Miss Piston Powered- Cleveland Autorama 2013
After taking a year off from this blog (I find it hard to stay focused on these sorts of things), I've decided that I have a few things that I want to say. And today, I'd like to give some tips on competing in pin up contests.
I have competed in a total of four pin up contests since January of last year, Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2013, Miss Piston Powered- Cleveland Autorama 2013, Miss Voodoo Traditions 2013, and Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014. I have won 2 and placed 3rd in another. I guess you can say my track record with these things is pretty good, and I'll be the first to tell you, it would have been enjoyable regardless of any win or loss. The first contest I entered, Miss Cavalcade of Customs 2013, I didn't even make it past the second round, but that contest was a huge learning experience for me. Let me share some of what I've learned with you and hopefully be able to offer some advice.
Dress to Impress: When I participated in that first contest, one of the biggest impressions that I had was how beautiful the other pin up girls were. You had traditional pin ups, alt, and somewhere in between. You could tell who really lived the pin up lifestyle and who did it just to play dress up. One woman in particular walked in and nearly took my breathe away because of just how beautiful she was. Petite, with beautiful red hair, done up in the perfect vintage updo. Her dress was a classic pin up design and her makeup- flawless. She, I thought would be the biggest competition. And I was right because this beauty, Ginger Watson, ended up winning the contest. Now, I wasn't a judge so I can't really speak for what they were looking for, but I suspect that Ginger's look, from head to toe, was just so perfectly put together that they couldn't ignore it.
There is some controversy that modern pin up, or alt pinup, is just not "pin up enough" or not the "right type of pin up" because it doesn't follow the traditional vintage style. I personally prefer the traditional vintage style, but if a girl walks in with tattoos, bright pink hair, and a halter dress that is a few inches too short for a traditional hemline, I'll still appreciate it as long as all the other elements are right (hairstyle, makeup, etc.)
Your look should be as accurate as possible and aim to set yourself apart from everyone else. Ladies, please don't show up in shorts, a shirt tied up under your bust and a simple bandana tied around your head. This is a cute look, especially at a car show (where most of these competitions take place), but this is a contest. Stand out! At Voodoo Traditions I decided to wear a vintage pink, wide-brimmed hat and gloves with my wiggle dress because I wanted to look luxe and very 1940s, a look that I feel I definitely achieved. With that being said, don't feel that you have to wear an expensive retro-reproduction dress. You'd be surprised how great you could look in a vintage-inspired outfit or dress that you find at the thrift store. Yes, you can find vintage at the thrift store! And in fact, most of my pin up and vintage attire is real vintage and was a thrift
store find.
Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014
Have the Right Finish: When competing in a pin up contest, you MUST have flawless makeup and hair. There is always going to be another girl there who is a master at pin up hair and makeup and she will be scored very high for it. There are literally hundreds of pin up hair and makeup tutorials on Youtube (some good and some not so good) so you really have no excuse not to learn before you compete. Ginger Watson, who I mentioned above, has many wonderful hair tutorials and I highly recommend checking out her channel. I also highly recommend Pinup Doll Ashley Marie, who is super fabulous and her hair and makeup are always on point. She'll also show you incredible clothing looks and let you know where to buy them. You can find just about any pin up hairstyle tutorial online, so start searching!
At some contests I've seen that they've had a MUAH sponsor that will do your hair and makeup, sometimes for free, sometimes for a nominal fee. This is a great opportunity if you just cannot figure out how to do a curling iron pin curl set and the cat eye is just not happening. Indeed, at my first contest I had my hair and makeup done by the sponsor because I wanted the entire experience. My hair and makeup were fabulous but I know my hair and face better than anyone else and from then on I decided to do my own styling.
And another thing that I have to get off my chest: Ladies, please try a different hairstyle other than the plain, old Victory Rolls. You can do a variation of the traditional Victory Roll style (two rolls on top of the head, and hair hanging loosely down the back), but please try other styles! My favorite vintage hair inspiration is Lana Turner. Seriously, Google some of her images and be amazed at the beautiful styles created for her amazing hair. Next time you're competing or even doing a photo shoot, choose a Lana Turner inspired hairdo and work it! They make take a bit of skills, but you can do it. Even if it doesn't turn out exactly like you want, you may be pleasantly surprised with the look you do achieve. Other inspirations- Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth. And on that note, please learn how to do a proper curling set and brush out. It is absolutely essential to creating authentic vintage hairstyles. You can also find tutorials for these techniques on Youtube. My favorite book in recent years for learning how to do a proper set, brush out, and style is Vintage Hairstyling, Retro Styles with Modern Techniques by Lauren Rennells.
Miss Voodoo Traditions 2013
And if you really want to be daring, wear a vintage hat! A hat can really set off your hairstyle and pin up look. But make sure that whatever hairstyle your going to do works with your hat. In fact, you should plan your hairstyle according to your hat instead of trying to fit your hat into your hair. Again, look up vintage photos where the model is wearing a hat and try building your coiffure in a similar fashion. Hair flowers are almost always a must if going for that cute, girlie pin up style. You can also try hair bows and nylon scarfs. Play with your hair and make it just as much of a priority as your dress.
