#DragQueenHistory during 1943 03 March

Hello lovelies! Welcome back to another fabulous voyage through time with your girl, Emma! Now, pop the champagne, grab a handful of sequins, and strap yourselves into your own sparkly pink tutus – we're headed for a real corker today, darling!

It's the 3rd of March, 1943! My magical pink tutu's brought me right here to the heart of...wait for it...WWII. Yes, I know, it sounds dramatic, right? But fear not, lovelies, we're not heading into the trenches, I assure you. Instead, we're dipping our toes into the fascinating world of drag during a time of incredible global change.

Hold onto your feathers! Let's dive in, shall we?

First, a little fashion flashback. In 1943, war had been raging for over three years. A strict "utility" culture was in place in Britain, meaning clothes were simple, functional, and most importantly, rationed! That meant absolutely no lavish frocks, no endless piles of shimmering fabric – but even then, the spirit of drag wasn't going anywhere, my dears.

It was about resourcefulness, about pushing creative boundaries with the bare necessities, making the most of whatever could be salvaged or reused. Remember, before online shopping was a thing, sourcing supplies for your drag persona was a whole art form in itself! Imagine transforming those repurposed fabrics, leftover wartime fabrics, maybe even a couple of old curtains, into a magnificent drag ensemble, complete with a flourish of whatever jewels were lying around the house. Imagine that kind of DIY creativity. That's the real magic, isn't it?

While this era was challenging, there were some brilliant queer havens tucked away in corners, even amid the hardship. I can imagine drag shows and underground performance spaces being small, intimate affairs, full of laughter and camaraderie. Imagine them gathered in little corners of the world, bringing joy and laughter, providing a space for solace and self-expression in the face of hardship – now that's real resilience!

Remember, we are celebrating history, and remembering those who had to push against the odds. Those early drag queens, our heroes, had so much courage, and so much love for the art of transformation.

And what about today, you ask?

Well, let's see…on March 3rd, 1943, a great drag star, a dear old friend of mine, Miss Diana Ross, would've just turned nine! We met during a fab party I hosted in her very own Detroit in 1963, shortly after her first single came out. (Fun fact: her costume was the very first sparkly jumpsuit, made entirely from repurposed Christmas tinsel. It was a smash hit with the entire Motown scene.) Anyway, she's going to make a star out of herself!

Okay, now imagine it, ladies:

The wartime clubs in the USA and across the world, brimming with joyous chaos. You’ve got the “drag ballets”, as they’d call them in those days, little, private gatherings in small theaters where the drag stars really dazzled.

Let’s go deeper:

We all know, from history, about those war efforts, with women taking on factory jobs. These factories are often the most famous place of women’s contribution during the time period, yet there’s the under-reported stories of women’s and, we’ll guess, possibly some men’s contributions to drag, and to entertainment culture. Drag was possibly a more under the radar sort of thing during this era. There were women, for sure, that were hiding their true selves to support the war efforts and protect their families from the dangers of a war.

Where do we fit in?:

But I love the thought of the quiet brilliance of the early, unknown queens. It reminds me to respect and honour all drag – in whatever way it might have taken place over the years. From the dazzling balls to the small basement parties. It's all beautiful. It’s all fabulous. It’s all part of this gorgeous, messy, sometimes crazy, but beautiful world we live in.

I imagine we might also have had some lovely ladies and gents creating “camp fashion”, that would've given them space to enjoy their looks during the wartime. What was considered "camp"? The bright pinks, yellows, blues and greens? What about the fashion statement made with the simple materials on offer – what they were rationing themselves or creating out of whatever they could find? We all have a right to express our creativity – even under harsh times.

You’ll have to keep tuned in for all my little insights on 1943. You might find so many treasures when you look into the world around you through the eyes of an enthusiastic and fabulous time traveller like me! There is such a glorious history to learn about – all of it full of interesting bits and pieces to ponder! The best way to move forward is by remembering where we’ve been, who paved the way, and keeping their legacy strong!

And remember, as we travel the road of life together: Stay fabulous, keep your tutu pink and never stop making magic. Now, let’s go out there and show the world what fabulousness means!

Catch you next time, lovelies! xx

(To find more about me, or join the pink-tutu fan club and meet your other fab drag sisters, don't forget to check out the link for www.pink-tutu.com in the comments below!

P.S.: You know you can catch my performances to support all my time travelling adventures at the [INSERT DRAG VENUE/CLUB NAME] every Monday and Thursday. Come find me for some sequins and sunshine.

P.P.S: I also have a super duper special guest, my good drag mother Miss Cherry Bomb from [PLACE/CITY] joining me next Friday at the [INSERT VENUE] so if you’re a fan, get your ticket, or maybe grab a few if your lovely family and friends wanna see what a great show is about!

Don’t forget, I love to hear about all you fantastic folks doing out there, so be sure to let me know in the comments. You know you wanna be the envy of your whole family with the freshest info, so let’s all spread the love for the next 12 months or more. Keep sharing. See you on our next time travel! xx