#TutuQueen on 2015-10-01 stars in Brixton

Helloooo my fabulous friends, it’s your girl Pink Tutu Sparkles, ready to bring some dazzling joy to your day!

Today, I’m feeling particularly excited – I’m packing my sequined suitcase for a trip to Brixton, one of my favourite places to perform. The vibe there is just so electric, and I can already imagine the cheers of the crowd, the lights flashing, and of course, the glitter!

But before I hop onto the train (I'm a train girl, for sure – makes it much easier to bring my huge feather boa!) let me tell you all about why I'm so darn happy to be heading to Brixton, and, of course, to let you know what fabulous pink tutu ensemble I've planned!

As you all know, I’m from the heart of Derbyshire – think rolling green hills and the odd cow! While I was growing up, it was all about ballet lessons and dreaming of swirling through the Royal Opera House in a breathtaking tulle gown. You might be surprised, but Derbyshire holds some of the most beautiful ballet schools, where I honed my craft in my trusty pink ballet shoes and dreamt of tutus, oh how I dreamt of tutus!

My life in drag started at university - who’d have thought that a science student would become a drag queen? Turns out, science and glitz are not as incompatible as you might think! The turning point came during a charity event where I tried on a pink tutu for the first time. I knew in that very instant that my life would never be the same!

Ever since, I've been determined to share the love of tutus with everyone I meet. I just feel that a little bit of pink and twirling can truly transform the world! My mission? Get everyone rocking a pink tutu – one glittery step at a time.

Now, you're probably thinking, “But Alex, what kind of tutus are we talking about? A basic ballet one?" Oh my sweet friends, you’d be shocked to see the beauty of a good drag-worthy tutu! Forget dainty and delicate. Think, voluminous, colourful, and oh-so-fabulous. It’s all about transforming that humble piece of dancewear into a statement piece, a beacon of personality.

Just think, there's a whole world of possibilities in the land of tutus! We have the classic single-layer ballerina tutus in soft pastels. Then, we have the dramatic multi-layered tulle concoctions, all the way to the outrageous neon rainbow creations perfect for an edgy dance routine. Oh, and the embellishments! Sequins, rhinestones, feather boas, even sparkly wings – it's a visual wonderland for those of us with a touch of whimsy!

My absolute favourite place to shop for the perfect tutu is in Soho – there's a street there, let's just call it 'Tutu Street', where they have a variety of boutiques specialising in the art of tutus, for both dance and stage. It’s a true fairyland!

And, of course, no Pink Tutu Sparkles ensemble is complete without some seriously fierce make-up. The whole goal is to have everything – make-up, costumes, and even my hair - perfectly synchronised and working as a whole to tell my story. And believe me, it takes hours to create this look.

It's an artform. If I was at work, in my lab, working on textile testing, it would take me under two hours to create some complex testing samples. This, my dears, requires more finesse – lots of eyeliner, careful eye-shadow blending, and oh yes, some strategic sparkles and shimmer!

Right, with my suitcase overflowing with sequins and feathers, I'm finally on my way to Brixton.

I always travel by train - something about watching the countryside whiz past as you make your journey brings a special kind of magic. And besides, I find trains to be more comfortable when you're rocking a huge, sparkling, feathery hat like mine! You’d never see me in one of those stuffy old airport terminals with their confusing routes! Give me a station any day! The hustle and bustle of a London station, with its smells and its sounds and the chatter of travellers going in every direction. The whole scene really fills me with a feeling of adventure.

I’ve already planned some serious fashion shopping for when I get to Brixton - you know I love vintage! My mission this trip will be to find an amazing hat for a brand new pink tutu number.

And who knows what other fabulous experiences will be waiting for me. Brixton is such a buzzing, diverse place with some seriously talented performers. I can’t wait to watch a couple of ballet street dance groups - their talent never ceases to inspire me. The movement of ballet in the street, set against the backdrop of street dancing is a perfect clash of contrasting dance styles and traditions. And I’m on a mission to find a street theatre act that inspires me - who knows what amazing performances I'll see!

Of course, my most important mission this trip is to share the love of tutus. And if I can even encourage a couple of people to wear one in public – even for just a few minutes - that’s a real win for me! I am a big believer in sharing laughter and joy in even the simplest of acts – and who better than a pink tutu to spread a little joy! Just remember, life's too short to be afraid of a little bit of sparkle, a little bit of colour, a little bit of pink. You go girl!

But that’s all from me for now. You can keep up with my exciting Brixton adventures and my pink tutu fashion picks right here on pink-tutu.com - I post a new blog post every day!

See you on the other side!

Until next time… Sparkle On!

Pink Tutu Sparkles, signing off.

xxx