I consider myself to be such a fortunate girl. I have an amazing life. I surround myself with a great support system, have found my passion in life, and have such wonderful fans! I pride myself in being a curvy, plus size model, and although there is a lot of hate in this world, I try to spread the love! The pin up community is one of the reasons I love doing this so much! Most everyone is so loving, supportive and caring, and I have been so fortunate to have made many beautiful friends in my time being a pin-up.All women, no matter what shape or size are real, beautiful creatures and deserve to feel that way. I only hope my photos can encourage girls to get out there and do something they are proud of, just as I am proud of my photos. I get asked questions all the time, about me personally, about the pin up lifestyle, about modeling,
clothing, beauty tips etc. I thought since many of these questions get asked multiple times, I would put it in blog!       So here you go! Frequently Asked Questions!

Q: Where are you located?

A: I am based out of beautiful Vancouver, Canada, although I travel to Vancouver Island, and Seattle WA. Frequently for shoots. I also am willing to travel elsewhere and for the right opportunity and photo-shoot.

Q: Where do you find your cute pin-up style clothing?


A: I have my go-to stores and brands. I love Bettie Page Clothing, Stop Staring, Deadly Dames, Cherry Velvet, and Pinup Girl Clothing. I also love Rago Shapewear and My Sugar Doll for cute swim wear. I also scour vintage shops and consignment and have found some great pieces. Some clothing lines such as Betsey Johnson and BEBE (they made the yellow dress above) make REALLY cute retro inspired looks as well! A great quality corset can go a long way for not only shaping, but providing a very vintage feel. As well as a great garter with seamed stockings. I consider myself very lucky as well to have many talented friends who are able to make me custom pieces when I have a specific idea in mind. Sometimes on shoots, outfits are provided, but I do have quite a large personal collection. I consider it an investment in my career.

Q: How did you get started in modeling? 

A: My grandmother was a runway model in her 20's, so I always used to look at pictures of her and go down to her basement and try on her vintage couture and put on fashion shows of my own. I guess you could say it was always a dream of mine. I got started modeling when a friend asked me to be a hair model for her. She would colour and cut my hair in exchange for me posing for her salon in downtown Vancouver. It was such a fun day! When the photos popped up on my computer screen a few days later, and in the salon and local Vancouver magazines later in the month, I was hooked! I had always had a passion for pin-up and retro styling. I emailed the photographer and asked if he would want to do a pin-up inspired shoot with me. (pictured below) I researched poses, practiced in front of the mirror, and a few weeks later, I did my first, pin-up shoot. It was so fun. I felt beautiful, feminine, pretty, confident, the list goes on. I got such a positive reaction from family and friends, I just wanted to do more. I truly believe every woman should do a pin-up photo shoot at least once in their life.

If you are interested in doing pin-up, I would suggest doing your research. Find a pin-up photographer in your area (or one that will be in your area), and pay them! That will get you
coaching on posing and most of the time, access to at least some wardrobe and props. Most photographers offer hair and makeup add-ons to their packages. Unless you’re a professional, or have lots of practice, then get the hair and makeup to give your images that truly vintage feel. Get lots of sleep the night before. Make sure your wearing the proper undergarments, bring your own
stockings, shoes, and whatever wardrobe you do have (it will make the shoot more personal and different). If there is an option to buy a disk of all images, then do it. That way you can look at all your angles and find out what looks good and what doesn't. And practice in front of the mirror beforehand. Above all, have fun, and love every second of it!!! That’s what pin-up is all about!!

Happy new year everyone!!! 2012 has, for the most part, been an amazing year! I
reached goals in my modelling that I set for myself last year...infact, I
accomplished more than what I had hoped for!

One of my goals for 2102, was to be published.  I was fortunate enough to be published in 3 amazing magazines!  The Pinup Magazine, Retro Lovely, and someting I never expected this year, but am absolutly honoured to have accomplished...my first cover of Delicious Dolls Magazine.
I worked with some of the most amazing photographers in the world, started my website, blog and walked on the runway.  I was especially excited to be a part of the first ever Vancouver Alternative Fashion Week!  I took risks in my carreer.  Tried new things, pushed my limits, and did things that made me uncomfrotable (in a good way) but paid off.   I met some of my amazing fans, who  i absolutly adore, and am thankful to have such a great support system in my life.
 
Personally, 2012 was been a fantastic year as well! I moved in w the love of my life, spent lots of time with friends both old and new, and had some amazingly fun times both in Vancouver and traveling to fun and exciting places.  I also was given the opportunity to see some people's true colours. While at the time that proved to be difficult, hurtful, and challenging, I am also thankful for the lessons that taught me.  Throught the good times and bad, I learned a lot about myself this
year.  Ive learned that as long as im doing what makes me happy, others opinions of me dont matter.  Ive learned that the people who truly care about me, will always care about me and support me through thick and thin.  Ive learned to take risks, and that sometimes they pay off, sometimes they dont, but now I know the difference!  Ive learned not everyone is going to like me, but I strive to make myself proud.  Above all, Ive learned to love myself more. 
 
