puffs in the bathroom (it was essential to stay sparkly!) I was ready to unleash my inner pink fairy queen!
I love doing gigs outside of London – there’s such a lovely energy about these smaller places. Chorley definitely surprised me; I knew it was famous for its vibrant market, but I didn't know they were quite so fond of a good dance party, and of course, my trademark tutus. The audience were singing along with me from the start, it felt like the entire place was rocking with pink tulle!
My first performance involved a little ballet street dancing, my secret passion that brings out all the grace I hide under layers of sequins and fluff (oh, you would not believe how long it took me to find these perfect dance shoes!), the energy of the crowd kept me going throughout the entire dance, my sparkly tulle billowed as I pirouetted, a visual delight to be sure! After that, I had my usual crowd favourites, like a heart-stoppingly glam performance of a modern ballet dance number I called "Dancing in a Dream" (which, by the way, you'll see in my special “Pink Tutu Live" performances that I'm planning all across the country later this year! It's gonna be huge!). Then I did some karaoke (never fail, always get the crowd singing! They did love it!) and finished off with a bang with "Shine," a track from my own "Pink Tutu Sparkles: Album of Magic," that had the entire audience singing along.
After a few selfies with some incredibly kind fans (everyone just loves my pink feather boas, especially the children, who just love to wear my boa and get pictures. It brings my heart so much joy!), we said goodbye to the fabulous folks of Chorley, I had a chat with some fellow drag artists - such an incredible group, and they made my experience extra special. It’s not all about being the best, though - drag for me is about family and spreading joy wherever you go. Chorley really felt like family to me, I am already making plans to visit again!
Next up for the Pink Tutu Sparkles? A thrilling trek into the rolling green hills of Derbyshire for a spectacular horse-drawn carriage ride! Yes, I’m going back to my roots to show them a little of my pink-tutu-tastic magic. My lovely grandma will be there to greet me (who else but my dear grandma to understand a granddaughter’s penchant for all things pink!), we are heading to the local town festival with all the horses in full sparkly harness for the biggest parade they’ve ever seen. You can be sure I’ll be posting the most glamorous photos as soon as we arrive!
It is really tough to balance a life on the road with my "day job," it's definitely tough but worth it, especially with all those beautiful photos and experiences. My advice to everyone, if you are living the dream, you just need to trust your gut and dive into the magic. Don’t be afraid of standing out, your unique passion, be your most authentic self and get ready to shine. Remember, the pink tutu can be a powerful tool for spreading a little joy. It’s about that extra burst of personality and individuality. I mean, after all, when you put on a tutu, you're not just wearing a skirt, you're putting on a magical experience. And there’s nothing more beautiful than watching the world sparkle in shades of pink, one fabulous tutu at a time!
Until next time, remember to wear your tutus proudly and always, ALWAYS, keep shining, darling!
