Vintage style for this modern pin-up girl
Monique McLennan has a mantra of: If you don’t try, you don’t know.
The Hamilton pin-up model wants to chase every opportunity, no matter how terrifying, and the next has come in the form of Miss Viva Las Vegas.
Viva Las Vegas is an international pin-up girl competition run as part of the 2017 Rockabillly Festival.
McLennan, also known as Miss Monique Sweet, was chosen as one of 12 finalists from 190 worldwide entrants.
But her opportunistic outlook and love for the 19th century style was spurned on by one devastating event: The 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.
McLennan was working in the Pyne Gould Corporation Building on the first floor when the 6.3 magnitude quake hit.
She distinctly remembers looking at the clock on her computer which read 12.50pm.
She was deliberating whether she should go for a run at 1pm, but her hungry stomach beckoned her to the lunch room.
At 12.51pm, the first quake hit.
McLennan was trapped in the cafeteria with a small group of colleagues and wasn’t rescued for more than four hours.
There were 18 casualties and afterwards she was told those in the building had a 50 per cent chance of survival.
It’s a story she gets asked about often. People look at her in awe for being one of the survivors.
But McLennan said the incident made her stronger.
‘‘If you don’t take a positive perspective on life and don’t use trying circumstances to move forward, you’re going to stay in limbo,’’ she said.
‘‘That horrific earthquake experience has given my life perspective,’’ she said.
‘‘You have only one life to live and no one else is going to live it for you.’’
‘‘You have only one life to live and no one else is going to live it for you.’’
Before the earthquake, McLennan said she used to be quite self-concious.
‘‘I wanted to be a part of the social norm and fit in. After the earthquake I thought, you can’t let others dictate how you live your life.’’
Now, as a pin-up, people look at her awe for other reasons.
Her bright red hair is curled and adorned with a sun hat.
Her dresses are vintage, some borrowed from her grandmother’s closet.
‘‘It’s become what we call a circus attraction,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s nice because we’re different. We’re wearing the brighter clothes and embracing the fashion.’’
McLennan said pin-up is becoming popular.
In April, she’ll aim to wow the crowd and judges to bring the title of Miss Viva Las Vegas 20 back to New Zealand.
If she wins, McLennan plans to use the title to become a motivational speaker and to give back to the New Zealand rockabilly, pin-up and vintage community.