M I C H E L I N E
P I T T
October ∙ November 2014 Issue 15
C R E D I T S editor Keona Tranby
designer Dan Ferro
submissions PinkBowCity.com/Magazine
advertising Contact@PinkBowCity.com
T A B L E Cover photographer Lars Kommienezuspadt hair stylist Tony Medina wardrobe Pinup Girl Clothing set design Thomas Kuntz
4~5 Contest Winners
6 ~ 11 model Gabrielle Jean Wainwright photographer Vanessa Gurung @ Koris Photography assistant Chris Paoliello mua & hair Isabelle H-l designer Petrolyn Vanessie
12 ~ 13 model Amelia Jane photographer Vintage Girl Studios muah Caleigh Boudreau
14 ~ 15 model Nikki Ready photographer Jane Queen muah Molly Walsh
16 ~ 17 model Miss Anna D Amour photographer Alicia O'Bryan - Aperture Blue Images
18 ~ 23 model Kirsten Diks photographer / styling Melissa Houben make-up & hair Bibi Oosting
24 ~ 25 model Marina Mastrangelo photographer Justin Michel muah & set design Stephanie Mitchell
26 ~ 27 model & muah Lucy Luxe photographer Paul Stevens
O F
follow PinkBowCity.com Facebook.com/PinkBowCity Instagram.com/PinkBowCity PinkBowCity.Tumblr.com
C O N T E N T S
28 ~ 29 model Krista Rose photographer Mandy Little of Bombshell Pinups muah Josephine Love
30 ~ 35 model Kelly Eden photographer Shannon Brooke clothing Pretty-Attitude.com hair Danielle June location Switched on Audrey
36 ~ 37 model Alyssa Anne photographer Jellyfish Jones studio Asiel Designs
38 ~ 39 model Ana Cristina Pinto photographer Ricardo Dias clothes / post-production Florisa Nogueira hair Madalena Silva
40 ~ 41 model Andrea Von Frankenstein photographer Jme LaCombe of CherryBones Photography crow hair fastener Boneyard Boutique
42 ~ 51 "An Interview With Micheline Pitt" photographer Lars Kommienezuspadt hair stylist Tony Medina wardrobe Pinup Girl Clothing set design Thomas Kuntz
54 ~ 55 model Miss Osiria Rose photographer Lauren Horwood dress Pinup Girl Clothing brooches Erstwilder
56 ~ 57 "How To Get The Perfect Pinup Ponytail Using A Faux Pony" model & article by Miss Rockabilly Ruby photographer Charles Torrealba
2
58 ~ 59 model Sailor Jassie photographer Jeremy Wilde
60 ~ 61 "Knocking On The Right Doors" article by Cynthia Schroeder photography by Vestige Photography
60 (top left photo) model Shanna Effin hair Cherry Dollface mua Jennifer Corona location Leslie Buckley (top right photo) model Kristen Kelly muah Lindy Sue location Spike Marble (bottom left photo) model Cheryl Kapua’okala muah Lindy Sue location Spike Marble (bottom right photo) model Dylan Diablita hair Tony Medina mua Lindy Sue location Mark & Kelly Skipper
62 model Ashley Brackins muah Lindy Sue wardrobe Unique Vintage location Mark & Kelly Skipper photographer Vestige Photography 64 ~ 65 model Alex Antoinette photography Bombshell Mandy of BombshellPinUps.net
66 "Devils Food Cake" recipe by Buttercream Bettie
# P I N K B O W C I T Y
3
J U L Y
C O N T E S T
W I N N E R S
Every month we hold a pin-up contest on our Facebook page (facebook.com/pinkbowcity) for the chance for aspiring pin-up models & photographers to be featured right here in our magazine!! To enter in our next Facebook contest for your chance to be featured, email your best pin-up photo & credits to: contact@pinkbowcity.com!
