(horn music)
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(blues rock music)
- Hi there, I'm Ginger Watson.
I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio.
It's my first Viva Las Vegas,
so it's kind of a big deal.
When I found out that I was in an Inner B contest
it just made sense for me,
because I got bullied a lot when I was young.
Everybody's awkward when they're going through puberty
and I was pretty awkward.
If I would've had someone
teaching me that I'm beautiful on the inside
then maybe it would've been easier.
It's just an honor to be recognized
as one of 12 Inner Beauty girls in the world.
But if I could win, that would just be the tops.
(crowd applauds)
- [Announcer] This year's pin-up pageant winner,
please welcome to the stage Ginger Watson!
(crowd cheers)
- Everybody's got a story behind who they are
and what's drawn them to pin-up.
Whether it be a life experience or a traumatic experience
or a journey of self-discovery and wanting self-acceptance.
To feel confident in my own skin,
to feel pretty and to feel accepted and to feel
appreciated, it was something I'd never experienced before.
- I don't just do it to look pretty or,
because I think the photos look pretty.
I like challenging myself to do different concepts
and challenging my body to do different poses.
I have a very strong connection with veterans.
They hug you, and with tears in their eyes
they're telling you that you're the reason
that they came home, that they fought for us.
So it's a really big thing.
- When you have hips and boobs at 14
it's so hard to fit that mainstream mold.
Once I found vintage reproduction
like pin-up girl clothing.
That was the final point of me
being able to accept myself the way I am
because I wasn't try to wear things that were made
for a body shape that wasn't mine.
- It's very difficult
when people are kind of putting you down.
Oh, you're not that pretty
and you're too dark.
Well, despite all you people trying to tell me
that I am not good enough, I am good enough.
I wanna pave the way for other girls
to be like, I'm gonna do it too.
- I have actually never won a contest.
So if I got to win, it would mean the world to me.
- If I win, it would be the most wonderful thing
in my whole life.
- I can't even express how it would feel.
- If I think about it too much,
then I get too caught up in it all
and I guess want to be too disappointed if I don't.
- It would be completely mind-blowing.
I'd be absolutely stunned, yeah.
I can't imagine but, I, I, (speaks in foreign language).
(tense music)
(crowd murmuring)
- Are you guys ready?
(crowd cheering and applauding)
Your new Miss Viva Las Vegas 18.
- Hi, I'm Dixie Delight.
- I'm Angie Honeyburst.
- I'm Ivy Fox.
- I'm the Blue Haired Betty.
- I'm Marilia Skraba.
- I'm Ruby Red.
- I'm LuLu Divine.
- I'm Miss Victory Violet.
- My name is HellCath.
- Hi, I'm Brittany Jean.
- My name is Jayne Dean.
- Hi, I'm Pinup Little Bit and I'm the next--
- And I'm the next--
- I am the next--
- The next Miss--
- Miss Viva Las--
- Miss Viva Las Vegas.
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] They've been sexually fantasized
since the late 1800's.
They were drawn, painted, and eventually photographed.
Their images appeared on posters, magazine covers,
calendars, and playing cards.
And they were called pinups.
(cymbals and drums playing)
Each year over 25,000 fans of all things vintage
reunite for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend
at the Orleans Hotel.
It's here that the Miss Viva Las Vegas
pinup contest was introduced,
the largest and most acclaimed pinup contest in the world.
- Miss Viva Las Vegas is the ultimate pageant title.
Every girl wants to be Miss Viva Las Vegas,
it's like, the Miss America of the rockabilly genre.
- Originally it started out just a music event,
but now it's a lifestyle event.
And pinup is one part of the lifestyle.
- If you're into pinup, rockabilly, retro,
anything vintage, you know what Viva is.
- Because we have such an international audience,
when a girl's up on that stage,
she's not just in front of Vegas or America,
she's in front of the world.
- My name is Tipa and I'm from Sweden.
- I come from a little village in the north of Italy.
- I'm Vivian, and I'm from the Netherlands.
- I'm from Russia, from St Petersburg.
(speaking in foreign language)
- I think a lot of people feel like, oh,
it's an American contest, so maybe it's just about
the American pinup.
No, it's about the pinup.
- Doing the competition at Viva Las Vegas
is something I just felt we had to do,
but we had to get it right.
First of all, I had to make sure I had
someone involved who was respected in the pinup world,
which is how Rockwell got involved.
- [Woman] Rockwell De'Vil is a pinup model.
She's also a businesswoman.
- She's a burlesque performer.
She's a makeup artist, she's like a jack of all trades.
She's great.
- Rockwell definitely represents the kind of style
and also the edgier pinup tattoo culture.
Today, she's gonna do my makeup.
She's gonna turn me from everyday to 1950's pinup.
Watching her do her thing is pretty awesome.
It transforms me from the inside out.
For me, being a pinup and being made up like that
kind of embodies the all-time feminine beauty
that was a little bit more classy,
a little bit more classic.
It's really special when she does.
Makes me feel really good about myself, 'cause I look great.
Thank you.
(jazz music)
- Back in the 1940's during World War Two,
pinup girls became very popular.
They were a symbol to our men who were serving overseas.
- My dad was in World War Two,
and I understood that pinup and pinup images
helped the guys get through some very very tough times.
- They were there as an inspiration for the guys
out on the front line.
And they get that pinup name because
they were pinned on the wall, inside of a locker,
above the bed.
- [Old-Time Narrator] You've all seen 'em.
The girls on our bombers, symbols of good luck
and happy landing.
This one is Bale's Baby.
The Army finds that bomber girls are swell morale-builders.
- Even though, on the surface just looks like
some pretty girls in some vintage bathing suits,
I always had the feeling that pinup
was a really important part of getting
some of these soldiers, giving some of them
really life-changing things.
- [Claire] Traditionally a pinup would be somebody
that is 30's, 40's, 50's styled.
In current times even a Playboy model would be a pinup.
- As a guy, I appreciate the elegance
of the vintage pinup, 'cause if you look
at their traditional poses, they're always about
girls enjoying themselves.
They're happy, with a big smile.
- That's inspiring to people because,
a pinup is never just outwardly sexual.
It's quite multifaceted.
