Pinup finalist ‘not your girly girl’
VINTAGE style never goes out of fashion, Bozenka Raich, of Albert Town, says.
She is a finalist in the Miss Pinup New Zealand 2021 competition and will travel to Auckland in April as one of seven finalists from across the country.
Miss Raich said she had always been drawn to the classic looks of the 1940s and ’50s.
‘‘The clothes are gorgeous, the style simply divine, the music you can’t help want to sing along and dance to and it can give any woman a confidence she never knew existed.’’
After discovering the competition online, she entered on a whim, despite not having any experience of pageants.
Her pinup name is Rosa Alyana.
‘‘Rosa represents my Eastern European heritage, being of Croatianborn parents and Alyana means bright light, joy and glamour,’’ she said.
The pageant was open to women of all ages, shapes and sizes, she said.
The essence was about encouraging women to celebrate their individuality.
Miss Raich was ‘‘normally a very outdoors girl’’ in hiking pants, boots or sneakers.
‘‘So to do this it brings a completely different persona. It is fantastic.’’
Looking smart and stylish made her feel confident and in control, she said.
‘‘It brings back a bit of beautiful to the everyday.’’
As well as day wear, evening wear and beach wear categories, the competition includes a talent show section.
Miss Raich planned to demonstrate her angling skills.
‘‘I’m not your girly girl, so I’m bringing a completely different element to it.’’
An enthusiastic fly fisher, she was keen to show women could do anything.
‘‘I know it is not practical, but why can’t you fly fish with red lipstick on?’’
The 9th Miss Pinup New Zealand contest will take place at the Very Vintage Day Out event on Saturday, April 10, at the Kumeu Showgrounds in Auckland.