1st
2 nd
FIRST PLACE model Misti photography Memories by Misti
SECOND PLACE model Erin Casey photography Todd Duane Miller
~
~
4
A U G U S T
C O N T E S T
W I N N E R S
1st
2 nd
FIRST PLACE model Lyla Blush photography Brooklyn Brat Images
SECOND PLACE model Nautical Nikki photography Shoot for the Moon Photography & Design
~
~
5
G A B R I E L L E J E A N W A I N W R I G H T photography Vanessa Gurung @ Koris Photography assistant Chris Paoliello mua & hair Isabelle H-l designer Petrolyn Vanessie
6
A M E L I A
J A N E
photographer Vintage Girl Studios muah Caleigh Boudreau
13
N I K K I
R E A D Y
photography Jane Queen muah Molly Walsh
MISS ANNA D AMOUR photography Alicia O'Bryan model Bree Kaehler
16
KIRSTEN DIKS photography / styling Melissa Houben make-up & hair Bibi Oosting
19
20
21
22
23
M A R I N A
M A S T R A N G E L O
photographer Justin Michel muah Stephanie Mitchell set design Stephanie Mitchell
24
L U C Y
L U X E
photography Paul Stevens muah & hair Lucy Luxe
27
K R I S T A
R O S E
photographer Mandy Little of Bombshell Pinups muah Josephine Love
K E L L Y
E D E N
photography Shannon Brooke clothing Pretty-Attitude.com hair Danielle June location Switched on Audrey
31
32
33
A L Y S S A
A N N E
photographey Jellyfish Jones studio ASIEL DESIGNS
A N A C R I S T I N A P I N T O photographer Ricardo Dias clothes, post-production Florisa Nogueira hair styling Madalena Silva
A N D R E A
V O N
F R A N K E N S T E I N
photographer Jme LaCombe of CherryBones Photography crow hair fastener Boneyard Boutique
40
Michelin A N
I N T E R V I E W
W I T H
photography Lars Kommienezuspadt hair stylist Tony Medina wardrobe Pinup Girl Clothing set design Thomas Kuntz
42
Pitt neP itt
You're an extremely independent woman with untraditional ideals. What draws you to the pinup culture? I think growing up I was most concerned with expressing myself. I revolted against everything. I didn’t want to conform to anyone’s standards. When I grew out of my punk rock mentality, I decided that it was okay to be girly, and that is what I did, but not by most girls standards. While most girls looked up to Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly, I was dreaming of being Poison Ivy from the Cramps. I discovered traditional pinup style from old films like John Waters and because of old fetish magazines. I kind of found my own way. I have been on my own since I was 15. I graduated high school at 16 with almost a perfect SAT score. I wanted to go to medical school because I had a drive to help people. Ever since I saw “Silence of the Lambs,” actually, I wanted to study medicine. I had a visitation period to the medical school I wanted to attend, but the smell of death was too intense for me. The energy was just so cold and dark. I couldn’t do it. I had also been tattooing since I was 15. I started tattooing on the floor at 17. The field was maledominated, with too much sexual harassment. I couldn't do it. It almost makes me hate my tattoos. The industry doesn't respect women. I tried working at shops in NYC, but I was so bitter from everything I had to deal with that I decided to just leave. After that dream passed, I became more focused on art. I wanted to find a way to help people. I soon discovered helping people with the power of makeup and clothes. I then took off to NY and pursued makeup professionally. I have changed careers a million times. PUG allows me to do everything I love. We have a small team, so there are super long workweeks of 60 to 80 hours sometimes. Working all of the time is what your 20s is for. It makes you valuable to put in your dues. It is hard sometimes now, though, because I want to live life. I would love to just work 40 hours. I want to get married one day but still be able to balance my career.
The shoot that you did for this issue of Pink Bow City is very dark, which seems to be a style that you love. What was your inspiration for this shoot? Can you tell us more about the location and what it was like working with Lars for this shoot? I was a punk rock girl growing up, but I was also super Goth I have always been drawn to darker things. I mean, I wasn’t painting my face white and sulking around, but I wanted to be Vampira and Elvira growing up. I wanted the big spooky house filled with ancient treasures and long black slinky dresses. I think my love for old horror films
and silent films has a lot to do with that. I was an avid reader growing up and in elementary school. I did recitation competitions and I always read Poe pieces. I knew who Aleister Crowley was when I was 6. I read about the occult, and with my Romanian Gypsy roots, I started studying tarot cards more heavily recently. I loved H. P. Lovecraft. I was a weird kid. I am not a witch, and I don’t practice black magic. I am just a spiritual person that believes in energy, destiny and karma. The location we shot at is actually one of my friend’s private studio. His name is Thomas Kuntz. He has been a professional sculptor and designer for many years. He is one of the few people left in the world that makes automatons. His newest pieces will be in Guillermo Del Toro’s newest film “Crimson Peak.” Thomas’ studio is full of amazing items he has collected from all over the world and things he has made. It is a place of inspiration for him. The cover photographer, Lars, is amazing. He is very professional, and he runs around you with his camera dodging and darting about to get the ideal shot and angle. He puts his soul into his work and into the shoot. He really connects with his material and wants to tell a story with each image. I am actually having him do some private photos for me next year.
