Hot Rod Riot Coming to Victoria

Pinup.

It's not just about thick, black-winged eyeliner or bright, red lips. It's a culture, a strength that comes from within, and it's fused with feminism, sexuality and, most importantly, a whole lot of attitude.

"It's not that I think I'm the best," pinup Sandra Rankin said, twirling her long, dark brown locks around her fingers. "I have confidence, and that's where my pinup comes from."

Rankin has been perfecting her look for more than 18 years, and the 33-year-old from Bloomington is ready to strut her stuff in the pinup competition Saturday at the Hot Rod Riot.

The event, which kicks off at 11 a.m. at the South Texas Performance shop on Moody Street in Victoria, is designed to show off some serious love to the shop's customers and its neighboring communities, co-owner Jennifer Heibel said.

More than 60 cars from across Texas - ranging from hot rods to customized classics - and some of the best Rockabilly bands in Texas will top off the event's entertainment. A panel of judges will critique the pinup competition.

"The culture is really starting to catch on," Heibel said. "I'm starting to see more people (in Victoria) dress pinup because it's just a fun thing to do."

Pinups have no restrictions on who can be one: You can be any shape, size, height or nationality.

It's all up to you.

So you want to be a pinup?

A perfect pinup will make men swoon and women jealous. It's a head-to-toe look, and makeup and hairstylist Sandra Rankin said it all begins with a solid foundation of moisturizer. A sexy babe has to have great skin; everything after that just falls in line.

The pinup curl

The higher the hair, the closer you are to heaven - that's right, it's not just a saying for Jersey girls anymore. The tease is the epitome of the pinup girl do, and it all begins with a rat comb and a whole lot of hairspray. (Rankin suggests Freeze It hairspray as her "go to" brand.) Spray and tease and then spray and tease again to achieve lasting hair bumps and curls associated with the old-fashioned look - that and working with dirty hair, Rankin said. After teasing and brushing the hair out, start at the end, roll the hair up, pinch it in a circle and pin it down. Then, for good luck, spray it again.

The wing-tipped eye

The first rule in pinup culture is that there aren't any rules. That being said, grab the shiniest shimmer you can find and apply it across your entire lid, Rankin said. Then to achieve that surprised bombshell swoop, use a gel-based eyeliner (Rimmel gel eyeliner, at $6.99, keeps costs down). Begin in the center of the lid and work outward, making the line thicker toward the end. For the tip, Rankin said follow the natural curve of your lower eyelid and then create a horizontal line going back toward the eye for the perfect wing tip.

The perfect pout

If you're going to go red, which any pinup should, Rankin said you have to use lip liner. Before tracing her natural lip line - and a little beyond for dramatic sake - put a little makeup base and loose powder over it. Trace the lips, fill in with lipstick and brush it powder. Repeat as needed. "Don't ask me why," she laughed. "It just lasts longer. Always remember a smile is the best thing a pinup can wear."

The style

From capris to poofed-out cupcake skirts, pinup style has may options, especially if you want to put a modern twist on it. Rankin said it doesn't matter if you wear flats or high heels, just make sure you walk tall. It's okay to look at stunners from the past such as Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor or Lena Horne, just don't copy their style. Being a pinup is all about being yourself fearlessly. If you don't know where to start, Rankin said visit any of the resale shops in town. "They always have great foundation pieces," she said.

Finally, the last thing you need is a pinup name. It needs to fit you, embody your persona, and it needs to be sexy.\

Story courtesy of the Victoria Advocate