BOYZ

EDIT: If you don't bother to read the text beneath the pictures or can't grasp it; these pictures are for a drag (-king) performance mixing burlesque and boyelsque, playing with gender roles and also doing a parody on nineties boy bands such as NKOTB, East 17 N'sync and, well, whatever their names were, as well as on those pierced-tattooed-trying-to-be-badass metal-hiphop-genre mixing bands of the early '00s with a little dose of  Magic Mike male stripping in it ;) Next Friday at Drag Me To Hel.

Channeling our inner late nineties/early 00's boy-band selves!

Because as you may know, burlesque is about more than just sequins and fluff (and corsets and top hats, which seem to be the most widespread stereotype).  Although I do like sequins and fluff very much too.

I took these pictures of us last night at our studio after my pilates class. It was probably the quickest "photoshoot" we've ever had.

Last year I went to Drag Me To Hel as a spectator (dressed as Mr.Freelancer) with my fellow Bitty-lads, and here the idea for a super corny boy band act was born. And alas, this year the BittyBoyZ will share the stage with drag queens and -kings, faux queens as well as other gender bending burlesque acts. At Dubrovnik on March 28! Whoop whoop! I mean ye ye! Or something that one of the Boyz could say.  Now if you excuse me I have to go watch some East 17 videos (and Magic Mike clips too once I am at it. Heh).


And a little psst. If you have a moment go drop our pages at the London Burelsque Festival -we'll head there in May- a like? Mine, The Rubies and the Bitties (in a bit more glitter and fluff).

FABULOUS VINTAGE QUEENS

Some fabulous drag queens, female impersonators (an older term for drag queens) and cross dressers from past years.

Harry S. Franklyn, the 1920's.

Tony Midnite, 1956

Drag queen, acrobat and Vaudeville performer Barbette (Vander Clyde) in the 1920's. You can see a lot of photos of Barbette in this Pinterest board for example.

Fanny and Stella, London 1870's.

Parisian drag queen Florin in the early 1900's.

This lady came up on many searches but I don't know who it is.
Edit: I got a tip from a reader that this artist would be Jackie Maye!

Edwardian superstar Julian  Eltinge .

Holli White, 1964 (source)

More from the 1920's and more from Paris; Francis Renault.

And of course one bearded lady at the end.

Images via Pinterest searches.

IN DRAG

Well alright, time for a little different kind of posing then.

I went to a fab drag event the other night. As there was no idea to compete with the queens when it comes to lashes and lipstick I went the other way instead; in drag. My habitus instantly changes when wearing more masculine clothes, it's not something I even think about that much or try to do. I know that well from the days of harbor work.

(I apparently only have one "man face"... And my glitter nails kind of give it away instantly but, once again: yey for pockets!)

Some makeup in strange places, combing my hair in a way I otherwise would not and in Eddi's clothes - there you have Mr.Freelancer.

The evening ended with a heart breaking proposal on stage between two dear friends of mine so I was  really happy not to wear my normal eye make up when sobbing aonf with everyone else!