Can you tell us more about your life and your career before you started at PUG? Well, I have been everything from an animator, character designer, tattoo artist, makeup artist and model before I started at Pinup Girl Clothing. I grew up really poor being raised by a single mom. I was an only child, which made me very independent and forced me to grow up fast. I have always worked hard for what I had. I think most of my life I have had at least three jobs and worked seven days a week. I wanted to be creative and make people happy. I found a way to do that with Pinup Girl Clothing. I get to use so many of my abilities in one job rather than three. I did not have an enjoyable childhood. My parents got divorced when I was three. My dad was just like Leonardo DiCaprio from “The Wolf of Wall Street.” My mom was smart enough to leave him early on. I never saw my mom. I always stayed at home by myself and lived in my mind. I barely played sports, and I never had a chance to learn to play instruments. My mom didn't have time or money. I fell in love with movies and books at a young age. I loved experiencing childhood through other people's stories. I still love toys, kid stuff and animation. It is what saved me my whole life from being completely alone. It is why I still work in animation and have a passion for it. I know that kids might need it for their only interaction. I was introverted. I drew a
45
lot and read a lot. I wrote my first comic book in third grade. I had straight A's as a student. My only friends in school were teachers. I wanted to play an instrument, but I started singing instead. I tried to grow up and get out of my small town right away. I was told I was going to hell since I was different from people in my town. Luckily, I didn't hate them, but instead I felt sorry for them. They were closed minded people who didn't understand me, so they tried to attack me. People always attack and destroy things they don’t understand or things that scare them. It’s sadly a part of human nature. I think that is why I am so social now, because I spent so long wishing I had friends. When I was four-years-old, I would leave my window open with no screen. I thought that vampires were real. I wanted to live with them and to turn into a vampire myself. I watched monster movies and thought they were real. I daydreamed of being an adult someday. I just wanted to be 25. I never saw myself getting married or having kids. I think growing up and seeing such a bad divorce can do that to a child. If I found the right person now, I might consider it someday, but I can’t even find a decent guy to be in a healthy, happy, balanced relationship. I know I would be a good mom and a good wife. I am motherly and I like taking care of people. I would just need to be the right situation with the right person. Until that happens, I prefer to be alone. Once I moved to NY when I was 18, I started being feminine and girly. I worked for MAC, where everyone was stylish and interesting. It was very inspiring. I have a lot of great memories with the company. I was with them for five years and ended leaving the company shortly after moving to California. I have now been with PUG for seven years. Laura hired me because she needed support. For my first interview, I showed her a five-year plan for the company, and we have followed through with everything as a team. It can be an uphill battle one day and smooth sailing the next, but ultimately I believe in the company's high standards, and Laura is a great mentor.
Do you have any stories that you can share about modeling or your fashion career that could serve as a good learning lesson for our readers? Modeling, at least in the pinup field, is NOT a job or a career. I can’t even pay my bills for a month on what I make modeling. Most of the time, I don’t even get paid. Sometimes you get lucky with a paid gig, but most of the time, you will just be modeling for fun, so make sure that you enjoy it. Beauty fades, ladies, so don’t rely solely on your looks to get by in life. Learn a trade, hone an
46
47
ability and have a backup plan. Nothing in life that is worth having is handed to you.
Girl Clothing is passionate about making their customers feel happy and pretty.
The world of fashion is fickle, and you really have to work from the ground up. No one hires designers straight out of school. You have to pay your dues and put in the blood, sweat and tears before you can move up. Be patient and become a sponge. Soak up the knowledge that is around you because it will make you irreplaceable one day.
