Any advice on a pinup pageant?

[Scarlette LaMonte]

Hi everyone!

So I'm in my first pinup competition and the next stage is a pageant where we model one pinup swimsuit and one vintage/pinup formal dress.
I understand that every pageant is different but would anyone have any tips from their own experiences of live pinup pageants? What to expect?
I would be very grateful!

xx

[Alicia]

I have never done such a thing but I would have to say confidence is probably your best asset.

[Lisa Love]

Hello lovely!

Great question!

Everyone has their own style, to me that's the beauty of pinup. My style (since I can only speak for myself), my style is deep within me... so that's what I go with. I go with is comfortable to ME and what I feel portrays my personality best. I wear what makes me feel beautiful, glamourous, lovely, elegant, tip-top, and because it's pinup, I try to make sure it's era specific... I try to think of everything, hair, nails, eyebrows, makeup, accessories (or not), etc. The entire ensemble is important.

Again, personally speaking... although you are right, every contest may be different, in 2009, I entered five contests and won all of them. As I look around at the ladies, they are all beautiful in their way. What I have figured out is, tattooed, half drunk, rockabilly boys have proven to me, as a contest winner, that class wins over a gal bending over in front of the audience to gain a response.

As I've gone through the contests, I just hope and pray that others realize that glamour, sophistication, well thought out wardrobes, sincere kindness, and class prevail. At least in 2009 it did :D

I hope that helps.

[Desirée {PL Team}]

What a beautiful answer, Lisa! Congrats on your winnings! After that response, I can see why you won so many! :)

I sure hope you're right too. The world needs it's class back.

[Lisa Love]

Thank you Desiree!

One other thing I wanted to add... Tip-top, well thought out wardrobes and everything that goes with entering a contest to win, takes time.

Be prepared. I do my own hair, makeup and styling and it takes me a good 4 hours to get ready and prepare for a pageant. My liner, has to be perfect. My curls have to be set the night before. My wardrobe has to have the most perfect fit. My toes and nails always red... all of this takes time, planning, and honestly... money :)

I've received a lot of generous compliments from people who follow what I do, mostly with "you always look great", "i love your the way you dress", etc. Make no mistake ladies, this isn't by accident. It takes thought, a desire to be impeccable, and a belief that you too can be beautiful.

Xx

[Edson Carlos]

I'd like to focus on something you said Lisa "sincere kindness". When doing our research it saddened me to see that so many in this industry think that being fake and acting too important is what makes them "cool" and "desired". This industry needs change, a community needs to be formed, and thats why we built PL. Industry professionals need to support those that will keep this art alive.

Do some photographers hate us? probably. Do some vendors hate us? probably. Do some models hate us? probably. We're nice people, and haters and badasses don't like nice people. But in the end we know that we've been completely fair with EVERYONE, and never abused any relationship we've built. We're in the business of building communities. We really don't care to lose the haters, s*** talkers, and drama llama jockeys. Steer clear of drama! Anyone who wants to build a true fanbase that will carry them to a win should remember what you say: SINCERE KINDNESS.

Personally, I don't fake being anyones good ole buddy ole pal, I build relationships, whether thats a working one or a new acquaintance. I rarely make "friends", not worth the effort to try and fake it. Actually when I really think about it, i'm very much a charming a******. The point here is, be sincere, if you aren't, you probably won't win anything!

[Scarlette LaMonte]

Thankyou so much for the advice Lisa!!
Your photos are just lovely, its no wonder you have won so many competitions, congrats!!
xx

[Kristy C]

Word up. The fakeness and pretentiousness in the scene has gone a bit haywire. I am so sick of divas (both guys AND girls....yes guys can be divas) with gimme-gimme me-me-me attitudes infiltrating the scene. I am hoping it is a phase that will wear itself out and we can return to the roots of the culture.

Daddy Cool {PL} said:

I'd like to focus on something you said Lisa "sincere kindness". When doing our research it saddened me to see that so many in this industry think that being fake and acting too important is what makes them "cool" and "desired". This industry needs change, a community needs to be formed, and thats why we built PL. Industry professionals need to support those that will keep this art alive.

Do some photographers hate us? probably. Do some vendors hate us? probably. Do some models hate us? probably. We're nice people, and haters and badasses don't like nice people. But in the end we know that we've been completely fair with EVERYONE, and never abused any relationship we've built. We're in the business of building communities. We really don't care to lose the haters, s*** talkers, and drama llama jockeys. Steer clear of drama! Anyone who wants to build a true fanbase that will carry them to a win should remember what you say: SINCERE KINDNESS.