- World War Two happened, and the women had to
pick up the slack, and had to be the providers
and work while their husbands were at war,
and they had to figure out how to change the lightbulb
and they had to figure out how to fix the car
when it went out.
So it gave women skills that they'd never had
the means to have before.
The world of women was changing so quickly,
and just that kind of woman power,
like the Rosie the Riveter, that changed
the way women could be and could see themselves.
- Pinup is a way of them keeping their female image,
as part of their beauty and character and things like that.
Along with this powerful side of their life.
(doorbell rings)
- Welcome.
- Thank you, nice to see you.
- You too.
So, this is gonna be hard.
- It's super difficult.
- This is hard.
I went ahead and I went through all the contestants online,
and picked my favorites based on just how they look.
And then, it got even worse, when I started
reading their stories.
- All the submissions this year were amazing,
and the photographs so much good styling.
It's a lot of work to be in the pinup contest,
because you do have to have a great dress,
you have to have a lot of personality up there,
you have to be ready for real questions.
That's the thing I love about the profiles,
is that they actually have to talk about
if they volunteer, or what they do in their free time.
It's really about them as people.
- [Tom] Anyone can enter, that's the first thing.
There are five competitors, who are chosen by the judges.
You've got one competitor in the final who's
chosen by the other five competitors,
and then the audience votes on the rest of the finalists.
- There's a couple girls that definitely stand out,
with really amazing hair and makeup,
and their vibe, and what they do behind the scenes.
There's just a gorgeous redhead.
I love the redheads.
- This is a gorgeous photo.
- Photo is really good.
- This girl right here.
Miss Victory Violet, she's also very classic,
kind of has that Dita Von Teese, white white skin,
dark dark hair.
Super beautiful, and she's also a makeup artist,
and hairdresser, but she's a blogger of fashion
and she's a body advocate.
- I love the photo.
Look at her.
Brittany Jean.
Her hair is perfectly styled with a victory roll.
- But not only is it perfectly styled, it's period-correct.
- Yes.
- I like that she was confident and dedicated
to the community.
(jazz music)
- I love her pictures, I love her personality,
- She is also--
- Oh on Tom'ss.
Okay, perfect. - [Rockwell] And Cherry's.
- [Lisa] Okay, yay.
- And then you've got--
- [Lisa] Marilia! - Marilia.
- [Lisa] Her picture's gorgeous, everything, she's gorgeous.
- [Rockwell] She's a ballet dancer.
So you know she's gonna walk up there with poise.
I love this picture, which is
a very Mexican-styled senorita-type.
- Being from Brazil, and then loving the culture and--
- Working with children.
- Specifically with autism, and music therapy.
Like how can you not fall in love with her?
- [Rockwell] Angie Honeyburst.
- Oh we have two from Brazil!
- Two from Brazil.
One from California, New Zealand, Australia, and Cincinnati.
All right, that's it, so.
I'll make the announcement tonight.
(doo-wop music)
- I'm here in my house in Sao Paulo Brazil,
and I am finishing the preparation for Viva Las Vegas.
I am very excited, a little bit anxious,
a little bit nervous, but mostly very happy.
- I'm all the way from Capetown South Africa.
- I'm very very happy about the guests.
It's just that I'm pretty stressed out these days
because there's only like, three weeks left.
- I am seriously looking forward to warm and sunny Vegas,
'cause, Ohio has given us some cold and gray--
- Nine days, nine days!
Til I get on the airplane and go to Vegas.
- From Los Angeles California, super excited
to be at this year's Miss Viva Las Vegas pinup contest.
- I'm just starting to pack up for Vegas, very scary.
I'll fly out in two days.
- I cannot wait to meet you,
and hopefully get one of your votes, thank you.
- Hopefully, I will have some time next week
to plan out all my outfits.
And properly organize all the accessories that go with them.
- Hope I pack all the right things.
Imagine if I forgot my pageant dress, oop.
- Food and beverage station there.
(rockabilly music)
- To me, Las Vegas is the ideal location.
There's nowhere else like it.
Everything is fake, but it's fantasy.
- I think Vegas is one of the few places in the world
that still exists that still has
that magic that it had then.
- [Tom] With Las Vegas, you are transported
into another world.
- Everyone here at the hotel gets involved.
The restaurants and the bartenders get dolled up.
The music that's being played no matter where you walk,
everywhere you look you can't escape it.
It's just magical.
- [Blue Hair Betty] So we literally have three days to go.
I know I'm a little stressed.
Not about the trip actually, but more about
just making sure everything at home is done
and dusted and sorted so that I can really enjoy the trip.
- I have been traveling for a while, I went from Adelaide
to Melbourne, to Sydney, and now LA before I land.
- I feel like I'm going there with friends,
and familiar faces, and it's not really a contest.
(upbeat swinging music)
- [Rockwell] Welcome to Viva, everybody!
Are we ready to rock 'n' roll?
(rock 'n' roll music)
♪ Headin' out to Viva ♪
♪ Viva Las Vegas ♪
♪ Well the clubs is always swingin' ♪
♪ And the cash is all the rage ♪
♪ Ohh dressin' up crazy like a pinup girl ♪
♪ I'll pin my every day heavy when I picked her to come ♪
♪ Well I'm heading out to Vegas ♪
♪ Heading out to Vegas ♪
♪ I'm heading out to Viva ♪
♪ I'm callin' round the table ♪
♪ Calling round the table ♪
♪ I hear Vegas and the east sun ♪
♪ Viva Las Vegas ♪
♪ Vegas ♪
- Hello everyone.
Can I welcome to Viva Las Vegas 18,
thank you so much for being here.
- [Everyone] Thank you.
- I'm Miss Rockwell.
Hello, welcome.
Pinup girls, you obviously have been in connection with me,
so nice to see you all in person.
We wanted you guys to know each other
and get to know your judges.
- Right now, the judges have an opportunity
to meet all the wonderful pinup girls in the pinup contest,
and it's really exciting to see all
these beautiful girl who have really made an effort
to dress up and look their best.
It's exciting.
- Hi Tom.
- Hello, hi.
- Blue Haired Betty.
- I could have figured that out.