It is important not to be pretty for men but for us. Women should look nice because they want to. At Pinup Girl Clothing, we sometimes hear women say it is the first time that they have felt pretty. Our company embraces independence. Beauty is not black and white. Beauty is subject to the individual and what they think is beautiful. It is important to celebrate as many types of women as possible and empower them all. Confidence makes you more dangerous as a woman. It makes you feel like a superhero, and you will appear invincible. I think it scares the shit out of men, but it inspires other women.
What led to your career with PUG? What is your role with the company now? A quote from our previous cover model, Doris Mayday: "Micheline is one of the most talented people that I have ever worked with. She is always putting her all into the company." Do you think that your work ethic is the key to your success? I am totally a perfectionist. I am even more so after working for Laura Byrnes for seven years. I work some nights from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., just so I can take a vacation. I always do what I have to do. I take pride in my work like some people do with their families and cars. Some of our past employees have wanted to just clock in and clock out. You have to make what you're doing your career in order to grow. You have to care, or you won't be with our company long. Laura Byrnes is the definition of the word perfectionist. Seriously, look it up in the dictionary. There is a picture of her. No, but seriously, she made me what I am today. I have always strived to be an excellent and reliable employee. She instilled her expectations in me, which made me expect more from everything and everyone, including myself. I think our team is full of super hardworking and dedicated ladies. Doris is extremely loyal and an amazing ball of energy to have on our team. I have watched her bloom from a teenager into a businesswoman, and I couldn’t be more proud of who she has become.
Do you have any insights that you can share about what the future holds for PUG? What was the event that you arranged for PUG at NY Fashion Week? The Pinup Girl Boutique in Burbank is doing great, and we hope to open more boutiques in the future. Laura Byrnes and I really pushed to have this store open, and we designed it to be something special. I know it will not be our last venture together. At the moment we are not working on any new lines, as Laura said we aren't done with the ones we have. We may be doing small samplings of guest designed pieces for Pinup Couture in the future, but nothing is set in stone at the moment. We really just want to keep stepping up our game every season by offering people something new and different. We want to be a positive driving force for women. Pinup
The New York Fashion Week event that Pinup Girl Clothing did was a promotion of our “Couture for Every Body” ethos. We wanted to pull together our customers and create a small flash mob at fashion week. We really believe that all women are beautiful and deserve beautiful clothing. I feel like we achieved that goal with this event. It was really great overall, but the humidity almost killed all of us in the first few days. We collaborated with one of our favorite storefronts, called Slapback NYC, to do a pop-up yard sale. Close to 200 people attended our event. It was a little crazy.
Tell us a little bit more about your background with art. Do you have any art projects that you're working on at the moment? I was born to draw and paint. It is in my blood. Art is an ability that has been passed down to the women in my family for a very long time. I will be pitching my second animated project with my writing partners later this year. We pitched our first project to Nickelodeon this year. They were very receptive and invited us back to continue pitching. We are currently signed with them for a three-year contact, so I can't do anything further with my first story until then. We will be pitching more kids’ animations to them and other networks over the next year. The first one had a lot of moral undertones and was very antibullying, but with a real twist. I still have three children’s books I would like to publish one day, once I make time to do the art. One of the stories is a 12-chapter book similar to “Goosebumps” age level readers. The others are for small children. My main creative focus is still Pinup Girl, though. I have four fabric prints to do just for PUG, and a million others I have to figure out to do. I love doing the textile design. I am slowly moving out of production and more into a creative role with the company fulltime. I frequently collaborate with Laura. Her and I make some serious magic together.
