Not only is Jeanette Gamboa (who we lovingly call
Miss Jeanette) one of the prettiest gals around, she is also
one of the sweetest. She is one of those "good girls" that reminds us of
those wholesome girl-next-door pin-ups soldiers from World War Two would
put up in their lockers. (And when she's trying to be bad, she still looks
good!) She is the All-American girl who can light up a room with her smile
and charm the pants off anyone. She has a knack for stealing the hearts
of anyone who lays eyes her. (Sorry boys, she's taken.)
This retro cutie recently was the runner-up
in the fourth of JBP's world-famous Cheesecake
Contests. (Amazingly enough, this was the first pin-up contest
she had ever entered!) She is also known throughout the pin-up community
as a gal who is always available to help out her fellow cheesecake models.
Once you read our exclusive interview with Miss Jeanette
and see her pictures, you'll understand why we had to include her as one
of our Modern Femme Fatales!
* * * * *
Java's Bachelor Pad: First off, I have to confess that I love
you to death. You've been on the short list of gals I've wanted to include
in the Modern Femme Fatale section for quite a while. And
I also have to say you're a total sweetheart in person too. What I love
about your pin-ups is that "good girl" quality you capture. You are the
girl-next-door who every mother wants their son to bring home. Is this
all an act? (lol) Seriously, is this something you consciously try to do
in your photos?
Miss Jeanette: Thank you!!!! It's an honor for me to be part
of the Modern Femme Fatale gallery. You have some great models there
that I truly admire.
I always try to have fun when ever shoot
and I really hope that shines through in my pictures. Well, I am a "good
girl" who tends to be a little moody and has the mouth of sailor. I like
to leave a lot to imagination. I heard someone once say that "it's what
sexy what you don't see." I always keep that in the back of my head when
every I'm planning a shoot. Plus I'm Married I can't just show the goods,
that only for my husband to see! (LOL)
JBP: If I'm not mistaken, the last JBP
Cheesecake Contest was the first pin-up contest you ever entered.
Coming in second isn't too bad for a first-timer. Now, be honest, what
is your take on the whole pin-up contest scene?
MJ: The JBP Cheesecake Contest was my first
contest and didn't think I had a shoot at winning anything so I was really
surprised when I did win second place.
The girls are amazing. They are so supportive
of one another. I really like that and it makes this contest really a lot
of fun. If it was any different I wouldn't be doing theses contest.
JBP: What do you base your style on? Are there any pin-up
models (either classic or modern) you draw your inspiration from?
MJ: Oh gosh...this is a tough one to answer. There
are so many people that I look up and admire. I really like Gil Elvgren.
He's by far my favorite artist. He really captures the sense of fun and
innocence that I want to capture in my pictures. I use him a lot when it
comes for ideas or just plane ol’ inspiration. I big fan of
Betty
Brosmer and Mamie Van Doren, I’ve
always wanted to be blonde.
I'm also a big fan some modern pin-up models
like everyone's favorite Bernie Dexter,
Heidi
Van Horne,
Miss Tayva, Tara
just to name a few. All this ladies really bring something different to
the table.
JBP: I know you've been modeling for a few years now.
How did you get started? What advice would you give gals starting out?
MJ: I've been modeling for about 3 years now (wow time
sure does fly). The only reason I started shooting was because I met your
first Cheesecake Queen Carol through my
husband who is good friends with her boyfriend. She mentioned that she
thought I should do some pictures and I didn't pay much attention to it
just because I wasn't too sure what she meant by taking some pictures.
I had no idea that there were actually girls doing this. I tagged
along to one of her shoots and it was so much fun. I was really lucky to
have Marco do my first shoot because
I was really scared.
Gosh...I get a bit a mail from girls asking
for advice and I always tell them the same thing to be very careful and
take chaperone when ever they shoot. Not to overlook any details. That
will really set they're pictures apart from everyone else's.
JBP: You worked with quite a few pin-up photographers
we've featured here: Marco Patino (who you just mentioned)
and Mike Millam of Nightmare
Photography. What was it like working with these guys? Who else
have you worked with and who would you like to work with in the future?
MJ: Marco is a riot. He's so much fun to work
with him as much as I have. He really knows he's stuff and when I first
started shooting he gave me a real sense of direction because I was lost
at first.
Mike is a really talented photographer.
He's awesome and is full of ideas. I only got to shoot with him once but
he's on my list of photographers that I want to work with again.
I really want to work with
Shannon Brooke,
Viva
Van Story, Octavio if I ever get
the chance. I'm a huge fan of there work.
JBP: What is your take on the whole retro pin-up movement?
What do you get out of it?
MJ: I've noticed that in the past year or so we have
tons of pin-up girls pop up. I think it's great!!! We've been able to keep
the music of the 40’s-50 alive for so long that I'm glad to see that other
people are too paying attention to the imagery that was created around
the same time.
I'm a big fan of the music so my take is this since I can't play
and can't sing I want to contribute to retro community any way I can and
this is the best way I know how.
JBP: What's in store for you pin-up wise?
MJ: One thing I do know is that I eventually want to
work my way behind the camera. I really want to start shooting other models.
Aside from that I don't really think about where I want to go with this
or how long I want to be doing this for. I just want to have fun. The moment
my modeling starts feeling like work is the moment I'm going to stop. So
for the time being I'm having the time of my life!