The meet and greet reception's important for the judges,
so that they can meet the girls
and chat to them a bit to find out more what they're like,
rather than just relying on those few moments on stage.
- This is a great opportunity to sit with them,
and see how they've done their hair,
and make sure their nails are painted.
You know, just little things like that.
I'm judging already.
(upbeat 50' music)
- I'm Ginger.
- Oh, you're Ginger!
- Yes, nice to meet you.
- I thought you were, but I just wanted to make sure.
You won last year!
- Yes, yes.
- Oh my gosh, I remember watching you on stage last year,
you were so beautiful.
- Thank you so much.
- Oh my gosh.
- We got a chance to talk to a few of the ladies
in the pinup contest here, and they're really nice
and they have a lot of good stories to tell.
- Beautiful too.
- And they are beautiful, absolutely.
- I have a feeling, after this meet and greet,
that I am definitely gonna have a favorite.
(upbeat 50's music)
- The contest is tomorrow, so we've got
around 24 hours before showtime.
- I think it's finally hitting me now that I'm in Vegas,
that it actually is all happening.
- I can't even say how much I am excited
and nervous, and happy to be here.
This is like the Oscars to pinup girls.
- Not to overwhelm you but just to prepare you,
we get about 20 to 23,000 people in attendance.
- Oh great, that's not scary at all.
- They're really owning it, which is really cool.
Because they should.
And I feel like, it is such an honor
and it's the biggest show, it's the largest
rockabilly weekender in the world.
- Could you share us girls that your adventure last year?
- My alarm was set to PM, not AM.
So I woke up frazzled, and I'm rushing downstairs,
and the bottom of my shoe just ripped off,
right down to the heel.
I ended up duct-taping my shoe in multiple ways.
I got on stage and as I'm walking to Rockwell,
my shoe was sticking to the floor.
I'm like, I'm gonna fall on my face.
The sensation not winning last year was kind of like, oh!
Like a little jab in the gut, like aww.
It hurt a little bit, but it motivated me to do it again.
And I'll keep coming back until they tell me, "You're done."
Or they give me that trophy.
- I have been doing a lot of personal growth.
A few years ago I was engaged to be married,
and after that fell through, I started to really think about
what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in life,
without this person who I thought
I was gonna be with forever.
So, my pageant dress is actually one that I bought
to wear at my rehearsal dinner.
It's probably the most gorgeous vintage dress
that I have ever owned.
When my engagement fell through,
I actually left my dress
in the back of the closet for years,
but in shopping for a dress this year,
I just couldn't connect with anything in the shops.
I finally looked at this dress and I thought,
I have conquered a lot of fears this year.
I'm going to put this dress on,
and who knows, maybe a happy memory will come from it.
- Hello, oh my gosh, you look amazing.
I just finished putting in my last curl for my curl set,
and I have Lucy Lopez coming on over
to help me with my hair today.
It's going to involve a lot of hairpieces.
That's kind of my thing.
- Hey, how are you.
So nice to meet you.
I saw your post the other day.
- [Angie Honeyburst] I take two or three hours
to do all of my makeup, my hair, and then put my clothes on.
- Gotta put my cat-eyes on.
- [Lulu Divine] I've been going through
quite a hard time myself,
in the lead up to the actual competition.
My eight year relationship actually fell apart,
and I found out that the person that I loved
and wanted to have a future with had been cheating on me.
So for me, Viva was got me out of bed every morning.
It was what kept a smile on my face.
It was, the drive that I needed to get through
what has probably been the worst experience of my life.
- I feel very positive this time around.
I'm very hopeful.
Last year I was frazzled, by now I was kind of freaking out
because everything was kind of falling apart,
and I was kind of emotional over that.
But today I feel relaxed and I feel calm
and I'm just trying to figure out what
this bundle of curls is gonna do
and hopefully it'll work with my dress.
I almost didn't make it this year.
We were in an accident three weeks ago.
My husband got really injured.
We were in the car together on our way
to pick up our daughter.
Thankfully she wasn't in the car.
Because of the accident, I made the mental decision
not to come today.
They sat me down.
"You made a promise to us last year
"that you would try again.
"You made it through so you have to go
"and you have to do good."
They are great supporters of mine.
Without them, I would not have continued.
The goal and the focus is to win,
so that's what I'm here to do.
And carry my family with me to the stage,
definitely this year.
(tense music)
- [Woman] What I look for in a pinup model
is beauty and brains.
- I don't look for someone who's all made up and,
faking it, I look for someone that's genuinely
a really nice person.
- It's personality I think, and there's also style
that comes into it, and online presence,
and the way you behave in public can
have a lot to do with it as well.
- The whole look for a pinup show
obviously has to be impeccable.
But even more so the personality behind the girls.
- We're getting ready for the pinup contest!
Woo! - Yay!
- Have you voted for the pinup contest?
Here, vote for Ruby Red.
All you have to do is go right over to this table,
you get a free ticket, and you drop it in the bucket.
- Today is a really good day.
I love car shows, and I love talking to people,
so I'm in my element.
- Thank you so much, and can you bring one to vote.
- Okay, thank you.
- The moment we've all been waiting for, right?
It's finally almost here, so, gonna be fun.
Love it.
- Got courage?
(laughing)
- I have been overwhelmed.
I didn't realize people actually knew who I was
to be quite honest.
- We got these little things from, I forget her name,
she's an Australia pinup.
- I have to vote for my best friend Ivy Fox, so (laughs).
- I have voted for Brittany Jean.
- HellCath.
- I just voted for Little Bit.
- Ivy Fox.
- She was really pretty, she was really sweet, and friendly.
- I voted for Little Bit.
- Little Bit.
- My vote has always been for Pinup Little Bit.
She's my hometown favorite.
- Ladies, voting ends in five minutes!
- We had a hundred times more people voting
this year than last year.
Like crazy, yeah.
- I'm nervous for all the girls, and I just hope that
they feel good up there, 'cause I remember
how nervous I was.
And I hope they just have fun.
If you take it too seriously, you'll psych yourself out.
- All right, I think we're ready-ish.
Okay, we have you, Lisa, where's Cherry,
I thought I saw Cherry.
The judges already know a little bit about you,
based on those things that you submitted.
