Meet Polly Polka-Dot, the diminutive 1950s flashback who will fly the flag for Farmborough Heights at this year's Miss Pin-Up Australia competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A 22-year-old real estate receptionist who answers to Joanne Teunissen most of the time, Polly is part of a growing league of modern dames who draw inspiration from the style and ethos of their post-war sisters.
"I'm not interested in miniskirts or those terrible shorts they have nowadays," Polly said.
"Everyone was so beautiful [in the 1950s] and always put in the effort to how they looked, their manners, everything."
Polly will take part in the NSW heat of Miss Pin-Up Australia in Sydney on March 16, in the open category, called Miss Perfect.
The contest also has categories for Miss Illustrated (tattoos), Miss Va Va Voom (over size 14s), Miss Classic (over-30s) Miss Prestige (over-40s) and Miss Neo (modern pin-ups).
Entrants model daywear, swimwear, lingerie, evening wear, and showcase a talent.
"You can sing a song, or dance or people make cocktails," Polly said.
"I will be [demonstrating how to] make a skirt."
The extent to which their pin-up persona spills into the everyday varies among devotees, but for many it is a way of life.
Mrs Teunissen, who dreams of opening a retro milk bar in Wollongong some day, has to tone it down in the office.
"I used to dress in 50s clothes at work," she said.
"Then we got a uniform."
The Miss Pin-Up Australia contest was started by Pixie Roberts as a way of sharing the love of vintage and instilling confidence in women of all shapes, sizes and ages.