48
You turn 30 this year. Tell us about any life changes that you plan to make for the transition into your 30s. I use to DREAD my 30s. It all seemed so depressing until I did some serious soulsearching and focused on what was wrong with my way of thinking and my life. I just woke up and said, “You know what? I should be happy, and I am not. I should change this. My life needs to be lived for me.” So now I am moving into my dream apartment, I have my dream car and work is going so well. I have my freedom, I can hang out with my girls and I am really enjoying this time. I wish that I didn't wait until I turned 30. I feel like I am in my prime now, which is something that the 22-yearold me would have never understood. We heard that you bought yourself a Birthday present. Tell us about her! I did! I spent the last four years financially taking care of two different ex-boyfriends, which really damaged my self-worth and my ego. It made me feel pretty worthless. I decided I deserved to do something really amazing for myself, since I kept doing amazing things for other people. I bought myself a vintage car. I always dreamt of having one, and now I do. It was the best gift I have ever gotten, besides this killer leather spider web bag from my girl Laura Byrnes. My car’s name is Elvira (of course), and she is a 1962 Cadillac Coupe Convertible. She is in transit to me now. I can't wait to take her out on the weekends and at night. Every classy lady deserves an even classier car. You very recently got out of a relationship. Are you planning to focus all of your time on your career, or do you see yourself getting back into the dating world anytime soon? HAHA, man you guys are ON IT! Yes, I am freshly single. I turned 30 this September, so I had to really evaluate my relationship and my own personal happiness. I always put so much of myself into my work, and I won’t really treat that any differently. Work always comes first, but rather than sitting at home bored, I go out with my girls and seek out adventures. I think the most important thing to me now is that I am happy. I am happy being single, but I wouldn’t turn down a date from the right person if they came along. It would be nice to have someone take me out for once. ZING!
You're a woman of many talents. You're a makeup artist, a hair stylist, a model, a designer, an artist, a businesswoman and so much more. What talent do you think is your greatest asset and why? Do you have any aspiring talents that you want to add to the list?
I love being creative. I enjoy working in the film industry, writing stories, designing toys, creating art for shows and singing. I always want to be creating and making things. I am a Libra, and I am always striving to do something new. I need a constant variety. Pin Up Girl Clothing is great for this. I never get bored.
with weight, and it is such a struggle to stay the way I am without getting too thin and looking sick. I always wanted a super thick curvy body, but I just can’t get there no matter how hard I try. I have decided to do something about all of it. I am taking an organic approach to my thyroid and I start CrossFit this month. Gaining muscle is easy for me. Like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side… Well, this skinny girl loves your curves and wishes she had your body. At 30, I finally decided to accept my medical condition and do my best to improve what I have control over. No matter how hard you try and work, you will never love yourself 100% of the time. I think that you just have to accept that you are not always going to be perfect, and that is totally okay!
If I had to pick something I am best at, I think I am best at business. I have such a passion for it. I love making something successful, and making money is like this really addicting game. I know that sounds like some crazy capitalist bullshit, but it is true. I never stop learning in any field I am in, because I want to be constantly growing. I would love to learn how to play an instrument, get over my stage fright and start a band, or at least sing publicly. I would not want to be famous, but I want to pursue my love of music.
Since Halloween is your favorite holiday, can you share why you love it and what your yearly tradition is?
Many women seem to idolize you, however, it is important for them to understand that even you have your own insecurities. Can you share any of your thoughts about your body or your journey to self-love with us?
Halloween is actually the only holiday that I celebrate. Sure, I celebrate Christmas, but it is more for the other people in my life. I love fall. I miss the leaves changing color so much because we don’t really have seasons in California. Every Halloween, I find a pumpkin patch and search for the ideal pumpkins. Then I go home and carve them. I do traditional carvings, nothing fancy. I always go with a large group of friends to local mazes, the haunted hayride and haunted houses. I worked with a haunted house back home when I was younger, so I have a really strong appreciation and love for them. Being scared is so much fun. I just run around giggling. October is the most magical time of the year for me. I always dreamed of going to Salem or visiting a town like in the film “Hocus Pocus” where everyone celebrates the holiday and the town itself looks like Halloween.
Everyone has body issues and insecurities. EVERYONE does. Don't be mean to a girl because you think she's perfect. She is probably dealing with as many things as you are. Women need to be nicer to each other. "Just be the best you that you can be." Laura Byrnes said that. It's so true. Beauty goes beyond physical; it is also emotional. It is frustrating, because people are always judging and say things about my body. It is sometimes hard to be nice back when people are calling me a skinny bitch. I feel like some girls idolize me because of the way that I look, which is ridiculous. I would rather people look up to me for what I do. I am NOT perfect. I am not built like a pinup model. I am tall and slender and I don't fit into clothes. I am not people's "favorite" body type because I am not as relatable to women. I wish I had a 42" butt, but I don't. We always want something different. I have an over active thyroid, and I have dealt with a lot of body issues from it. I yoyo constantly
I always dress up for Halloween. This year is pretty simple, but I am really excited. All I can say is that I plan to be something from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” film or a famed movie role by an iconic Hollywood actress.
