Dandy D’Lish is just a few clicks away from winning the top prize at the Miss Viva Las Vegas Pinup Pageant, but she needs some help from the folks here to get her there.
The Ladner woman has always had a love for vintage fashion, but never considered pinup before seeing an ad in the Optimist in early 2015.
“There on the page was the most beautiful blonde, Dixie Delight, happily sipping from a pineapple,” she recalled. “The ad, posted by Billie’s Barbershop, stated that they were looking for women to compete in the inaugural pinup competition at the Quilt Walk and Car Show. Well, after I Googled everything I could find on pinup pageants, I somehow worked up the courage to enter.”
She has entered the local contest three times and after finishing third in 2016, she was crowned Miss Ladner at last year’s event. She also won the title of Tiki Queen at the Grease Gears and Grooves pinup pageant in Duncan last summer.
“Once I had a taste for pinup and all the amazing things that come with it, like photoshoots, new friendships, charity functions, modeling opportunities, courage, determination and added confidence, I was hooked and wanted more,” she said.
“I asked everyone I admired for advice and to share their experiences with me. A true pinup girl is supportive, uplifting, considerate and helpful. I learned that the Vegas competition is the largest of its kind and I wanted to experience it all. After getting a couple more local pageants under my belt I set my sights on Vegas.”
Every fall, women are invited to submit an online application to the Viva Las Vegas Pinup Contest, open to those from every country and age group. There were more than 160 applications this year. The judges choose their top six and then decide who will be going forward to the online voting round. There are approximately 80 women in this round, hoping for the final six spots.
To help get Dandy D’Lish over the top, go to www.vivalasvegas.net/pin-up-contest to vote. She stresses you must vote from a computer, as phones don’t work.
The finalists advance to the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender Car Show in April.
“I plan to continue to be involved in classic car shows, pageants, charity events and vintage fashion shows. I’m also hoping to start offering classes locally here with special guest instructors and speakers, who have much more experience and have truly been trailblazers in this field,” she said.
“Standing on stage is the scariest and most empowering thing I’ve ever done for myself and I want to share that experience with others.”
You can find out more about the contest on her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/dandydlish/.
