Hiya darlings! Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire drag queen blogger, bringing you another fabulously flamboyant blast from the past! I know itâs the first of January, which usually means detoxifying, de-glittering, and saying goodbye to the shenanigans of the previous year, but not in this time-travelling pink tutu, darling! This year, weâre celebrating New Yearâs with a grand journey through time, so get ready to twirl your way to 1975!
Now, picture it. Itâs January 1st, 1975. The air is crisp, the worldâs dusted with a touch of frost, and, of course, itâs still legal to wear a giant pink feathered boa â donât worry, I wouldnât miss out on that fashion trend! My magical time-travelling pink tutu whisked me back to this fabulously flamboyant decade and landed me smack dab in the middle of⌠drumroll⌠New York City! Now, you all know my obsession with ballet and all things tutus, so you can imagine the absolute excitement bubbling within this girl! It was just a quick stop, enough time for a bite of a fantastically delicious New York pizza, followed by a drag show in a local nightclub, and even a trip to a fashion shop for some stunning, oh-so-vintage sequins!
You might be thinking, âEmma, but wasnât drag a little hush-hush back in â75?â Well, youâd be partly right, love. While there was a burgeoning drag scene, it wasnât quite the mainstream phenomenon we see today. But, remember those brilliant Drag Ball legends like the legendary Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera? Their legacy was still being shaped, inspiring young drag queens like the ones I saw performing in this vibrant underground club. Oh, honey, those queens had moves that could rival even the most seasoned dancer! They had that unique, untamed flair, a pure, unadulterated energy that was utterly contagious!
Talking of energy, thatâs how I met my new besties - Penny and Ruby! They're two fab queens, still figuring out their drag identities, full of laughter and dreams for their own little empire of drag. Penny, darling, she was rocking a stunning black and white feather-trimmed jumpsuit, absolutely channeling the glam-rock era. And Ruby, she was rocking a stunning gold dress, radiating fierce confidence with every wink and twirl!
We got chatting about the scene back in the 70s, and itâs crazy to think that back then, these queens were pioneers! They had to find ways to navigate through a world that wasn't entirely welcoming to them, a world that sometimes felt like it was telling them to be less loud, less proud, less sparkly. But darling, they refused to be silenced! Their spirit, their artistry, their audacity is why they, and so many others like them, are now icons. They are a testament to the power of self-expression, the beauty of community, and the absolute magic of a pink tutu!
After our night of fabulousness, it was time to head back to my own little slice of Derbyshire, my sparkly shoes clattering on the floor of my time-traveling pink tutu as I said goodbye to 1975! The journey back, I must say, was filled with many, many glitter reflections and shimmering echoes of my experience!
This entire time travel adventure has truly filled my soul with pure inspiration. Every journey I take, every encounter with the vibrant and diverse history of drag reminds me why I dedicate my life to this wondrous, sequin-laden world. The past echoes the future. Those early drag queens, pushing boundaries, creating spaces of acceptance and expression, their spirit, their legacy, inspires me, motivates me to continue the fight for inclusivity, for acceptance, for a world where every single one of us can wear their own sparkly version of a pink tutu.
I know some of you reading this are thinking about giving drag a go. Well, darling, trust me! It is an exhilarating journey, a magical, mind-blowing, shimmering adventure that youâll never forget! Iâm here for all your sparkly questions, my dears! Don't forget to share your drag dreams in the comments below!
And always remember: You are fabulous, you are worthy, and you are enough, even without a pink tutu (but you do look absolutely radiant in it). So go on, unleash your inner sparkle!
Until next month, keep your dreams pink and your spirits high, darlings!
With a sparkle in my eye and a twist of my tutu,
Emma xx
