What goes in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.
Nanaimo has a chance to help one of its own flaunt it for the judges and the crowds and bring home the crown from the Miss Viva Las Vegas Pin-up contest, one of the world’s largest annual pageants of its kind where women, photographers and make-up artists bring the classic pin-up genre to life in an international competition.
This year 16 countries are represented by more than 80 entrants who have made it to the competitions online voting round. Danyelle Loyer, who’s pin-up persona is Dandy D’Lish, is one of just two Canadians vying for one of just six finalist spots on stage in Las Vegas for the final round, which happens at the Orleans Hotel during Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, April 19-22.
Loyer, a professional makeup artist who operates House of Dandy, grew up in Nanaimo, but became involved with pin-up modelling while living in Ladner, B.C., in 2015 after she saw a newspaper ad calling for pin-up models.
“I didn’t know anything about it, but wow, an opportunity to play hair and makeup and dress-up and actually go out in public,” Loyer said. “It’s very theatrical.”
Loyer has entered pin-up competitions ever since. Last summer she won the title of Tiki Queen at the Grease Gears and Grooves pin-up pageant at the Cowichan Fairgrounds. She has also taken the crown at the Ladner Quilt Walk and Car Show pin-up pageant.
Loyer sees pin-up as an empowering and creative outlet for women of all ages, shapes, sizes and ethnicity that she hopes to introduce it to more women in Nanaimo.
But her immediate goal is to garner enough online support to earn a spot on stage in Las Vegas.
“Out of the 80-something [competitors] that are left, I need to be in the top six to get onto the stage, but I mean some of the girls I’m competing with, they literally have, like, 60,000-plus followers on Instagram,” Loyer said. “I’m just little old me. One girl’s got the country of Russia backing her and I just want a town. If I can just get whoever that reads the Bulletin, if you can get on to your computer and vote for me, I stand a chance.”
That means as many supporters as possible need to cast their votes before online voting closes on Jan. 31.
Once on stage, Loyer’s character, Dandy D’Lish, will work her magic to win over the judges.
“Once I’m on stage, there’s crowd voting at the actual event and I do really well with that … I don’t have a problem working the crowd and then it’s also by judges, so you’re asked a question and it’s to do with the answer of your question, how you present yourself in public and on stage and that type of stuff,” Loyer said.
To vote online for Loyer, go to to www.vivalasvegas.net/pin-up-contest/ and scroll down to her picture, Dandy D’Lish, click the vote box and follow the directions.
To learn more, contact Loyer through her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dandydlish/.
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