As far as makeup, keep it simple and clean- no bright colors and no dark colors. Your makeup should be period accurate, and always, always go for winged eye liner, false lashes, rosy pink cheeks, and red lips! And while I'm giving you tips, don't ignore YOUR tips! Make sure your nails look beautiful, not only for the contest but in your photo shoots as well. Paint your toe nails if you're planning to wear open toe shoes.
Be a Lady: Le sigh... I cannot stress this enough: ALWAYS be a lady. This means that you conduct yourself well before, during, and after the contest. If the pin up pageant is doing a Facebook Favorite -or LIKES contest- DO NOT write passive aggressive posts about other contestants or down right insulting things about size, color, etc. And don't presume to be THE authority on whether someone is pin up "enough" or not. Keep those opinions to yourself, at least online. The thing I love about competing is the other women that I meet, are each one beautiful, smart, funny human beings. I've made some amazing friends through these contests and I did it by not being catty, and genuinely being supportive and excited for all the contestants, winners and losers. And if you think the judges won't know about your behavior before the contest, then you've got another thing coming. So please don't put that kind of negative energy out there. This is a lesson for life; people may not always remember what you said, but they'll always remember how you made them feel.
The same goes for after the contest. If you didn't win, there's really no point in being angry about it because that isn't going to change the result. It's only going to upset you further, for longer, and will do nothing for your confidence. Learn from the experience and move on. Pin up contests should not be your validation, they should be fun. No one ever got famous from winning a contest at a car show, and neither will you. Nor are you going to become rich so have fun, take it all in stride and make some new friends instead of enemies. Gain confidence, not a bad reputation.
Additionally, being a lady also means that swearing should be kept to a whisper, among friends, and NEVER onstage!
Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014
Pageant Q&A: Most pin up competitions aren't about just how well you can look like the perfect pin up, they want to know more about you! For pretty much every contest that I competed in, I received a list of possible questions ahead of time so I would know what the emcee would be asking each contestant. Take this portion of the contest seriously! I know of many girls who either didn't bother reading the questions or didn't care to think up an answer ahead of time. Don't do this! Take time to really think through your answer. Practice in front of your mirror while you're setting your hair and doing your makeup. Try to show just how clever and articulate you are. Some questions don't require a grand answer (Where are you from?) but try to use even those questions to show your personality. You'll almost always be asked why you love pin up or what inspires you and these questions should be answered thoughtfully, but not in a phony way. Be honest. We all love pin up because it feeds our soul in some way and you should let the audience, and most importantly the judges, know it. Nerves may get in the way a bit, but try to keep calm and don't rush. Take a breathe, smile, and just be your sweet, wholesome self.
At every contest you will inevitably be asked what your favorite vintage car is. This is probably the most important question because you're at a car show! If you don't know much about vintage cars, do a Google image search and find one that really takes your breathe away. Memorize the model, make, and year, and when reciting it don't mess it up! There will be lots of "car people" there and they will notice. Don't forget to let them know why you like the car ("Because I love her curves."), but don't go into a long explanation.
Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014
One more thing, when answering your questions, please do not use swear words (see Be A Lady above). If the competition is taking place at a car show, chances are good that there will be children there and you do not want to get the death stare from about 20 different mothers while onstage. Nor do you want to elicit any "pearl clutching" because you said something equally as vulgar. If you cannot remember your prepared answer to a questions, don't start off with "Oh, s---..." Like I said, take a deep breathe and smile. Remember, a pin up is the girl-next-door, and while that girl may love sailors, she doesn't swear like one.
Posing: In some contests, if you make it to the final round, you will be asked to pose with a vintage car. If you're planning to compete, you're planning to win, and you should expect to get to this round. Search images of pin ups and cars. Study these poses so that you'll have plenty to pull from when the time comes. Keep in mind, when posing with a car it is important to make the CAR look good, just as much as yourself. Some poses work much better with a car than others so take note of that when doing your research. And NEVER, EVER put your shoes on the car, or try sitting on it unless you have been given express permission to do so. You'll never want to be the girl who put a scratch in the paint or dent in the hood of a beautifully restored vintage car. You don't. Want. To do it.
And posing isn't limited to just the 3rd round. You should always be striking a pose, even when standing on stage. Showgirl Pose is the perfect way to stand when onstage. To do so, you stand with your left leg slightly behind your right, with left toes angled slightly to the left. The heel of your right foot should be close to your left foot, with your toes pointing forward. You can choose to only have the ball of your right foot touching the floor. Rest your left hand on your hip and voila! This pose gives your legs a lean look and helps to exaggerate your curves or create them where they don't exist. Always remember to smile, and smile BIG. Don't forget that posing is a part of a pin up's job so really take this moment to shine.
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And that's it! None of these tips will guarantee you a win and I don't profess to know exactly what each judge in every contest I competed in was looking for. All I know is this is what I have learned from each and every contest, judge, and pin up that I've experienced. I hope I have given you some valuable information and I hope it helps you prepare for your moment in the spotlight. Good luck Darlings!
Love Always,
Cherie