We have a good balance, we've got two male judges,
and two female judges.
Tom, who obviously is well-respected in our community.
And then we've got Lisa Love.
I've known her a really long time so I trust her,
she's the face of it even now for a reason.
Then we have Cherry Dollface, who,
if you don't know who she is, surprise.
So I wanted somebody who identifies with you girls,
who knows what it's like to be on stage.
It's great because we've got one who's a classic pinup,
with zero tattoos, and then you have one
who's heavily tattooed.
The second guy is Adam from Kustomville.
He knows fashion, he's hip to what's cool,
but he's also down with the tattoo thing too,
the fun hair colors, piercings, he's not gonna be like,
"I only want this specific look."
I can't judge you.
So I leave it to the people that can take it
and handle it and do it well.
So you guys are in good hands.
(upbeat music)
- All right, good afternoon, everyone.
Let me start by introducing the young lady
who's been organizing it all, Miss Rockwell De'Vil!
(audience applauds)
Doesn't she look beautiful?
- How's everybody doing?
(audience applauds)
Let's get this show on the road, shall we?
First up we have a bubbly little Canadian cutie,
please give a warm Viva welcome to Dixie Delight.
(harmonica playing)
- I am a small-town girl.
I live in a town called Chilliwack in beautiful
British Columbia, Canada, where I stick out
like a sore thumb, which is totally fine for me.
I've been known to be called the pinup mom,
because I pick up my son from school dressed like this.
Having a theater background,
when the opportunity came around to enter a pinup pageant,
I knew that it'd be really fun to create a character
and be on stage and take part in that.
I'm a Gemini, so it was a really good second character
for my personality.
Being a pinup, you really need the support of your family.
It's a rollercoaster.
There are so many ups, sometimes there's downs,
but I always pick myself up and continue on,
because I know that I'm inspiring other people.
When you're passionate about something
and you are continually validated that you are
doing something right, it keeps that passion alive.
And by giving people an inspiration to do something
they're passionate about in their personal life,
is really truly the greatest.
- Being a pinup is the only place that I felt
that I belong to.
I have other girls that they have the same passions,
the same dreams.
I make a lot of friends, that was the best part.
- One of my favorite things about pinup
is that it's very open to your own interpretation.
I have never felt like I fit in somewhere so well.
- Everybody puts their own flavor and
their own personality into it.
And, that's a good thing, because nobody wants to
be the same, and that's what's great about rockabilly
culture and pinup culture and vintage enthusiasts,
because everyone gets to be who they are.
It's not about looking one way, and acting one way,
or dancing one way.
- You have girls that wear their Levi's with
engineer boots and cuffs, and they're badass greasers.
And then you have girls that are in these beautiful
mermaid sequined gowns, so it embraces everybody.
- I'm gonna talk to you this morning
about the way you look.
Don't copy.
After all, each of you is an original,
and an original is always more valuable than a copy.
- [Ruby Red] Being from Colorado Springs,
there's not a huge rockabilly community,
there's definitely a great one.
So when I put my mind, as I'm gonna be
one of those contestants.
I'm not gonna stop until I get there.
- From Colorado Springs, welcome Ruby Red.
(audience applauds)
Ooh, I think she's got a few fans here.
So, you told me that you helped run and organize
some fundraisers and charities back home.
What was one event that really hit home for you
and made a personal impact?
- Fundraising is very big to me.
I lost two nephews due to suicide.
So, something that is very special is,
I fundraise for suicide prevention,
and it's definitely teen suicide.
Statistics say that it comes in twos.
If I can save one, then hopefully I can save two.
I lost two nephews and this is for them.
(audience applauds)
- A lot of these girls in pinup have very good jobs,
heavily involved in charities,
they're real people who benefit society.
- I'm a fan of Brittany Jean, particularly.
I just appreciate what she does for the veterans.
That's why she's my particular favorite.
- Thank you so much.
I have a lot of veterans in my family.
A lot of my friends are enlisted currently as well.
And I wanted a way to give back.
Not just in the United States but Australia,
the UK, our allied countries.
We just started our own group in Cincinnati,
where we'll actually be going through the honor flights
and welcoming home these World War Two and
Korean War veterans with hugs and kisses.
It's one thing to be on one side of the camera,
and posing with these old war birds,
that you know if they could talk,
have an incredible history.
But then to actually meet the men who flew them,
it's very important to me.
- And so the pinup is more than just the looks.
Which is why when we have the pinup competitions,
the audience is a mixture of male and female.
Whereas perhaps in the past it would've just been all men.
- I went to business school, I'm smart, I'm educated,
I have a career.
It's okay to be empowered and smart, and also be feminine.
- Up next, from South Africa, the Blue Haired Betty!
(audience applauds)
Isn't she gorgeous?
- Obviously having such striking hair color,
you're forced to deal with a lot of attention,
even when you're not actively seeking it.
So you have to learn to deal with a lot of insecurities
you might have about yourself.
In my teens I was the dark-haired goth girl.
Black on black on black.
So I was obviously always looking for a different outlet,
living some sort of alternative lifestyle
different to the norm.
It was actually my boyfriend about five, six years ago
who said, "You know, you'd look nice with
"a little bit of color on you."
So I'd like venture and try a white top
with my black outfit.
And then the blue hair also was a gradual progression.
Started with a fringe, and it got from black to dark blue,
and as the hair got brighter and bluer,
so did the wardrobe.
Through the music, and through the cars,
and through the clothing, I've found my niche in life.
I love when I go grocery shopping,
and someone stops me and says,
"You have just absolutely brightened my day.",
or they go, "Oh, if only I was like 20 or 30 years younger,
"I would so do that."
I love challenging the stereotypes.
If you think I look a little ditsy, or silly,
or crazy or that I probably can't hold down
a real job with the way I look,
and then I can come up and speak to you and say that
I'm a business owner, I hopefully sound well-educated
and polite, and that hopefully someone walks away going,
"Wow, maybe the next time I see someone
"that looks a little different,
"I won't be so quick to judge them."
I definitely believe I am more confident
than I've ever been in myself.
And for the first time ever in my life,
I absolutely love the reflection I see
in the mirror every day.