50
52
M I S S
O S I R I A
R O S E
photographer Lauren Horwood dress Pinup Girl Clothing brooches Erstwilder
54
M I S S
R O C K A B I L L Y
photographer Charles TorrealbaÂ
R U B Y
H O W
T O
G E T
T H E
Perfect Pinup Ponytail U S I N G
A
F A U X
P O N Y
Products and tools needed- synthetic or human hair faux ponytail ( any brand/ length will do), hot rollers, bobby pins, a hair binder, boar bristle back combing brush, pomade ( I use Suavacita), hairspray ( I use Kenra volume spray) and a hair scarf. I bought my synthetic ponytail with some curl in it but I like to set it on medium and small hot rollers to give it a full and bouncy curl. Never use a curling iron or flat iron on synthetic hair because it will melt, however you can use any hot tools on human hair.
After setting my ponytail I will begin this style by pulling all of my natural hair up into a high ponytail. Since my hair is short I use a combination of Suavacita pomade and Kenra volume hairspray to get all the short hairs to stay. Once I have my natural hair pulled up I go back through with my boar bristle back combing brush and smooth out all of the bumps and flyaways and giving it a final spray with hairspray.
I will then make my natural hair into a small bun so that it will fit nicely under my faux pony. Even if you have longer hair you can still twist your natural hair into a bun and secure it with bobby pins, this will just give your ponytail a little extra lift at the base.
After creating the bun you can remove the hot rollers from your faux ponytail and brush through it. Your ponytail will have an elastic band drawstring inside of it and once you've brushed it out you'll open up the drawstring as wide as it will go. There will also be a tiny comb at the very front of the pony.
Insert the tiny comb in front of your natural hair bun and secure it with a bobby pin on each side.
Next you will take the drawstring ( which should now be underneath your pony) and pull it as tight as it will go. This will cause the faux ponytail to secure itself around your natural hair bun.
To give your ponytail an added extra pinup look you can add a vintage scarf and tie it into a cute bow!
Wrap the extra elastic from the drawstring around the base of the ponytail and secure it with a bobby pin.
For more great retro hair and makeup tips please follow me on Instagram @missrockabillyruby, and also keep an eye out for my upcoming video tutorials launching soon on YouTube! For booking in the Los Angeles area please email me atmissrockabillyruby@gmail.com.
Finish this look with a little hairspray and you're ready to go!
57
SAILOR JASSIE photography Jeremy Wilde
58
60
KNOCKING O N
T H E
R I G H T
D O O R S
written by Cynthia Schroeder model Shanna Effin model Cheryl Kapua'okala model Dylan Diablita model Kristen Kelly You've seen her gorgeous photos through out Pink Bow CIty, but how did Susana Andrea of Vestige photography start out?
normally someone just starting out would be too intimidated to email. “I emailed people that, normally you would be afraid to email. I got some no’s and I got non-replies but I was surprised to find that I received a lot of yes’s from the right people,” said Susana. “Aiming high was the key to starting my career that young.”
~
One of the right people, Dayna Delux, was the first pinup she ever photographed.Andrea said, “I emailed Dayna, not expecting her to reply, and she said she was going to be in town and that she would shoot with me.”
Coco Chanel once said, “I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” If that’s the case, then Susana Andrea of Vestige Photography is one lucky gal. She has shot virtually every well-known model in the pinup world. Her work has graced countless magazine covers, including the next three upcoming covers for Pink Bow City, and she has traveled the world to photograph pinups; a feat only a few pinup photographers have conquered. It’s safe to say Susana has established herself as one of the top pinup photographers in the world.
She also recalled well-known pinup Bernie Dexter driving her to shoots since she was not yet old enough to drive. Another person that helped her along the way was creator of Tattoo Life magazine, Miki Vialetto, who helped her land her first cover at 16-years-old. “[Vialetto] said he started shooting as a teenager too and that he wanted to give me a chance,” Andrea said. After having one cover under her belt, she was able to slowly shoot more covers and got enough exposure to be able to photograph tattoo conventions, most notably the London Tattoo Convention.
