When it comes to modern pin-ups, the name
Bernie
Dexter is known far and wide. This beauty has taken all the tricks
and techniques of the classic pin-up and infused it with modern sense of
style. Not only is Dexter one of the best out there, she
is also one of the most prolific with new picture sets appearing every
week. She is constantly exploring the world of the pin-up with different
themes and locales. Her work is always exciting and fresh and a joy to
look at. She is the templet which all other modern pin-up gals should work
from. And we here at Java's Bachelor Pad are happy to have
her as our Official Retro Pin-Up Model!
Below is an exclusive interview with Bernie
Dexter:
* * * * *
Java's Bachelor Pad: A lot of people consider you one of the
best retro models out there today. It seems you've really done your homework
when it comes to pin-ups. How do you approach the modeling you do? What
do you base it on?
Bernie Dexter: Oh that is really so sweet of you too say!!
Goodness!! I have been into rockabilly for eons so it really is just the
lifestyle I live & maybe it comes thru. I just love the 40's &
50's!! I am a nut for detail...
JBP: What aspects of pin-up photography currently interest you?
What sorts of things are you working on?
BD: I sort of go with the flow. what ever my mood is ;) heehee...
Sometimes I feel like a savage jungle girl & sometimes a lingerie tease.
I try to come up with original ideas to make the shoots my own & not
just a copy of a shoot I have seen. Don't get me wrong I am inspired by
so many women & I do have a few fun plans that will contradict this
in the near future. But I really try to get creative.
JBP: How do you feel gals like yourself, involved in this modern
generation of pin-up, differ from gals who were doing it back in the 1950's
and 60's?
BD: Well I think in the 50's & 60's it was very taboo.
Today it is considered very fun & cute. I think the gals of today myself
included have it much easier because modern day mags like Hustler &
Playboy are so much more aggressive. Seeing a gal in her undies is not
so shocking.
JBP: On your website, you write how pin-ups run in your family.
For those who don't know, give us a brief history and tell us how exactly
you get started.
BD: I am mainly referring to my mother, but is is so funny
how my grandmother , mom & I look so much a like. My Grandma was quite
a party gal. My mom started Burlesque at the ripe age of 17!! She danced
at the Follies in Hollywood but after the heyday. She was there in the
early 60's. And was a go-go dancer in a band for a while in the late 60's.
She danced way into her 40's!! I was always fascinated with the transformation
she went thru. She was my mommy & then I would stand by her side &
watch her get dolled up. The putting on of eyelashes stands out as a clear
memory. She still wears them!! I remember I would listen to her old records
& dream of growing up to be glamorous as her...I had no idea what she
was doing though;) heehee...
I found the of a lobby card
she was on the cover of from the 60's when I was 13 & almost died!!
I was sooo embarrassed! I wish our house had not burnt down cause I would
proudly display it for you!!!
I myself have never dance...sooo
shy...but will be the first lone bopper & stroller at a rockabilly
gig today!!
I have been doing hair & make
up for eons & one day about a year ago I was asked to sit for lights.
I had so much fun & entered my photo in the VLV (Viva Las Vegas--editor)
pin up contest. I Honestly am so surprised at the response.
I do enjoy it as I had always thought of
myself as just average & honestly never saw the resemblance to my mom
or grandmother till Levi Dexter (her husband. Lucky bastard.--editor) pointed
it out to me. He had a huge influence. he had seen the pin up in me for
years...He would pretend to click a photo with the "air camera" & I
would be like what was that for...now he says everyone is starting to see
what he has been seeing for some time...
JBP: Well, not only do you put out great pin-up pictures, you
put out a lot of them. You seems to be one of the busiest models out there.
How do you keep things fresh and new?
BD: Well thank you so much!! I LOVE to collect 40's &
50's EVERYTHING!! so it gives me a reason to buy lots of lingerie &
just weird stuff. I have one whole room packed with modeling stuff...props
clothes...LINGERIE. ;)
I just enjoy it all. With my stuff is where
I feel the most comfy. I sit in there for hours rearranging & planning
what will work with what. It is hard to keep it organized.
JBP: Your husband, Levi, recently took up photographing you.
Was he getting jealous of the other photographers?
BD: Oh noooo!! heeheee... We just never seemed to have enough
time together. we are really best friends & enjoy being together. He
is a huge fan of 50's pin ups & he sees it so easily. So we get to
take picnics on the beach, take a few pix, & play in the water together.
Also it makes it easier when it comes to selling t-shirts, prints etc...
We own 100% of the rights. ;)
JBP: Your new website (BernieDexter.com)
seems to be a big hit. What other sorts of things do you have planned for
it?
BD: There will be a forum soon!! I am so excited for that!
I am spreading myself a bit thin these days keeping up with groups
& on-line spaces etc... I LOVE them!!! I enjoy meeting everyone &
helping gals out whenever possible.
I want to have a page to sell items. Bernie
stuff & Vintage stuff... Some lingerie. I did the T-shirts. I will
see how they sell before I make anything else... I am not sure people really
want that stuff.
JBP: For those gals just starting out, what sorts of advice would
you give to them?
BD: The secrete is be yourself & have fun!! And
the best thing to do is just take some snaps and post them at Java's
Bachelor Pad Cheesecake Contest Group & see how people respond.
It is the best place for exposure & the place to be appreciated the
most. ;)
Editors Note: Bernie would like to send out special thanks to these
people:
LeviDexter
Kate of Kates Pin ups
Chris Berry--Flexi Systems (who helps with BernieDexter.com)
Pin-Up Portal
All her pals on myspace.com
And "ESPECIALLY everyone who has shown love, support & interest!!"