I'm the best Blue Haired Betty I can be.
(audience applauds)
- One of the things a lot of people don't know,
is I am very shy, I get very nervous in public settings.
And I'd have to train my brain and meditate
on what's happening.
But, with that being said, this pinup modeling
and pinup world, you kind of can be.
So I get to invoke this character who I know that I am
inside, without all those little hangups that we have.
- One of the reasons why girls take a stage name is,
it's kind of cute to have an alternate persona.
It's one of those things, like when you get ready,
you're fully suited up, and you're like,
"Okay, I'm Ginger now."
This is what I want everyone to see me as,
it's one of those things where you can just flip it
and you're like, all right, I'm her now.
- Having Little Bit pushes me to put myself more out there
and talk to people.
Sharon Escamilla is mom, wife, and just focused on family,
and Little Bit allows me to focus on myself
as an outlet for me to grow and
feel more confident in myself.
- It's not about what you're born with.
I've always felt like a very mediocre-looking person.
I used the tools of glamor and retro style
to craft a persona, to overcome my shyness.
I always loved the idea of the big Hollywood makeover.
- I love making girls feel good about themselves.
I shoot all kinds of women.
You don't have to be a model.
I love making women feel beautiful.
To put females in this powerful light.
- You look at yourself in these images and go, "That's me?"
That's not just a picture on paper, you are that beautiful,
and that's why girls really enjoy doing it,
because it makes them feel really great about themselves.
- All right, our next contestant is our body confidence
advocate and she's doing it in style.
From New Zealand is Miss Victory Violet.
(audience applauds)
- Pinup and vintage helped me to embrace my figure,
embrace my shape.
I'm not perfect, none of us are.
I always tried to conform to mainstream fashions.
In the end that brought me down and I developed
an eating disorder, and,
it just really shook my confidence.
The mainstream fashion catered to the slimmer shape.
But the plus-size fashion, they get really baggy things.
And even me, who I'm not exactly plus-plus-size,
I couldn't buy a pair of jeans that fit me right.
Within vintage and retro, I can buy a pair of jeans
and it fits me at my waist and it fits me at my hip.
That's a revolution.
Occasionally I have a blog rant.
My blog is my creative outlet.
I started up a body confidence seminar,
I call, Mirror Mirror.
I got a couple of guest speakers,
one was a body confidence coach and motivational speaker,
and another one was a nutritionist.
And we just talked about trying
to love yourself from within.
I think that helped to express all of the things
that I wanted to express for so long.
- You see pinups of all sizes, all shapes,
so there's not that billboard model of the perfect girl
with the perfect size-zero waist.
It's giving a more realistic expectation
of what a real woman looks like.
- Body image is a difficult thing.
A lot of people are harder on themselves
than they should be.
Because of media, they feel like those things
they see are real, and they're just not.
- A lot of people think that the word plus-size
shouldn't be used, and just models should be used,
but I'm proud of it, I'm proud of my shape,
I'm proud of my body.
The body-positive movement that's
happening right now blows me away.
It's really nice to see things change to where
women are complimenting other women
and making them feel good about themselves.
- That's the beauty of it, you're beautiful.
And, it doesn't matter what size you are.
Flaunt it.
- [Rockwell] This next chica is coming to us
all the way from Brazil.
Please welcome Angie Honeyburst to the stage!
(audience applauds)
- I really love the classic look of pinups,
but I also appreciate very much the pinups
of the Latin Americas.
Like the, (speaking foreign language)
who formed the Mexican Revolution.
I really think that women can feel comfortable
with their own bodies.
And fight against all the oppression,
and to empower each other.
I'm from the south of Brazil.
My city is Sao Borja, but I live in Santa Maria,
because I never find anything of this style to buy
in small town where I grew.
All the clothes that I'm wearing now, I made myself.
My inspire is on Linda Darnell in
like classic western movie, My Darling Clementine.
I really love this style, the Mexican,
and the Western styles, so, this is me.
I always like to dress like a pinup.
My friends think that's funny, but I don't care.
It's my style, it's in my heart, and I really love it.
We can do it!
We got the powers!
(speaking in foreign language)
- Someone who's into say wearing 50's clothes,
in their everyday life, they're the odd one out.
People might look at them and think,
"Oh, why do they wear those strange clothes for?"
You walk into Viva Las Vegas,
if you're wearing modern clothes,
you're now the odd one out.
- I love vintage clothing because it's very unique,
and it's very classic.
You can look well without having to show
a lot of your body.
- I am not a girl that lives vintage 24/7,
but I definitely feel like even my personal style
when I am dressed up is very much a mix between
vintage and modern.
- [Tom] For some people, fashion could become a bit boring.
So to be able to have an interest in clothes
where you've actually got to put some work
into finding clothes, it makes what you wear
more part of you.
- In Brazil, people don't really know
about vintage and pinup.
Even my mom and dad, I have to explain for them,
why am I dressing like this.
They love it because it's really beautiful.
- I like it because the look is really feminine.
It's not slutty (laughs).
At least I don't try for slutty.
I try for feminine, and I try to be as,
I guess, vintage as possible, keeping it true to the look.
With my tattoos as much as possible.
- Back then, it was very taboo socially to be tattooed,
especially to be a girl heavily tattooed.
- I feel like that when I have my tattoos showing,
it takes away from that classic look.
- If you took all my tattoos away and just saw me right now,
I would look very normal and put together,
but I like the weird twist of very modern
traditional vintage with very edgy, new, today.
- Tattoo for me is a huge part of my life,
I've been doing it for 10 years.
I'm able to cover a lot of scarring on people, sometimes.
And someone who wasn't comfortable wearing a bikini
can now go to the beach and wear one!
It really does make a huge difference, some people's lives.
- Not everyone has 'em.
And there's some people that are against them.
It's just one of the things that's been added
to the scene over the years.
But it's accepted.
- [Rockwell] Up next is another Canadian cutie, HellCath.
(audience applauds)
- I started getting tattoos at age 13.
At first, my parents were not really, down with that.
With time, they learned to just understand
that that doesn't make me less of a better person.
They just accept me the way I am now
and they all really help me getting votes for the contest,
and it really touched me, because,
growing up I didn't have a good relationship
with my family at all.
