Southern area finals are June 18 at The Melba Spiegeltent in Melbourne.
Get your tickets here - SOUTHERN AREA FINALS
Northern area finals are June 25 at St Andrews Uniting Church in Brisbane.
Get your tickets here - NORTHERN AREA FINALS
Eastern area finals are July 2 at Paddo RSL in Sydney.
Get your tickets here - EASTERN AREA FINALS
Hopefully by now you have seen my Facebook posts in the lead up to the announcements and since. I hope they have been entertaining and had you waiting each evening for the next one.
I will keep making them, so keep an eye out!
I do have a super special sneak peek coming this week so stay tuned.....
I shared this on my Facebook page last night. I have been struggling to find the right words and even though it's not exactly what I wanted to say, I hope my point comes across. Here it is in case you missed it:
"Lots of the beautiful entrants from this year have made posts explaining why they entered Miss Pinup Australia and what it means to them to be a part of this journey. I have tried countless times over the past month to write it down but I can never find the right words. But tonight I think I finally found them! Last year I entered as a complete newbie to the pinup scene. I was in the newspaper, I got up on stage in swimwear, I showcased a look that I had never before attempted and I handmade the majority of my outfits. Without Miss Pinup Australia, I would never have done any of this stuff. I wasn't that type of person. This year is much the same. I constantly find myself saying, "Before MPA I wasn't the type of person who....." Until tonight it occured to me, I AM that type of person. I always have been. Miss Pinup Australia just had to say "Uh... yes you can. Now go do it." and THAT is why I entered this year. Miss Pinup Australia is like your favourite Aunty who always has your back and will give you that extra little 'push' when you are doubting yourself. It's the love and support from the incredible likeminded people who are a part of Miss Pinup Australia that have made me feel comfortable, capable and worthy enough to actually DO it. MPA WANTS me to do well. The entrants want me to do well. The mentors want me to do well. Miss Pixie wants me to do well. Because this is not a competition pitting women against each other. It is a life changing experience that helps you find who you really are. I AM the sort of person to be in the newspaper. I AM the type of person who can get up on stage in her swimwear. I AM the type of person to wander around town doing her groceries in full pinup attire. I AM the type of person who can sew entire outfits and be confident enough in my workmanship that I can wear them on stage without worrying they will fall apart in front of everyone. Not only do they want you to find yourself, but they encourage you to show the world. Shout it from the rooftops!"
I just wanted to give everyone an update on announcements and the links for tickets.
Come along to one or all the events, it will be worth it I promise!!
I wanted to make this blog because I know when I first dipped my toe into the world of pinup, I thought I'd never be able to afford it. I soon discovered though that it is what you make it, often times, literally!
I have my fingers crossed that these tips help some of you out. Specifically those out there that think they can't 'do' pinup because it's expensive. Here we go!...
My first and therefore TOP tip is definitely, unquestionably - learn to sew.
Now I'm not saying you need to sew like a professional. Just learn the basics. Buy a cheap (but not TOO cheap) sewing machine. Ask around your family and friends, someone possibly has an old one they will give you or at least let you have for super cheap.
Make sure they show you how to thread the machine! They may even give you some cotton and bobbins to start you off.
If you don't have someone who can show you the basics, YouTube is your best friend! On the days I think I'm harrassing my Mum a little too much, or I decide to start sewing at midnight (and would REALLY get in trouble if I texted then!), I ask my old friend YouTube to show me what to do!
There are tutorials for EVERYTHING. I make my circle skirts using A Vintage Vanity's full circle skirt tutorial. Jen pretty much makes the skirt with you.
Videos are the best learning tool because you can pause them, go back to a previous step and rewatch them as often as you need.
There are also patterns, vintage, repro or otherwise available for free or very cheap all over the Internet.
This tip is especially useful if you enter pinup comps. To ensure you stand out and instead of waiting on the edge of your seat to find out if something will arrive by post in time, making your own outfits often ends up being less stressful!
One of the best things about making your own pinup clothes is that no one will have the same dress as you. You can pick whatever fabric you like! This point brings me to...
Tip number 2: Op shops (charity shops, thrift stores). Buy vintage curtains or sheets as your fabric! Super cheap!
Of course, op shops are a gold mine for vintage dresses, shoes, jewellery and to a lesser degree, well for me anyway, vintage lingerie. If you look hard enough you may find furs, fabulous jewels, peignoirs, bags, hats, scarves, the possibilities are endless if you search hard enough and often enough. Of course, the best part about sourcing items from op-shops is... the price!
The next point I have to make in this tip is, you can purchase items that may not necessarily fit IF... you can SEW! Hence why sewing is my top tip. You can find out how to alter a garment or add something or fix something small, all online.
Obviously if something is in bad condition, even if it is only costs a dollar or two, it's more than likely not worth buying.
We were given this following tip from Miss Pixie (owner of Miss Pinup Australia and Boogie Bop Dames), that when buying shoes, if they are the style you want and the right fit but not the right colour, spray paint them! Vintage shoes in bigger sizes are a little more difficult to come across and if you do, especially at an op shop, don't leave them behind just because of the colour!
Tip number 3: Search buy, swap and sell pages on Facebook, garage (or yard) sales, flea markets and if where you live has hard rubbish collection, the front yards of houses close to you. You can find vintage and repro clothes and accessories, items you may need for props, or can makes props from and other gems. Sometimes people know what they have and will charge you accordingly, other people just want to get rid of their "old junk" and you can score yourself a bargain!
Tip number 4: Ebay and YouTube for hair styling. Contrary to what you may think, you do not need a lot of expensive, hard to find tools for creating a beautiful vintage 'do. You may wish to invest in a few quality items that will last you a long time and make the whole process a little easier but it is entirely possible to do your hair using inexpensive tools.
