It's
a new year and with that comes a new member to our Modern
Femme Fatales gallery. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's
Day, we crowned ourselves a new Cheesecake Queen!
Our twice-a-year on-line pin-up contest has
grown and become more popular than ever! This time around we had the most
votes ever cast for a contest--over 1,000 votes! And collecting 213 of
those votes was our new Cheesecake Queen Starla James!
James hails from the UK, but
can really make any red-blooded American male become weak in the knees.
She was the first one sign up for the contest when the list opened on November
1st. And was not shy about promoting herself.
Since this was our big 10th Cheesecake
Contest, the good folks over at Cameo
Intimates Lingerie offer up an amazing prize--a custom lingerie
set designed and named after our new Queen!
Here now is an exclusive interview with and
pictures from our newest Cheesecake Queen, Starla James.
* * * * *
(Interview from January 2008)
Java's Bachelor Pad: Congratulations on becoming the latest JBP
Cheesecake Queen! I know one of the big prizes this time was a
custom lingerie set from Cameo Intimates Lingerie designed
and named after you. Any thoughts yet on what you're going to do?
Starla James: Thank you very much Java! It's incredibly
overwhelming. I just found out recently that Cameo Intimates want
me to help design the set. I am not sure yet how far I can go with it.
I would love to include silk and satin, a great push up effect and maximum
comfort. My mom Lynne has asked, if possible to place the adjusters at
the front as there is nothing more annoying than having to wrestle with
your bra straps when out at at a club or bar, so I said I would do my best,
as its a very good idea. I want the set to please everyone as this is a
very special prize.
JBP: You were right there when the contest opened and were the
first gal entered. I get the feeling you had the Cheesecake Queen crown
in sight the whole time.
SJ: Ha ha, I was up at something like five in the morning
as well. I had never entered a contest or competition before in my life,
so I just decided that if I was going to enter. Then I was in it to win.
I put in a lot of dedication throughout the contest and didn't slack for
one day, so that whether I won or not, I would know I did my best. That
is what really counts at the end of the day. Winning the contest has definitely
brought out my competitive streak but at the same time I am the type of
gal where if I saw someone else deserved it more/worked harder, I would
let them have it instead and wait for another time.
JBP: Tell us a little about yourself. You're new to the scene,
aren't you? How did you get started?
SJ: I have been modeling on and off for a few years
testing the water with different looks. Really, it's a shame I didn't grasp
Pin-Up earlier in my life, as I have always been surrounded by the Americana
influence, even living in the U.K.
My dad, Pete, who sadly passed away recently
was incredibly in love with the states and everything 40's and 50's.
I was brought up in America, where my Dad
built up and customized old classic cars, way before Pimp My Ride, so I
was always around the influence.
Before he passed away my Dad told me to
go blonde and to find a niche. So i dyed my hair, then came the red lipstick,
and from there a pure dedication to produce an authentic vintage look on
a day-to-day basis. And I love it so much. I never really fitted in with
fashion, being told how to look and how to be sexy. The women of 60 years
ago definitely knew how to look glamorous and sexy.
JBP: Talk about some of the photo shoots you've done. Where do
you get your ideas?
SJ: A lot of the shoots I have done so far have been
quite tame to everything I want to do. I have quite the imagination and
I love using it--especially in the artistic sense with backgrounds of shoots,
and themes.
Again, I love creating an authentic look.
If someone gives me the compliment that I really nailed "THAT" look, then
I'm a happy lady!
I am really lucky that I have a boyfriend
who has an incredible imagination too. If mine lets me down for any reason
and I get a mental block, my fella Matt aka Dexter James will step in and
create something that is really awesome!!
I am lucky that we have some incredible
locations, like Corfe Station which I modeled at recently. That place is
just perfect, and I hope to do that shoot again in the summer but this
time with one of the steam trains.
JBP: Who are your influences? What modern pin-up girls inspire
you? Why?
SJ: The woman that really made me go wow from the beginning
is
Sabina Kelley. She is not only stunning but she really has an
individuality which you are either born with or not, she has it all for
me!! I adore Heidi Van Horne, Bernie
Dexter,
Masuimi Max and Emily Marilyn. And of course
Dita Von Teese.
All these woman are incredibly good role
models as well, they all have their individuality, they have fun with what
they do and they are nice gals too.
JBP: In your opinion, what makes a good pin-up girl?
SJ: A gal who is not afraid of being individual, setting
yourself apart from the crowd and having that certain something special--that
something that makes people come back for more! Of course a face full of
expression and working with what you have, and then flaunting it. A good
Pin-Up can be any size, hair color etc... its all about how you use it
and excepting that you are gorgeous because you are YOU. If Pin-Up is what
ya wanna do, don't let anyone stop you!! And of course, always having fun
with it!!
JBP: Now, you're from the UK. What's the pin-up scene like in
your area? How hard is it to be a pin-up in the UK? Do people around you
get it? Any plans to visit the US soon?
SJ: I think it helps that I was brought up in America.
I had such a wonderful exciting childhood thanks to my parents. It is of
course quite different from the US. In my town, as far as I know, I am
the only gal that dedicates herself to a vintage look. When I go out people
sometimes look shocked. They will often come up to me and ask questions
about what I am wearing or compliment my makeup, which is always lovely.
However when I am in London, for example, not many people bat an eyelid
to it as there is a more of a call, what with the massive Burlesque scene
up there.
Unfortunately, I don't have the advantage
the American Pin-Up's have because I don't have a bunch of diners. There
aren't classic cars driving the streets on a daily basis. And there is
little to none rockabilly scene so I just have to use my imagination a
bit more.
I am grateful for the other Pin-Up gals
in the UK that I know, Millicent Binks and Fleur De Guerre
are awesome Pin-Up beauties. And my best friend Lucky is a sexy
little Pin-Up as well.
I would love nothing more than to come
back to the states. I am truly in love with the people and the relaxed
and laid back approach the Americans have and the culture.
JBP: What are your plans now that you're our latest Cheesecake
Queen? What's next for you?
SJ: I have some stuff in the pipeline for this year,
and of course modeling for Cameo Intimates, which I am really looking
forward to! I would love to model for the awesome American and UK faux
vintage companies and to work with some of the great Pin-Up photographers
like Roy Varga, Shannon Brooke
and Les Slenning. My ultimate dream
would be to work with David la Chapelle! I would also truly love
to be in a music video! I want to be inspirational in my art really. That's
how I see it--as an art of glamour and beauty and expression combined.
Thank you for giving us gals a chance to
show the world who we are, Java. This is truly one heck of an experience
and I am incredibly grateful. And thank you to everyone who voted for me.
I wont let you down!