And now my sister helped me, my parents,
even my parents-in-law.
There was a really fun experience to know
that they're here and they're helped me.
I've been buying diagnosed with fibromyalgia
about two years ago.
That's a sickness that is never go away.
You can just control it with medications.
It's like, when you do something, and you get very very sore
the next day, like your body reacts too much.
So when I do photoshoot, I might not be able
to walk for three days afterwards.
It's really hard on my body, so,
as much as I love that, I'm not sure I'm gonna
be able to do it anymore.
(audience applauds)
- This next gal comes from a land down under.
Put your hands together for
this koala cutie, Miss Lulu Divine.
(audience applauds)
So this lovely dame apparently is working on a Chevy.
- I have a 1973 two-door Chevy Styleline,
brought it over here on a vacation.
My dad and I went to a swap meet,
and an older gentleman was selling it
and I had a look at it, and,
it's rough, it's not a show car, yet.
I just fell in love with it.
It's very robust.
And very tough-looking.
It's my pride and joy.
All I need to do is replace the floor pan in it
so it complies with Australian standards and
then I'm gonna be cruisin' in it.
- [Rockwell] Gotta love a good car girl.
(audience applauds)
- Some people are into the 50's because of the music,
some because of the clothes, some because of their cars.
That's why Viva Las Vegas has the car show.
(rock 'n' roll music)
- Cars are rolling art, and the only thing prettier
than a real beautiful custom car is
a beautiful pinup girl, and that's a fact.
- Automobiles with women go together
because they've got the curves.
They've got the S-curve, and the S-curve is something
we find in nature, we find it in fit design,
we find it in all forms of beauty.
When we see these pinups posing, they stretch a pose,
that gives us that vibe.
Like these cars give us that.
And they're not moving, but man they're going someplace
and they're going someplace fast.
- My husband's a car enthusiast,
so that's where the door opened up for the pinup scene
and the rockabilly scene.
He would come pick me up and we'd drive to the beach,
and we'd listen to Brian Setzer, and my god
all their stuff is really great, where have I been?
What have I been listening to?
(rockabilly music)
- The rockabilly community, if you're into the music,
and you go on vacation to any other country,
so long as you know where rockabilly venues are,
it's like an unofficial club that you belong to.
And it's worldwide.
- In Victoria BC There is a decent rockabilly scene.
There's a couple of pubs where they'll put on shows,
rockabilly, psychobilly, so that's been
really awesome for me.
It's nice to be somewhere where
there's more like-minded people.
(rockabilly music)
- And once again, we got another Canadian in the house.
Welcome our next pinup, Jayne Dean.
(audience applauds)
Well first of all I wanna say,
happy birthday to Jayne's dad,
so happy birthday Jayne's papa,
wherever you're at, happy birthday.
- Hey mother, her sister, and I have all come from
Northern British Columbia, to be with her
to cheer her on, and help her out.
And be her sounding board this weekend,
and we're thrilled to be here.
- [Jayne] And we're here for my dad's birthday, as well!
- Yes, it's my 60th birthday.
I get to pay the bill for my
birthday present. - [Jayne] It's all about me
now (laughs). - Yes, it's all about her.
- You told me you were a tradeswoman.
So tell us what it is that you do,
and how that transitions into your pinup life.
- My dad's a contractor, I always helped on job sites
growing up, whenever he needed a hand,
when I show up at a job site everyone thinks
that I'm someone's wife or I'm there to bring lunch,
or I've had people take tools right out of my hands
because they think that I'm a waitress at the restaurant,
or working on.
I went through Customs on the way here actually
and they didn't believe that I do construction.
They almost detained me because he just
kept arguing with me.
I've always been very curvaceous,
I'm very exotic-looking, I have strong facial features.
I just always get compared to Betty Page,
I always have got comments my whole life
about how I look pinup.
I don't have a lot of glamor in my daily life,
so it's fun getting all dolled up
and going to photoshoots and going to events.
It's just been a lot of fun, yeah.
At the end of every day, I love trading in
my steel-toed boots for stilettos,
and I'm here to trade my hard hat in for a tiara.
(audience applauds)
- Our next lovely gal's a Brazilian ballerina,
dancing her way into the stage is Marilia Skraba.
(audience applauds)
- In 2009, I came to the United States for an internship.
Here, the fashion is so different from Brazil.
At first, I was actually an alternative person.
And then when I got back to Brazil,
we didn't have these kind of clothes,
so I had to start to make them.
First, I started to design clothes in this style,
but as you are an alternative person,
the next step is really close to vintage clothing.
I own a website, where I sell vintage clothing.
I love to do my work.
It's been six years since I started,.
It was one of the first vintage websites in Brazil.
If you allow me I'd like to say a few words in Portuguese.
(speaking in foreign language)
Thank you.
(audience cheers)
- Wow.
I need a translator now.
- Look at whatever you want from the 50's,
and it's so well-thought in the design.
All the furnitures, you can see the ads, the cars,
it's all so well-made.
- I have a lot of stuff in my house that are vintage.
Mostly I have to buy here, and then take there.
My kitchen is pink, everything is vintage-style.
Some things I have to paint by myself to look vintage color.
- Looking around my house, it is very vintage-inspired,
but I still have a flat-screen television
and I still have my record player hooked up
to really nice modern speakers.
- We have the best of both worlds,
because we have technology,
and we can live in the 50's in a sense as well.
- What we embrace more is the culture itself.
The cars, the beauty, the glamorous clothes,
the makeup, the hair.
We're just from a different era where dressing up was fun,
going out was fun.
Dancing was fun.
- For me, what ties the cars and the clothing,
since I'm so passionate about the clothing,
and the pinup and all of that together,
was just the beauty.
I mean, the curves, the class, the attention to detail.
- Our next contestant comes from Cincinnati Ohio.
Please welcome Miss Brittany Jean.
(audience applauds)
- I have been a pinup model for almost a decade.
I actually started out as a fashion model,
but I had always loved the 1950's,
and always adored the pinup models.
When I first started out I had a photographer friend,
and he and I just used to get together and play shoots,
and I said, "Let me be a 1950's pinup."