Thank you to everyone who was a part of my 2012. Lets raise a glass of bubbly to an amazing 2013.

One of my favorite children's books, "The Little Engine that Could" has a very important message that I try to remember whenever life has me down, or i think i can't do something.  I repeat to myself (in my head of course) "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...." even if I don't quite believe that little voice in my head.  

Last week, I was having "one of those weeks".  Things weren't going as I had planned or hoped for, and I was feeling a little like giving up.  Like there are so many more beautiful girls out there, why should I even bother??? Nothing in particular made me feel this way.  I suppose we all have those days.  My boyfriend and I were planning on travelling to Duncan B.C. for the "Rockabilly's Rumble".  A photographer I work with suggested we come over and enjoy the music, cars, food, and festivities.   He also suggested I enter the pinup pageant.  Now.... I'm not big on contests.  So I originally waved off the idea.  I wanted to go to enjoy myself, not stress about competing.  And who knew who my competition would even be???  I was hoping to go, get some photos taken with some hot cars, enjoy a weekend away, and have a good time.  

I mentioned the pinup pageant to my boyfriend a few weeks before the "rumble".  He also thought I should enter.  Again, I rolled my eyes and forgot about it.  Like I said, I HATE contests.  However, with the "mood" I was in last week, I started to think, "how are other models getting published  signing contracts with agencies, and 'getting ahead'?".  The more I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that these girls had been, and continue to put themselves "out there".  In contests, pageants, emails, self promotions, etc.  I have no problem talking to people, being in front of crowds, making connections, and in fact, I have made a lot of connections over the past year.  But the thought of entering a contest on facebook, or a pinup pageant, and facing rejection, or failure...well...it terrified me.  So I never did it.

The day of the rumble, my mood was the same.  I still had no interest in entering, and had made my mind up that I would't do it.  I was sure I wasn't going to win.  Besides, my hair wasn't how I wanted it to look, my lipstick kept smudging and my damn false lashes just weren't sitting right.  Ya right....like I could win a pageant.  We rode to the fair grounds on my boyfriend's motorcycle.  We were early to arrive.  We were met by Randy Allen of Powder Puff Vixen Photography, who originally told us about the event, and who I've also been fortunate enough to shoot with a few times.  One of the first things he asked me  was, "are you going to enter???"  I shrugged it off with a "meh".  He then proceeded to tell me what the prizes were.  A write up in a Vancouver Island magazine, a feature in The Pin Up Magazine out of California, a photo shoot on site with a car of my choice, a gift certificate to Rockabilly's clothing as well as other goodies.  "Hmm..." I thought....."this could be a chance to be published" (something that I had been working towards this summer.) 

I looked around.  I was the only model there at the time.  Or girl dressed in pinup attire for that matter.  I continued to look around.  I saw the Roadmen Car Club whose cars I had shot with in Seattle with Roy Varga.  I even recognized a few of the guys who had come up!  The winner of the contest was based on  audience applause.  I thought to myself...."maybe???"  On a whim (and much encouragement from Randy and my boyfriend), I decided to register.  I felt a lump in my throat and butterflies in my stomach as I filled out my information and got my name tag.

As more and more people started to arrive, the butterflies kept multiplying.  More girls were showing up and registering....and not just any girls, BEAUTIFUL girls.  Models from the island who I knew and admired, as well as gorgeous girls just starting out, and girls who were with BIG groups of friends and family!  "CRAP" I thought to myself...."can I un-register??"  The fear of failure was creeping back in.  Then I remembered that little blue train.  "I think i can, I think I can, I think I can"  I said it over and over again, and pushed down the fear and the self doubt. 

At 2:00 when they called the girls to the stage, I thought I was going to be sick.  But then I decided, "its too late to back out now, better just give it all I've got".  I stood in front of the crowd and when my name was called, I used every ounce of confidence I had!!  I shook my booty, did a dance, and struck a pose.  The crowd cheered, and I had fun  (like I said, I have NO problem being in front of a crowd.   I'm not exactly shy.)  When the top 5 were called (out of 10 contestants) I was sure I would be out, but thought "hey that wasn't so bad...I had fun!!"   But my name was called! I had made it into the top 5!  Then the 3rd place winner was called....not me....second place....not me.  "Damn" I thought.  But then they announced the winner.  "RUBY ROXX!!!"  

ME!!!  I did it!!!  I entered a contest, even though I was terrified, and I WON!!!!  I know for some, a pin up pageant is a small triumph, but to me it was so much more.  For me it meant facing my fears!  Trying something new!  Getting published for the first time!  And above all I was proud of myself! 

At the end of "The Little Engine that Could", after the train makes it up the hill, he  goes chugging down the other side saying "I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could".  At first I didn't think I could do it....but it just goes to show, that without trying, you'll never succeed!    

Please stay tuned for when the photos from the shoot are published in both VI magazine and THE PINUP MAGAZINE.  I can't wait to share! 

NEW!!!!!  A video was made of my win, and the photoshoot that followed for the magazine article!!!  Watch the video here!!