Pin Ups of Color: Pin Up week on LIngerie Addict

[Dixie Rising]

So I read this blog  all about lingerie religiously-

http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2011/05/pin-up-week-celebrating-pi...

 

This week is pin up week and the blogger asks about pin-ups of color and why there is a lack of them... I have no answer to this but I think it's the perfect discussion to present to this community.  Read the blog entry (very short) and share your thoughts.  Enjoy!

[Miss Foxxy Banks]

I agree with the article. I think that I understand what they mean by looking "too sexy". I mean, come on, we are gorgeous women, right??  ;) But seriously, I think it's unfortunate. I feel like it does take a good photographer to capture an ethnic woman in a way that looks classy and not (forgive me for saying this, but) "ghetto". I think it's because black women are mostly seen in rap videos and hair magazines, so it's almost weird to see a woman like that in a classic retro look. It's not just pinup tho. I find that most fashion is like that. When you think of an ethinc model, especially Black, you think of tall, very dark, dark, skin and usually natural hair or bald. Or possibly lighter skin, red hair and freckles, with green or grey eyes that resemble "non-ethnic" features. It's the very striking beauty that gets cast. Of course every so often, you get a Tyra and a Naomi, but no one really ever asks for an ethnic "girl next door". As a model, us ethnic women have to have that something extra special almost every time. Ugh I think I'm ranting. And I don't really have a grudge against the modeling industry or anything. Just something I have noticed. I love pinup. I love seeing someone that looks like me in vintage photography. Ethnic women existed during that time too! :)

[Gidget Jo Lee{★}]

I follow The Lingerie Addict's tumblr and a few days ago she was only posting pin ups of color. and there are a few tumblrs that i follow that only post pin ups of color i'll post the links. yes there a lack of pin ups of color but i think you have to get out there and change it you can't just sit around and wait for people to relize that women of color(not just black but asian, hispanic, indain, or whatever) are and can be sex symbols.

Here are those links to those tumblrs

Pin Ups of Color

http://fuckyeahblackpinupgirls.tumblr.com/

http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com

http://lascasartoris.tumblr.com/

[Scarlett Poppy]

I think its a great article, I don't know why there aren't as many pinups of color either? Could it be that maybe its just not as big as a scene in the culture? Women are gorgeous no matter the ethnicity, I was thinking maybe there aren't as many in the pinup scene because of the amount of effort it takes for hair? I play with my african friend's hair all the time and her hair is very thick and she said it takes forever to straighten and put into different styles, maybe thats why its not as popular?

[Dixie Rising]

   I have noticed that the "classic pin-up" and the "classic dominatrix" are usually white women, I believe that the more women of color model these looks the more they will shake that mentality.  I think that a really talented photographer and model team could really rock this boat and come up with some slamming photos to prove that this belief that they are "too sexual" (like that even exists!) is pure fabrication.  I also think that these models aren't getting work in these departments because no one has really pushed the issue and they are just getting work in other categories.  The media has stuffed stick figure women down our throats for decades and I think that most women of color have more curves and the media is afraid of that.  I agree with Gidget, we all need to push to push the envelop and not accept the media's definition of "sexy" or "appropriate." We must be the change we wish to see in our world.  I think today I'm going to look through the pin-up pics on this site and give some LOVE to Pin-Up LIfestyle's women of color.  ALL women deserve to celebrated and represented. Ok... my rant is complete.  I will also be checking out those tumblr links today! :)

[SANTIAGO]

I did this video as a response to this very thread and the frustration I feel at this neglected area of our community. Anyway, I had a lot of fun putting this together. I hope you enjoy :)

 

-Santiago-

 

The Forgotton Crayons from RICEANDBEANZ on Vimeo.

[Scarlett Poppy]

LOVE IT!!! They're all gorgeous!!!

[Treacle]

Thank you so much to Dixie Rising for sharing my blog post here, to all of you for commenting, and to Santiago for that amazing video! I'm so happy that other people feel this way and are having these conversations. :)

 

--Treacle

[Monica Loren]

Great article!!! It's a great honor to see my picture included in your blog <3

[Mica]

To LadyPancake, Gidget, and all the ladies, please get out there and push the envelope and make some beautiful pictures for us all AND the next generation of women to aspire to so people can see all these different types of beauty.   I love Bettie Page and the classic pinups, but I want to see something else, in part b/c I'm a white chic and I don't have Bettie's face, figure, legs, height, cute expressions, etc. and I grew up knowing every way that I didn't measure up to how Barbie looked.  Those Victoria's Secret models who all look alike drive me crazy.  OK--I think that's the end of my rant.  Go forth, be beautiful, and create some amazing photos.  ;)

 

-Mica

[Miss Amelia O'Dell]

I defintiely agree. I've always loved the whole vintage pin up aesthetic but always felt...left out. Its so frustrating when I would look up vintage hair styles, or vintage make up and about 98% of the results would be very fair skinned white women. After listening to me fuss about it for a while my mom went and dug out her old Jet magazines from the mid 50's complete with centerfold pin ups...and they looked like me!!! I was so excited when I saw those! The lack of women of color represented in this genre hasnt made me want to give up but it makes me want to do more. I want to get more pics done so there can be one more woman of color representing the pin up genre.

 

As far as lingerie modeling is concerned, I think it ends up being the same issue that I had in high school with the dean of students and the dress code: Women of color do tend to be "curvier". Somehow having hips, larger breasts or a big butt gets translated as being "Vulgar". When I was in high school the dean of student would judge dress code violations based on body type. Two girls could wear the exact same deep v top and the one with the larger chest would be asked to cover up. Its seems to be the same thing with the lingerie industry they dont mind for you to have big boobs but if you have a big butt or hips to go with it? No go. So that cuts out quite a few women of color and then once you mix in their lack of experience working with various skin tones and hair types it cuts out even more.

 

It sucks! Its like telling one of my guy friends that I'm wanting to do pin up modeling and after first having to explain what I was talking about he responded with "Nah you would do better to be in some rap videos" (because I have a chest and I have a butt!). Its very frustrating to feel almost disregarded because of your skin tone, hair type, and body type! But I think if more of us step up and keep pushing to be seen we can hopefully change it. =)

 

And I apologize for this being so long, this is something I've been fussing about for a couple years now.

[Mica]

Amelia, work those curves!  (The curves that I don't have!) I hope you don't take this as too forward--um, in a forum where we all talk about Chinese cleavage bras & such--but one look that curvy girls can do better than non-curvy girls is the long, "modest", sheer nightgown that mainly highlights cleavage and shows the outline of your figure if the photo is back-lit.  I just bought several pretty sheer vintage nightgowns on e-bay and now I have to figure how to pad the bra I'll have to wear under the nightgown to get the curvy look and fill out the top of the nightgowns.  Here's a good one for the style.  Somebody needs to put some real curves in a gown like this and work it!

 

http://http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_nkw=%28...

 

Regarding what others think, you do what you like (and wear what you like) and have fun with it.  Go do some beautiful pics b/c I think we have enough ladies working the "white skin/dark hair" Bettie Page look, which is beautiful, but it's not the only beautiful look around.  And I love your mom for pulling out her Jet magazines.  :)