Well our first Spotlight Stealer is a corker! I present to you our first Spotlight Stealer: Miss Miranda. No finer lady to pop our cherry.
Puimond corsetry shot by Julian Kilsby
Tell me about yourself?
I’m a burlesque performer and retro / fetish model based in London, UK. I’ve been performing in London and internationally for nearly 8 years now – when I started I was still a teenager and burlesque was a very new scene in London – there were only two clubs operating. I was asked to model for What Katie Did lingerie after their house photographer at the time saw me perform at The Whoopee! Club. I’ve been working for Katie ever since and have watched the London burlesque and cabaret scene grow and grow over the past years, which has been fascinating. Being a What Katie Did model is great for exposure, and before long other people were offering me work, and it just grew from there really. Retro and vintage style has always appealed to me a great deal, and I think it suits my features… people seeing me on stage dolled up 40s style generally wanted me for retro modeling, which made sense! Lady Lucie, an amazing latex designer introduced me to the London fetish club Torture Garden about three years ago and since then I’ve modeled for more and more fetish and latex designers, and did my first solo fetish performance at TG’s Easter Ball this April! I also work regularly with Lucha Britannia – the UK’s only Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling group! I’m one of their ‘glamazon luchadoras’ – a sort of twisted cheerleader who wears latex, riles up the crowd and introduces the wrestlers. It’s a lot of fun!
What does a usual week consist for you?
I’ll usually have one or two photoshoots booked, either for a regular client like What Katie Did or a latex designer. I also really enjoy doing creative test shoots with my favourite photographers – I recently did an amazing shoot with Michel Dierickx whose work I absolutely love. I was painted entirely black and wore some amazing leather pieces by Paul Seville we’d borrowed! I’ll generally have at least a couple of performances each week as well, my favourite clubs to perform at being The Double R Club (David Lynch inspired cabaret – I’m a huge Lynch fan!), Gypsy Hotel and La Reve. There might be Torture Garden and Lucha Britannia too! And the days in between I’ll be doing yoga and gym, tons of emails, probably designing new costumes, routines and shoot styling ideas, and meeting up with friends when I can!
What Katie Did lingerie by Daniel Kinnersley
What does the term ‘modern pinup’ mean to you?
A pinup has style, charisma and allure. Male or female, they’ll also know how to pose to make the most of their physical gifts, and how to use style to express their personality. The term ‘pinup’ suggests a retro aesthetic as it naturally conjures up the classic paintings by the legendary Elvgren and Vargas, or shots of Bettie Page, so to me a modern pinup is someone who appreciates the retro look, and brings it into the contemporary world in their own way.
Influences for your modelling?
That really could be anything! I have been drawn to the retro look since a very young age, but very rarely wear actual vintage pieces which often surprises people. I love finding new items which have a retro feel, and coordinating them with contemporary pieces to give the whole outfit a different look. I also love to team 40s/50s styled hair and makeup with more contemporary clothes. I often seem to plan outfits around jewelry – I’m very into colour coordination so I suppose costume style jewelry is often an inspiration!
Lady Lucie Latex by Glow Photography on Torture Garden Flyer
Pinup girl’s handbag essentials?
Carmex, Besame lipstick and a good lipbrush to keep it looking perfectly sharp, a cute compact (mine’s an Anna Sui one I bought in Tokyo) so you look well accessorised when doing touch ups, and my iPhone so I can keep up with emails or take snaps of make up or clothing inspirations wherever I am. Having my music with me in my iPhone is also very important – it can be such a great escape if you’re somewhere stressful like a packed rush hour train!
Favourite haunts?
I am a BIG fan of cocktails. La Perla in Covent Garden does fantastic happy hour margaritas, I love The Diner off Carnaby as the staff are the best – they’ve befriended me and my man, initially because they appreciated our retro styling, and often give us free drinks now! Crazy Homies in Westbourne park does incredible margaritas and Mexican food, and for sheer decadence the Beaufort Bar at The Savoy is stunning. I adore afternoon tea at The Wolseley, and if a celebration is in order, I’d follow it with tiki cocktails at Trader Vics for ultimate kitsch!
Tell us one unknown fact about yourself?
This isn’t exactly UNknown, but hardly anyone who knows me for my modeling work is aware of this… I also work freelance as a graphic designer! On Thursdays I work in an office producing a digital publication that goes out to professionals in the music business, but that leaves the rest of my week free to do my modeling and performance work, which is ideal! I’ll also work on other freelance design jobs when I have the time – I recently redesigned the What Katie Did website, put together a cover for The Urban Voodoo Machine’s single ‘Rather You Shot Me Down’ and made myself some new business cards too – handy! ;D
