Hello, darlings! It’s your favourite time-travelling, pink tutu-loving, drag queen extraordinaire, Emma, back with another fabulous instalment of your favourite time-travel blog, right here at www.pink-tutu.com!
This month, my time machine tutu has transported me all the way back to 1988, specifically 4th April. Oh darling, I must tell you, the fabulousness was almost overwhelming! You see, 4th April 1988 marked the anniversary of my most recent, wildly successful fundraising drag performance at the "Glitter and Glitz" drag club in Chesterfield, right here in my Derbyshire stomping ground.
Speaking of Chesterfield, do you know how hard it is to find a decent pink tutu shop in the county?! I swear, you’d think sequins and feathers were a forgotten art form! Thankfully, thanks to my magic pink tutu, I have no shortage of fab fabrics to choose from!
Anyway, let's get back to 1988, shall we? Now, 1988 was a glorious time for drag. The world was embracing big hair, bold colours, and even bolder personalities. The queens were serving looks on and off the stage.
I popped down to The Stonewall Inn in New York City – which, I’ll tell you now, is absolutely still as iconic as it was back in the 60s. The drag scene was a melting pot of personalities! It was all big shoulder pads, big hair, and big voices. Drag wasn’t confined to clubs and back alleys. It was spilling onto the streets, pushing boundaries and taking over the world, one flamboyant step at a time.
And don't forget about London, my darlings! I made my way over the pond and found myself in the heart of London’s bustling club scene. From the infamous The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, where I bumped into some seriously legendary queens like Divine and Leigh Bowery, to the vibrant Soho scene, there was drag around every corner, a true celebration of all things glittery and fabulous!
Oh darling, and did I mention that a young queen named Divine, a real vision in an iconic white sequined jumpsuit, was in a hilarious new movie called "Hairspray?" It was a celebration of music, beauty, and a bit of social commentary all rolled into one campy and captivating film. The world was truly embracing drag in all its glitzy glory!
I couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at what was going on in the world of drag performances that night! Turns out, there was a fantastic drag ball happening at the legendary "Warehouse" in Manhattan. Imagine, darling, hundreds of queens in fabulous gowns, with feathers, sparkles, and an air of pure joy and freedom! The energy was palpable! They were making statements, defying expectations, and most importantly, having the time of their lives!
And you know what else I found out? The infamous "Paris is Burning" documentary about the drag balls in Harlem was just starting to make waves on the film festival circuit! This incredible film, a glimpse into the vibrant, vibrant and often heartbreaking world of the ball scene, would go on to make a significant impact on the art and culture of drag, shedding light on the talent, artistry and cultural importance of the artform. It would go on to become an icon in drag history, and, if you haven't seen it, well darlings, put it on your must-watch list, right this very minute!
As I stood there, surrounded by this kaleidoscope of creativity, my heart brimmed with joy! This was the world of drag that I’d fallen in love with, the world where imagination runs wild, where boundaries are broken, and where acceptance and self-expression reign supreme!
The year 1988, darlings, was a year of great changes for the world, for drag and for myself! Drag was on the cusp of its transformation from a niche form of entertainment to the artform that it is today. It was truly a pivotal year for drag queens everywhere.
This incredible time in drag history, where so many queens made their mark, taught me so much. Drag, at its core, isn’t just about dressing up or creating a fabulous look. It's about taking a stand, owning who you are, and spreading joy. It's about celebrating differences and pushing creative boundaries, a vibrant celebration of all things glittery and wonderful!
This trip to 1988 reminded me just how much the drag scene is an ever-evolving, unstoppable force of creativity and individuality. As long as there are queens on stage, serving looks, spreading joy, and inspiring change, drag will never lose its power to shine bright.
And don't you forget, darlings, the best way to embrace that power, is to own your own pink tutu and join the ever-expanding world of drag! See you all next month for another thrilling journey in time. Ta-ta for now!
