When Carmen Perrin of Umina Beach opened her vintage photography studio, Viva La Vintage, nine years age, she was introduced to the world of Pin-Up and will be one of three representatives from NSW to appear in the Cooly Rocks On Pin-Up Pageant on the Gold Coast on June 7.
“The Pin-up community has a large presence in Sydney and on the Central Coast, with connections to Melbourne and New Zealand,” Perrin said.
“We wanted to connect with our Queensland sisters and having three NSW entrants accepted is wonderful.
“On the Central Coast we have been involved with Chromefest and we have a new Sydney festival next year.
“We just participated in a Victorian pageant and now the Cooly Rocks On pageant – which is the most prestigious.
“Pin-up is a remarkable way for people to connect with community in a safe space.
“It’s mainly about self-esteem – each pageant encourages people to describe themselves through history and sustainability.
“Self worth is very important throughout our lives – and Pin-up is about looking and feeling good from top to bottom.”
Known in the Pin-up world as Miss Absolutely Alice, Perrin takes her inspiration from Alice in Wonderland.
In the Gold Coast pageant, contestants will be required to model vintage daywear and nightwear and demonstrate a talent.
“For the talent segment, I am making a presentation called Lens Me Entertain You,” Perrin said.
“Using different outfits and vintage cameras I will take the audience on a photographic journey from 1898 to the present.
“Everything I do has an ‘Alice’ twist to it, so the presentation will include a new version of a song from the Alice in Wonderland movie from the 1950s.”
The Cooly Rocks On festival on the Gold Coast is Australia’s largest nostalgia festival and will be held in Coolangatta from June 7-11.
It will include high-profile international performers including Shawn Klush, widely considered the best Elvis tribute artist in the world..
Other performers will include Swedish rockabilly trio The Go Getters, Johnny Pandora and his band from Japan and New Zealand’s original retro rockers Boom! Boom! Deluxe.
Multiple stages and venues across the precinct will play the best of Australia’s rock ’n’ roll, rockabilly and swing and attendees can meander through the Nostalgia Markets, wander through Kustomville or check out one of the country’s biggest collections of classic cars, customs, hot rods and more in the renowned Cooly Rocks On Show ‘N’ Shine.
Festivalgoers can meet contestants in the Pin-up Pageant on Wednesday, June 7.
Check the full program on the Cooly Rocks On website.
Terry Collins