And it's gone from there.
My dad was very much into the 1950's as well.
I grew up listening to Patsy Cline,
my mom always played big band music.
I took swing dancing lessons, and I love doing it.
My family completely embraces me doing pinup modeling.
The first couple of pieces of vintage lingerie I have
were from my aunts.
My mom held onto those for a few years
before she gave them to me, but (laughs).
My aunt was a big inspiration to me.
When I was eight years old she was diagnosed with leukemia.
So when she passed away, it kind of kicked my mind into gear
that life doesn't wait.
- I first discovered vintage and pinup style
when I was in my late teens.
I was working in a lingerie store,
and I started collecting vintage lingerie.
Being photographed in my corsets and vintage lingerie
was definitely empowering.
I found it to be an incredibly creative space.
- For my professional modeling career,
they dressed me, and they make me look
how they want me to look.
But for pinup style, I can create my image,
I can choose how I want my hair to be styled
and my makeup to be done, and which outfits I wanna wear.
I love having complete control about that.
- I was working for photographers that were wanting
to do 1940's, 1950's pinup modeling.
The next thing I know they were like,
"Well, can you just come back and be the pinup model?"
And I was 32, should I even say that?
I was 32, so I thought I was already finished,
even trying to be a model.
I got so many offers for pinup modeling
from all these different clothing companies.
And I was just shocked.
- For me it's about being there, the experience.
I love being on stage, I love the atmosphere,
I love engaging the crowd and making them feel excited.
- Up next we have a saucy little Aussie,
give a hoot and a holler for Ivy Fox.
(audience applauds)
What inspired you to get so heavily involved
with animal charities?
- When I was eight, I went vegetarian
and I just never looked back.
I also do charity work for LGBTIQ rights, so queer rights.
Yes, I am a gay pinup, I'm gonna put that out there.
So now I'm out and proud.
When you think of a typical lesbian,
you don't think of someone like this.
Unfortunately it's still ingrained
that people think lesbian, they think of short hair,
they think of macho kind of deal.
I don't look gay.
Well I am, so, deal with it.
- Oh my god, this girl had the balls to do that on stage,
in front of 20 plus thousand people.
Like I was applauding her--
- It is a very very brave thing to do.
- In the entire Australia, if people recognize
you as lesbian or gay or transgender,
you can get targeted, and I know people who have
been hit in the face just because they're gay.
So it's hard, so that's why it's really important
for us to have these festivals, we're able to get together,
and we're actually able to have a drink out in public
and dance and not feel like we could be threatened,
and something might happen at any moment.
- I actually think people'll be surprised if they knew
how many people who go to the events are gay.
- Some of the biggest names in hair for the rockabilly
world are gay, the costumers are gay,
I've never ever had a problem.
I've never toned it down or not been myself.
The differences fall short, no one really cares,
'cause at the end of the day, it's about the culture.
They can't help but to love the furniture,
and the clothing, and all that.
And I think that overpowers any kind of discrimination
or prejudice or anything.
- What kind of community has
a very good tolerance of diversity.
I had this passion for the 1950's and 50's style.
I was always trying to find pictures of women
that inspired me, that kind of reminded me
of me with my same skin tone.
And so I just decided to created
my persona of Angelique Noire.
And, here I am.
- This is my idol.
I have seen her photos for so many years,
and I have admired her for so long,
and my most favorite pinup ever.
- Aww.
- Little Bit.
I love her personality.
I remember that she was just so excited,
that I stepped onto the scene.
And she did not hold her excitement at all,
she just let it all come out.
It's great to be able to see more and more women
of color that do show their interest toward it as well.
- [Rockwell] This next gal is a little bit of this,
and a little bit of that, from sunny LA,
please welcome Little Bit.
(audience applauds)
- There have been lots of challenges in this pinup world.
It's not that easy, as I would have hoped
it would have been.
But it's definitely helped me build some thick skin.
Especially in me being who I am.
- She's definitely a person to admire,
if you want to go into it,
because you don't see the shade of her skin that much.
- There's not a big ethnic community in this scene,
and it's starting to become a bit more prevalent,
which is so great.
And I love that she is different from everybody.
- [Woman] Little Bit has been bullied
because of her skin color,
and her daughter's kind of going through a similar issue,
and so Sharon does it not just for herself
to prove that she can, but also to show her daughter,
you can't give up.
- When my mom's a pinup, I think it brings us more closer.
So whenever I go to an event, I'm like,
"Aw, there's my mom.", cheering her on and all that.
Seeing her happy makes me happy.
- It's important for a lot of new girls
to see her face out there.
I don't think she realizes what she does sometimes.
- When she wins, it's gonna be so good for her.
And it's gonna be so happy, and it would mean so much to us.
- Thank you, Little Bit.
(audience applauds)
While the judges are coming up with their final decision,
we're going to introduce last year's winner.
Ladies and gentlemen, give a warm Viva Las Vegas welcome
to Miss Ginger Watson!
(audience applauds)
- You know, being the small-town girl,
competing against all the superstars that are out there,
I definitely said this year I'm so thankful
that I'm not competing against these 12 girls, 'cause,
can't even top that.
(audience applauds)
- She's been a great role model for these girls,
so give a warm welcome for Miss Ginger Watson,
ladies and gentlemen.
(audience applauds)
The judges are coming to their final decision.
The mystery.
Are you guys ready?
(audience applauds)
Viva Las Vegas, are you ready?
(audience applauds and cheers louder)
There's going to be a third, a second, and first place.
We're also giving an award to best outfit,
best hair, and best makeup.
All right, we ready to hear who has the best hair
of the evening, or the day?
Best hair is...
From Canada, Miss Dixie Delight.
(audience applauds and cheers)
- Today was really special 'cause it's
the biggest stage pinup pageant that I've ever been in.
It was really really cool to look out there
and actually see people that I knew cheering me on.
- All right, now we're gonna be seeing
who has the best makeup.
Best makeup goes to...
(cheering)
from sunny southern California, Little Bit!
(audience applauds and cheers)
- I got best makeup, so I'm super excited
that I did take my time before the camera crew
showed up in the morning.
More, more, too much, no too, more!
It's never too much for Viva.