At the age of 14 she was gifted her first digital camera by her father, a professional photographer who she recalled photographing her throughout her childhood. Little did she know, this action would be the start of a thriving career in photography. Susana’s career merely began as a hobby. She frequented concerts and enjoyed photographing bands. It wasn’t until a musician she had photographed approached her with a special project that she discovered her niche. Susana recalled, “[The musician] asked me to photograph him with a hot rod and pinups and I thought to myself ‘Wow! I really like this!”
Andrea attributes her success to not being afraid to knocking on doors and working diligently to put out the best product possible. She would spend hours editing photos every day, even after a long day at school. Andrea said, “I wasn’t afraid to put myself out there and work really hard to put out a product that was not sub par.”
Now 25, she has photographed anybody who is anybody in the pinup scene including Mosh, Masuimi Max and Cherry Dollface. Susana makes it possible for anyone to be a pinup for a day, offering allinclusive pinup shoots around the US and several foreign countries including Australia and Japan. Whether her client is a renowned pinup or simply a first-timer in front of the camera, she makes every client feel comfortable and beautiful. “Often with someone as established and talented as her, you'd expect an attitude to go along with it, but she's very humble, easy to work with and relatable,” said Shanna Effin, a model who has shot with Susana a few times. “Working with Susana has made me more and more confident with my modeling,” she added.
Susana met makeup artist and model Lindy Sue along her journey when she first booked her for a shoot. “Susana is the most driven person that I’ve ever met,” said Lindy Sue. Spike Marble, whom Susana collaborated with on a 2015 tiki calendar, agreed with Lindy Sue. “Susana is extremely driven and really good at what she does. I have a bunch of photographers shoot at my house all of the time and the pictures she does are very striking. They definitely stand out.”
She attributes her love of all things vintage to her upbringing. Andrea said, “My dad instilled a love of vintage nostalgia in me. I grew up listening to classic music and watching classic films.” After coming to the realization that she wanted to shoot pinups, she began researching the pinup world. Susana said she aimed high from the beginning by emailing the top people in the industry, otherwise the people that
Susana’s advice for all models and photographers looking to make it in the pinup industry is to not be afraid to network daily, regardless of the outcome. “Don’t let your age or inexperience be the reason you don’t try your hardest. Email someone every single day and work on your craft.”
61
A S H L E Y
B R A C K I N S
photographer Vestige Photography location Mark & Kelly Skipper wardrobe Unique Vintage muah Lindy Sue
62
A L E X
A N T O I N E T T E
photography Bombshell Mandy of BombshellPinUps.net
devil's food cake recipe by Buttercream Bettie
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans 3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted, plus more for pans 3/4 cup hot water 3/4 cup sour cream 3 cups cake flour, (not self-rising), sifted 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/4 cups sugar 4 large eggs 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
STEP 6 Make the frosting: Finely chop both the bittersweet and milk chocolates. Place into a mixing bowl. Set aside.
STEP 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment; dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess.
STEP 7 In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream and corn syrup to a boil. Take off the heat and pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.
STEP 2 In a medium bowl, whisk cocoa with hot water until smooth. Whisk in sour cream; let cool. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
STEP 8 Starting in the center, whisk towards the edges of the bowl until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool at room temperature. STEP 9 Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat at medium speed and gradually add butter until frosting is smooth and silky.
STEP 3 In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each; scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two parts, alternating with the cocoa mixture and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined.
STEP 10 Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to make level. Transfer one of the layers to a cake turntable or platter to frost. With an offset spatula, spread top with 3/4 cup milk chocolate frosting. Place the second cake layer on top.
STEP 4 Divide batter between prepared pans (or cupcake tins); smooth with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes (or 18 to 20 minutes for cupcakes).
STEP 11 For the crumb coat, spread the entire cake with a thin coat of frosting using an offset spatula. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
STEP 5 Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; peel off parchment. Re-invert cakes; let cool completely, top sides up.
STEP 12 Spread the entire cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative style. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered with a cake dome. Let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.
66
C O M P A N I E S W E L O V E to become a featured company, email: contact@pinkbowcity.com
PinkBowCity.com