Ebay has everything you need and if you can wait for a couple of weeks, you can get most stuff from overseas for VERY cheap. I have recently purchased a tool that helps you roll victory rolls and a new set of curlers from China and it only cost me a few dollars!
Things like setting lotion and hairspray are worth spending a little bit more on as some will work better than others.
Use YouTube once again for a million and one tutorials on achieving all different types of vintage hairstyles.
Tip number 5: Makeup. It is NOT necessary to use the most expensive makeup! My favourite red lipstick is $2 from a cheap shop we have in town. You may think red lipstick is just red lipstick, but it's not. Everyone looks good with a red lip, but not the same red lip. There are so many variations of red. The first thing you need to figure out is if you need a warm red (an orange toned red) or a cool red (a blue toned red). The colour you like in the tube may not be the colour that you like on your lips. This is when getting a couple of dollar store lippies come in handy. Once you have found what type of red suits you best, then you can find one you really like.
Eyeliner: use what is easiest for you to master. When using a liquid, I always use a liner that is like a felt tip pen. I have a favourite that I will use for on stage, in photographs etc which is about $15 but for everyday I use one that cost $3 and it does pretty much the same job. This also means my more expensive one lasts longer.
Eyeshadow is simply what works for you. I paid $9.95 for a pallette that I use for stage and everyday and have been using it for well over a year and it still has plenty of life left in it.
Foundation and powder: this is a product that you really truly need to find what you think works best for you. I had a $4 stick foundation that I loved and it did exactly what I wanted it to do (until they discontinued it, thank you unnamed cosmetic company!) and I've had a $40+ foundation that was.... bad. It was useless, I could put 4 layers on and it still wouldn't cover anything. I currently use 3 different foundations. 2 liquid and 1 powder and I use them according to how I'm feeling or what I'm doing that day. None of them cost more than $15. I am always changing foundations though because I have also found that even if I get the same colour in the same brand, if they are from different batches, they may turn out to be completely different. So TEST the foundation before you buy it!!
Lastly on the topic of makeup is fake lashes. These can be super expensive in stores so head to Ebay once again! I bought a packet of 20 pairs of lashes from China for $2! You can cut them to fit and use them more than once. The only thing here is getting a decent glue. But the glue isn't very expensive and will last quite a while.
With all of these tips you can totally pull off pinup and not spend a fortune.
The best thing about being a modern pinup is that you can put your own spin on it. I actually would encourage you to do so! Interpret pinup how you will and it becomes you.
Pinup is for EVERYONE. EVERYONE.
Enjoy yourself and the confidence it brings you.
Before I leave I want to extend this challenge to you all...
Miss Pixie challenged the entrants of Miss Pinup Australia to post a selfie with the caption 'I am a strong, beautiful woman' and I want you all to do the same! To facebook or Insta or in the comments here... post it everywhere and sit back and wait for the positivity that will flood your way!
Much love and ($2, blue toned) red lipstick, Miss Toxic xx
I have been doing poses here and there, testing myself to see what I could do and what I couldn't and I have surprised myself! Turns out I was doubting my abilities for no good reason. Woohoo!
I have had my routines written down for weeks and have practised them.... in my head.
Of course in my head I look like some amazon goddess moving as gracefully as a ballerina from pose to pose. But once I started actually doing them, I realised it was much more impressive for ME to do the poses I planned.
I think I will encounter a few problems once I start dress rehersals due to some of my accessories BUT I am one determined pinup! It will work because I will make it work!
The ideas continue to come and just when I think I have the best routine I could possibly think of, I add one small thing or change a pose or even just adjust a pose and it becomes so much better!
I'm sure this will be happening right up until the night of the performance but that's all part of the process.
This year I'm also making sure I don't make the same mistake as last year. Last year I waited to the last possible moment to run through what I thought I wanted to do. Not only was I clumsy but I would forget what came next so my practice routines would run for 3 or 4 minutes, not 45 seconds!! I am certainly not going to let that happen this year, well I am going to do my very best to not let it anyway!
I think my biggest worry was that it would get boring after doing it over and over again. Except for the fact no one else has seen it before! Silly me!
Practice makes perfect.
My mantra for this year.
OK I must be off, routines won't practice themselves!
HEY! So it's been a while yeah? Having no Internet has been killing me because I have so many updates on my Miss Pinup Australia journey to share with you!
Just last weekend I attended the NSW meet and greet at The Skyline Drive In Blacktown. I had such a good time meeting the gals I haven't met before and catching up with the friends I made last year.
2016 NSW group photo! (plus a couple of spies from other states ;) )
Miss Peach Cottontail, Miss Daisy Dots, Miss Jade Serpentine and moi!!
The amazing lady that makes it all possible! Miss Pixie!!! xx
Have you ever seen a more glamourous game of Twister? Miss Dee Meanour, Miss Pixie, Miss Melly Day and Miss Jade Serpentine show us all how it's done!
Let the fun begin!
Pinups and hula hoops!!
See? How much fun do we get to have?!
I have also been on the front page of the local newspaper again this year! This time I got to share it with Miss Cleveland Kruze!
I have to say, the difference in myself between last years and this years front pages is fantastic! Proof I am growing as a pinup!
See? BIG difference!!
I am on a serious roll with routines and prop and outfit making. I'm really enjoying the process this year.
These are all the sneak peeks you get for now! However I am dropping lots of hints on Facebook so stay up to date over there!!
Ok, I will leave this post at that. I was just so excited to have Internet back on that I had to make a post as soon as I could (seriously, it came back on about an hour ago!)
I hope you all are shining bright and staying happy x