(clapping)
- All right, are you guys ready for best wardrobe?
Best wardrobe goes to,
from Brazil, Miss Angie Honeyburst.
(audience applauds)
- Happy to win for the best wardrobe, 'cause,
I really designed this with love.
So this is really special for me, you know.
- Are you guys ready for the good stuff?
(whooping)
(relaxed music)
In third place we have...
Miss Blue Hair Betty!
(audience applauds and cheers)
- A little bit shocked, a little bit strange,
like what just happened?
It's very exciting, it makes the 36 hours of traveling
and all the months of preparation and stressing
and custom-made dresses and everything worthwhile.
This was my first time to America,
my first time to Viva, and my first ever pageant.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect this.
- All right, in second place...
I don't wanna say the wrong one, then I'd get in trouble.
In second place we have Marilia Skraba.
(audience applauds)
(relaxed music)
- This is so amazing.
You know all the work that I've been doing
for years and years is finally recognized from
the best people in this field.
(audience applauds)
- First place, are you guys ready?
(audience applauds and cheers)
Your new Miss Viva Las Vegas 18...
Miss Victory Violet.
(audience applauds and cheers)
(relaxed music)
- I can't believe it.
I won Miss Viva Las Vegas and I can't believe
that that's just happened.
I'm in a little bit of shock.
The adrenaline starts pumping,
and I'm just feeling like I just wanna tell
all my family and friends.
(relaxed music)
I'm gonna keep doing what I've been doing.
It seems to have worked really well,
I wanna keep doing more of my body-confidence seminars,
I wanna keep expanding my blog,
get it out there to more girls
so that they too can see that they can be inspired
by pinup and vintage like I have.
(relaxed music)
- It's good when you know that some girl
that really really deserves, won.
So I'm glad with second place.
This is perfect.
- I'm super happy, for Victory Violet.
I kind of had a feeling that she was gonna get it.
She has a huge fanbase and a lot of support out there.
I'm even a fan of hers, so (laughs).
- [Rockwell] I was definitely holding my breath
up there for the girls.
I didn't know who was gonna win,
and I think this year was harder,
and I think everyone has kinda gone through a lot.
- I've been emotional all morning,
not because of nerves or anything, because I just thought
this was such an amazing experience.
I'm a mom of three, I don't get to get out much, so.
- Well, you're adorable.
- These girls, I need to stay in contact with these girls,
they are amazing.
We've shared the experience together and,
we're checking each other's lipstick,
and we're checking each other's teeth,
there's no lipstick on there before you go on stage,
and it's all bonding.
And you know, we've developed those friendships now that,
they're gonna stay there forever.
- The main event is done with,
so we're all gonna go have something to eat,
have a drink, and enjoy ourselves.
(energetic upbeat music)
- [Rockwell] After the contest, my work is over.
I like to stick my feet in the pool and,
sit back and finally relax and take it all in,
regroup, so that I can enjoy the pool party.
I like seeing the swimsuits.
They're all vintage, but they are the best of the best,
like you would never get in the water with them,
and they're just far too fabulous for that.
(energetic upbeat music)
Getting these women excited about being their true selves,
and being able to not just play a part but
have this confidence that they can take
outside of Viva into the world, like,
"Yeah, I went there and got up on stage
"and I did this big thing at this really big event."
It's really magical to be a part of that.
When I wanted to create this contest,
I wanted to make sure that everybody felt welcome,
no matter your size, your race, your color,
none of that matters.
It's a free-for-all, it's up for grabs for anybody
who can fit those shoes.
(rockabilly music)
(audience applauds)
You guys ready for the winner of this year's,
Viva Las Vegas pinup.
Oh man, it is with great pleasure that
I get to make this announcement to...
Pinup Little Bit!
(audience applauds and cheers)
- [Pinup Little Bit] When I first started doing pinup,
I thought being a pinup was just about
the beauty, and the dresses, and the photography,
but as I've grown here, coming to the concept,
I've learned that being a pinup means
more than just what you look like.
And it's the energy that you give out to other people,
and the love that you give back to the community.
- Big big big congrats to Pinup Little Bit,
who won not only the pageant,
but the swimsuit contest as well.
- It was so amazing to see her get up on that stage,
and totally rock it, and finally get the crown
that she was after for so many years.
- You deserve that crown so much,
and I just wish you all the best.
- [Pinup Little Bit] This weekend was absolutely incredible,
and something I will always carry with me.
Wherever this road leads, all I can ask for
is that I inspire somebody else
to continue going for what you want,
and achieve your goal.
(rockabilly music)
♪ Well there's a party in the desert ♪
♪ That I'm gonna motor to ♪
- The night after I was crowned second runner-up
in the pageant, I got engaged.
In front of the Bellagio fountains.
I mean, what more does a pinup girl need?
- My life has changed in so many ways.
I found out I was pregnant just after Viva Las Vegas.
I'm mother of a beautiful big girl.
Her name is Nina, because of Nina Simone.
- I was volunteering at a wounded veteran event,
I met this wonderful man, Curtis.
It was love at first sight.
He has two little girls, and I absolutely adore them.
And last July eighth, Curtis and I got married.
- Viva Las Vegas was a great experience.
I was very proud of myself to go on that stage
in front of so many people.
It might took another eight years before I go back,
so I really want to enjoy the event.
- Last year I did this amazing swimsuit collection,
and now I am actually launching
this Swedish-inspired lingerie line.
And it's something that we don't have here in Brazil.
Nobody makes these kind of things,
so I hope it's gonna be a big success.
- When I left Viva, I went and did some traveling
with some of the other contestants.
And we're now at Disneyland!
(whooping)
It's our pinup road blog number 367.
Well it's a cold night, and we are in, Hollywood!
- My husband and I started discussing coming to London
at the start of the year.
We both really felt like we wanted to see
more of Europe and the UK.
We moved over in August, and didn't quite expect
to be able to work full-time as a blogger and a model
like I am now, so that's been really really exciting.
- Myself and the Rusty Rebels and
the Bombshell Rockabilly Festival.
are teaming up to host the first ever
South African pinup pageant.
- Don't let me down, girls, don't let me down.
I'mma get you.
♪ Vegas ♪