‘Embodiment of true femininity’: Modern pin-up girls take over Cooly Rocks On

A seasoned pin-up girl has revealed what it takes to succeed in one of Australia’s most famous events – and how it helps with her work as a sexologist.

Miss Mon Mon - aka Monica Myles - has donned her best vintage attire to compete in the Cooly Rocks On Pin-Up Pageant. Picture: John Gass

Perfect pin curls, bright red lipstick and frocking up in gorgeous vintage dresses - from the outside that is the epitome of the modern pin-up girl, but for Miss Mon Mon, aka Monica Myles, it is so much more.

The Cooly Rocks On Pin-Up Pageant is back and competing for a third year the Perth local said she loves returning to the popular Gold Coast event.

“Since my very early college days ... I just wanted to have that embodiment of true femininity. There’s a lot of power in the sort of hyper-feminine look, so I started learning how to do winged eyeliner, red lipstick and curling my hair and I’ve been doing it now for about seven or eight years,” she said.

“The magical thing about the Cooly Rocks On is that you just never know what’s going to happen on stage, especially having a really fun talent portion.”

Miss Mon Mon has competed at pin-up competitions across the country and represented Australia internationally. Picture: John Gass.

As a previous finalist in the competition Ms Myles said the embodiment of the modern pin-up girl is unapologetically expressing yourself with a fun, vintage twist.

“There is no age, size, shape, colour requirements at all, you will see girls representing different cultures ... (and) see different decades and different interpretations of what pin-up is,” she said.

“I just like the fact that everybody can be a pin-up, everyone has a pin-up in them ... and we embrace vintage vibes not vintage values.”

When Ms Myles isn’t donning her rockabilly dresses, she’s working her day job as a sexologist where she specialises in various areas including working with those who have experienced chemotherapy or strokes.

Ms Myles said the pin-up community is ever-growing and the best part of the competition was meeting new people. Picture: John Gass

“So I will help couples add a little bit of spice back to their marriage ... it’s a very rewarding job, which is to give people back that little bit of love and self acceptance.”

She also teaches sex education to children and co-ordinated with each state to rewrite the Australian curriculum on sexual education.

Ms Myles said the confidence gained from being a pin-up girl has helped her in her own career – especially speaking to a room of teenage boys about the birds and the bees.

The Pin-Up Pageant kicks off on Friday at Cooly Rocks On with a line-up of retro fashion, talent and glam set to take the stage.