#TutuQueen on 2012-05-27 stars in Sutton in Ashfield

Hello, hello! It’s your favourite pink-tutu-clad queen, Pink Tutu Sparkles, back with another fabulous blog post! (Post number 4531, I believe, oh my, time flies when you’re sparkling! 💎) This time, I’ve had the absolute delight of bringing the joy of the tutu to Sutton in Ashfield.

You know, I love nothing more than exploring new corners of the UK – and as a true queen of travel (I even consider a train journey to be an adventure!), there's no place quite like the bustling energy of a small town on a weekend. Let’s get down to business, my dears: where on earth was this magnificent pink-tutu-infused adventure?

Sutton in Ashfield, you say? Oh, honey, let me tell you, this town was a true gem! Imagine a beautiful, bustling market square with the sun beaming down on my darling pink tulle, making it shimmer like a hundred diamonds. I just felt my aura growing tenfold, with all the compliments I was receiving from the locals - “Love the dress, hen! You're just like a pink fairy!” And don't get me started on the food! They've got fish and chips on every corner, my darlings! I may be a scientist by day, but nobody can tell me I can’t indulge in a good bit of grease when it’s deserved. 🍟

But let's talk about the real reason for my journey: the amazing stage that brought me to this fantastic town!

The reason I was gracing the stage at the local arts centre, darling, was for a brilliant, heart-warming, joyous charity performance - Tutus for a Cause! A brilliant local organisation brought together a troupe of enthusiastic local dancers of all ages and we did some truly incredible fundraising. It's times like these I get overwhelmed with the love of the community spirit! Let me tell you, after a day of shaking my glitter-bombs and twirling those tutu petticoats, I can honestly say that this charity event had my heart bursting with pride and my love for my pink tutu, stronger than ever. And that's what I truly love about being Pink Tutu Sparkles: you see that joy of giving back, those warm smiles that I can bring to everyone’s face. And those beaming smiles? That is truly the magic of a pink tutu.

I'll be honest, I'm not always in this beautiful sparkly pink concoction - but it was an excellent way to show my true self! My stage act normally incorporates some amazing modern choreography mixed with the classic lines and moves from ballet. (I'll be sure to have a tutorial up on my website for you lovely lot! wink wink) But I have to tell you, you could hear the cheers from outside the theatre. You couldn’t have asked for a more fabulous, fun loving crowd. Everyone from the grannies to the school children absolutely loved the performance and joined in, giving the show an even stronger sense of togetherness. The town embraced it! I mean, you’re telling me you wouldn’t be excited seeing a pink tutu on stage! It's so fun, right? It truly brought the whole town together.

A Big Thanks to my Amazing Derbyshire Friends!

Of course, none of this could be possible without the fantastic folks of my home town, Derbyshire! The reason I fell into drag was thanks to these beautiful souls – I'll never forget those early, amazing, and frankly terrifying, years when I first discovered the magical world of drag and performance.

I remember it so clearly: the university ballet club, that dusty box of tutus for a charity fundraising drive. And then, like a beautiful pink explosion of joy, there it was. My first pink tutu.

Now, that tutu became something more, darling. It wasn't just some fluffy garment for a good cause, oh no. It became the catalyst of my whole identity - a visual manifestation of how I felt inside. All that colour, the vibrance, the power, the excitement - I wanted to spread that energy to the world!

This pink tutu became more than a tutu. It was an expression of joy, of excitement, of living your life out loud. And now, you can find that spirit of embracing yourself in all my drag shows.

Speaking of embracing ourselves...

I mentioned Derbyshire, right? Well, as we all know, even drag queens need a day job! While I’m on stage shining under the stage lights, dazzling those who come to witness the majesty that is Pink Tutu Sparkles, the rest of my time I spend in a much more understated (and, dare I say, boring?) setting.

Let's talk fabrics, darling! By day, Alex - that's my real name - spends her time surrounded by lab coats and microscopes, testing all the beautiful (and often less-than-beautiful!) fabrics that we all rely on in our day to day lives. But don't let those long days fool you - never let the mundane get in the way of finding the glam!

In fact, my science work has really helped my fashion choices for Pink Tutu Sparkles. Think of the most amazing designs – silks, sequins, luxurious tulle – it all comes from scientific innovation! (Did you know that the process behind a shiny fabric is the result of amazing chemistry! Fascinating, isn't it?) So next time you see those amazing fabrics in one of my stage outfits, just think: science is working its magic to make you swoon, my darlings.

As you can tell, my love for pink tutus started with a chance meeting and my true journey began with embracing something completely new to me, challenging all my fears! (Let’s be honest, nobody can call ballet inherently scary or dangerous. But those stage lights, honey! Now those make me nervous! 😜)

There’s been a real pink tutu evolution, from the original charity-store version to all my unique creations that have taken centre stage! My fashion sense is constantly evolving - that’s what being a fashionista is all about, darling. If you ever need outfit inspiration, there's one surefire tip that has worked wonders for me: a splash of pink always does the trick. Just a little sprinkle of that magical colour on your sleeve, around your wrist, or even those fab sparkly shoes - the right dose of pink and you can really amp up any look!

Even you lovely folks can wear pink, of course! You don’t have to become a drag queen (but hey, if it floats your boat, more power to you!), a simple splash of pink is all it takes!

Oh, speaking of splashing...

Okay, I need to tell you, darling, the local people of Sutton in Ashfield really took my message of pink to heart. You wouldn’t believe what happened next…

It started in the town square. While I was getting ready for the performance at the theatre, the most darling lady stopped by my dressing room, just bursting with excitement, telling me that she absolutely adored my pink tulle and had an amazing surprise for me.

And she delivered! This lovely lady gave me the most beautiful handmade pink feather boa - the feathers were all different colours of pink, it was magnificent! Then she gave me the sweetest gift - a basket of delicious strawberry tarts! It turned out, the lady’s daughter was baking to fundraise for a local ballet group! (As if my heart could get any fuller, darling! She also had a fantastic tutu-wearing outfit – she totally nailed the look!)

Then it just got bigger. It turned into this whole thing with everyone sporting some kind of pink. I saw pink dresses, pink shoes, pink flowers… even a group of gentlemen with pink ties on! That evening at the performance, I swear I even spotted the theatre manager with a tiny pink flower in her buttonhole. I must say, I was so humbled! I mean, how much pink can a girl handle?!

I felt like a walking inspiration to a whole community that really wanted to see more pink. They took it upon themselves to wear pink and celebrate! That, to me, my dears, is a triumph beyond words.

And here is my message, darling, a message of love, light and - yes, you guessed it - pink!

Don’t be afraid to be yourself! Whether you embrace it like a drag queen, or you just add a dash of it to your daily wardrobe, it doesn’t matter. Pink, and all the love, the happiness and joy it represents, should be free for everyone to embrace, from all corners of life! That's why my mission is to see everyone sporting some pink. Maybe a ribbon? Or a headband? How about a cute pink scarf? wink wink

Go on, embrace your inner spark and find a bit of pink that really works for you! The power of pink? Oh darling, let’s just say, it will transform your whole outlook on life!

Love you lots,

Pink Tutu Sparkles 💖🩰