My name is Bernadette but nobody calls me that
(unless I'm getting carded or pulled over of course).
All my friends call me Bernie. I live in San Diego
and love the slower pace of life and of course
the feeling of the sun and beach breezes on my
skin.
My mother is from Oklahoma City and my father
is from the Philippine Islands (now I think of
it I am convinced this is where I get my curvy
shape from). They met in the 1960's at a club
where my mom danced when my father was on leave
from the U.S. Navy. He fell in love with her at
first sight!
My mother became a burlesque dancer at the ripe
old age of 17 and as a kid I had no idea really
what kind of dancing she did until I was rummaging
through an old 1800's trunk she owned and found
some old lobby cards that featured her!! I never
asked her about it as a teenager as I felt like
it was her private, secret world but I was intrigued
as I found her so fascinating.
Sowing the seed
Even as young as 5 or 6 I had started to stand
by my mother's side for hours watching her do
her make up & hair. She used false eyelashes
& everything! I was always fascinated with
her transformation from girl next door to this
sexy vixen!! I remember even trying on her high
heel shoes when she would leave the room so I
guess the seed had been sown all the way back
then.
When I was not studying my mom I was in front
of the television fascinated with the family film
festival on Sunday mornings. I loved watching
the black/white and Technicolor films as the dancing
was inspiring and the women so glamorous. As a
consequence I begged my mom for tap dance lessons
which I started aged just 5 years old. I continued
to tap dance for 10 years and also went through
acting school. One of the highlights of that time
was meeting John Caradine!
The transition to pinup model
After the pageant circuit I got into the rockabilly
scene and still love it to this day. The music,
dancing, cars, guys and of course the outfits
and style are all so exciting to me.
As far as my career goes I went to cosmetology
school and found it was easy for me to pick up
hair dressing. The next thing I know I am doing
all my friend's hair & makeup before we would
go out to rockabilly shows. I really think studying
my mom and all those movies paid off.
My first job after the schooling was with M.A.C.
Cosmetics. I was so lucky as I got the best training
in the world there! Finally I decided to freelance
& that is were all this pin up modelling comes
in. I was working on shoots with a few pinup style
photographers doing hair, make up, set design
and wardrobe.
I have had the privilege with working with some
of the most beautiful women in the world and never
in my wildest dreams thought I would get a chance
to be in front of the camera. However, one night
it happened and there was some real magic in the
room. I submitted the photos to a pin up contest
on the web and got a lot of great feedback.
Why Pinup?
Well apart form the obvious connections with the
rockabilly scene I simply love to dress up in
1940's/1950's clothing and lingerie whether it's
genuine vintage or simply inspired from that era.
I have been collecting clothes and accessories
for as long as I can recall and I can even remember
going to the thrift store with my mom when I was
a little girl and sifting through everything to
find amazing glamorous items.
I have always found myself buying the dresses
and shoes even with no real knowledge and then
finding out that "Oh that is a great vintage
dress!!" I guess I'm lucky enough to just
have an eye for it. I have had a lot of fun buying
and selling on Ebay which can be a great source
of vintage items and to this day I still have
an Ebay store.
On top of all that I have always been inspired
by the women from the golden age of glamour so
putting all these factors together and it's not
hard to see that classic pinup is where my heart
lies.
From then to now!
Since that first fateful night in front of the
camera I have shot with many different photographers
and modelled for many different websites, it's
been like a whirlwind. I started a Yahoo Group
which grew steadily and the majority of the feedback
I have received has been really positive.
Thing is I am quite shy and retiring by nature
hence I am sometimes really reluctant to believe
I have what it takes. I thought about opening
my own website, but kept putting the decision
off until Kate from The Pinup Portal got in touch.
Over several long conversations she persuaded
me to go for it and hence here I am today. I plan
to develop the website further with the introduction
of a store and possibly some sort of members area
if the demand warrants it.
Well I hope you've enjoyed reading a little of
my Bernie's history. If you want to know why not
visit her home page ->Bernie
Dexter
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