Personally, I don't fake being anyones good ole buddy ole pal, I build relationships, whether thats a working one or a new acquaintance. I rarely make "friends", not worth the effort to try and fake it. Actually when I really think about it, i'm very much a charming a******. The point here is, be sincere, if you aren't, you probably won't win anything!

[Edson Carlos]

Gimme Gimme Gimme! Just a kiss on the cheek tho, i'm latin you can't blame me!

Christi I *AZVK* said:

Word up. The fakeness and pretentiousness in the scene has gone a bit haywire. I am so sick of divas (both guys AND girls....yes guys can be divas) with gimme-gimme me-me-me attitudes infiltrating the scene. I am hoping it is a phase that will wear itself out and we can return to the roots of the culture.
Daddy Cool {PL} said:

I'd like to focus on something you said Lisa "sincere kindness". When doing our research it saddened me to see that so many in this industry think that being fake and acting too important is what makes them "cool" and "desired". This industry needs change, a community needs to be formed, and thats why we built PL. Industry professionals need to support those that will keep this art alive.

Do some photographers hate us? probably. Do some vendors hate us? probably. Do some models hate us? probably. We're nice people, and haters and badasses don't like nice people. But in the end we know that we've been completely fair with EVERYONE, and never abused any relationship we've built. We're in the business of building communities. We really don't care to lose the haters, s*** talkers, and drama llama jockeys. Steer clear of drama! Anyone who wants to build a true fanbase that will carry them to a win should remember what you say: SINCERE KINDNESS.

Personally, I don't fake being anyones good ole buddy ole pal, I build relationships, whether thats a working one or a new acquaintance. I rarely make "friends", not worth the effort to try and fake it. Actually when I really think about it, i'm very much a charming a******. The point here is, be sincere, if you aren't, you probably won't win anything!

[Kim Bombshell]

You really do have great style and are a sweetie. It comes through in your photographs and when people meet you in person. It's no surprise that you are so successful!

Lisa Love said:

Hello lovely!

Great question!

Everyone has their own style, to me that's the beauty of pinup. My style (since I can only speak for myself), my style is deep within me... so that's what I go with. I go with is comfortable to ME and what I feel portrays my personality best. I wear what makes me feel beautiful, glamourous, lovely, elegant, tip-top, and because it's pinup, I try to make sure it's era specific... I try to think of everything, hair, nails, eyebrows, makeup, accessories (or not), etc. The entire ensemble is important.

Again, personally speaking... although you are right, every contest may be different, in 2009, I entered five contests and won all of them. As I look around at the ladies, they are all beautiful in their way. What I have figured out is, tattooed, half drunk, rockabilly boys have proven to me, as a contest winner, that class wins over a gal bending over in front of the audience to gain a response.

As I've gone through the contests, I just hope and pray that others realize that glamour, sophistication, well thought out wardrobes, sincere kindness, and class prevail. At least in 2009 it did :D

I hope that helps.

[Ellie Retrophilia]

I've noticed a lot of bad attitudes myself. I've entered several pinup contests over the last couple years and have noticed a lot of ladies who take it too far with skimpy clothing, terrible attitudes or an over-developed sense of entitlement. I've never understood why that is. I've known girls like that, heck, even had one that I thought was my friend until I figured out she was reading insults in to everything I said (which begged the question: was she like that herself and so put words that she would say in to others' mouths?). Like Daddy Cool says: watch your back but remember to be true to yourself and have a lot of fun. It isn't necessarily about winning but feeling confident, enjoying yourself and being the best at being you. The thing I've always held to is: if it ain't comfortable it ain't you.

[Vintage Suits by Mary]

It's refreshing to see that other people have the same feelings that I do! I do not particularly like seeing pinup contests because so many of the girls are not only phony, but they act like strippers for the crowd (and sometimes win!) Even worse than the bending over are the plastic, practiced expressions with dead eyes. That is NOT pinup.
I will go and support the girls I know, like the girls that model for me, only because they are all so sweet and refreshing. They really seem to embody the innocence and (slight) naughtiness that recalls the pinups from the 40s and 50s. They may not win the contests, but they are the ones that all the photgraphers want to shoot after the contest is over.

[Scarlette LaMonte]

Thankyou so much for the advice everyone! The pageant was so much fun (although a little nerve racking) and all the girls were very nice!! x