Hi Everybody!
We’ve got a big honour to do an exclusive interwiev with one of today’s biggest, professional pinup model: Bernie Dexter!

Bernie is well known all over the world and what existing in pin-up culture, it means Bernie too and we’re winded while see her. We can see with her ebony hair, shiny white smile, and always perfect poses Bettie Page’s rebound but also today’s pinup culture’s glamorous attitude. It’s also a great good thing she is so informal and charming to receive our request to this interwiev. We’re fully hohoured and glad to do this with one of today’s living pinup legend who inspired thousands of girls and women and we give a warm friendly welcome to: Bernie Dexter!

BD: Bernie Dexter
RP: Royal Pin-ups Online

RP: Hi Bernie! How are you, how was your day today?:)
BD: Hi there! It I have very Busy day ahead!! I will be modeling Bettie Page t-shirts for Oliva at Comic Con today!

RP: How did you got into this culture, how does it happened?
BD: When i was a little girl i used to watch classic films. I day dreamed of being a 30s 40s Ziegfeld girl. I loved the glamour of it all so at 5 my mom enrolled me in tap dance classes.

here i am at 7 years old


here i am at 14 years old

My mom always took me thrift shopping as a girl & i would but cat eye sunglasses & 1950s party dresses. & still today i spend many days sifting thru thrift shops looking for vintage clothing.;)
But the one thing that really got me in tuned with my modeling was rockabilly music. It is all about the music & lifestyle. I discovered there was a underground rockabilly & swing scene in the early 1990′s.
I learned to dance & would be at the Derby or Jacks Sugar Shack in hollywood seeing bands at least 3 times a week.

RP: According to your homepage, your Grandmother and yor Mother worked as a model too, so you’re right to follow them.
BD: It seemed natural. I was always aware of fashion & glamour as long as i can remember even before i realized my mom was a Burlesque dancer.

RP: Why did you choose to be a pinup model?
BD: It was the perfect fit for me. I was scouted on the beach when i was 19 to be a model but i was too petite. But i was encouraged by Ford Model management to keep trying. so i did for a few years.
i found i was always too petite & too curvy for modern fashions. measurements 32c bust, 24 waist, 35 hips 5’2″ 103 lbs.
Nina Blanchard agency told me “if only you were 5 inches taller” & ” you would make a great swimsuit & lingerie model” i finally gave up & went to beauty college.
from there i got my license to do hair. I took a job as a make up artist with MAC Cosmetics. it was great they confirmed i was doing everything right as far as my make up skills were concerned.=)
so i free lanced doing hair , make up & ward robe for a 2 years. I worked with”pin Up” photographers. Time period was my specialty!
I even worked on glamour girls like Holly Madison, Dita Von Teese & Tara Patrick! Photographer, Danielle Bedics, asked to come in to sit for light testing. So i did & i entered one of the photos in a contest
for Viva Las Vegas to win free tickets. i did not win, i think i was in 5th or 6th place. BUT the modeling offers came flowing in!! i was so shocked. & nervous! My life has not been the same since.

RP: And what was your mother’s opinion of that?(did she like it?)
BD: She is so proud of me. She really wants me to do burlesque & i am sure i would be quite good at it, but i love doing photo shoots. so i stay focused on that.

RP: When you started modeling, had you have a definite plan or the occurrences just flowed in their own way?:)
BD: It all flowed or i should say tsunamied! I never promoted myself. just worked hard at creating inspiring images & posted them on the net.

RP: Who or what inspires you?
BD: Levi Dexter inspires me the most. His drive & love for the Rockabilly culture is the fuel for our fire as a team. I am also inspired by the success of other glamour girls i admire like Immodesty Blaize. I am also inspired by Ginger Rogers she was so beautiful & so cute & funny. i have always felt it was more important to be likable then just beautiful. I also am inspired by Tempest Storm, i think A LOT of women in the 1950′s 1960′s were. It is funny how she has been overshadowed by Bettie Page. Even my own mother was inspired by Tempest Storm. She had no idea who Bettie Page was. Neither did I!

RP: Tell us a bit about your first photoshoot! How do you remember for that?
BD: Well it was with Danielle Bedics, it was like i said before, just a light test. it was really fun!
I did not think i was anything special, but there was magic in the room that night! Crazy thing is when i posted the photo everyone kept saying i looked like bettie Page. i thought everyone was CRAZY!
& was worried they would be disappointed when they saw me… Levi assured me they wouldn’t be;)
photo from my first shoot & that started the Bernie Craze!

RP: What do you think about cheesecake?
BD: I LOVE IT! it is my specialty! sexy but not sleazy!

RP: Everybody can see that most of your photos taken by your Husband, Levi Dexter. It’s easier to work with your loved one/your love isn’t it?
BD: Much easier. we own all our photos. ANY TIME i work with another photographer, there is some drama involved, mostly i never get the pix promised.
besides Levi is genius at it!

RP: You worked with and posed for many and many great and talented fashion designers, cloth and accessory shops to show their older and brand new designs.
BD: What kind of do you think approach neccessary to reach a success, like yours?
I think my success is based on honesty behind the photos. Every expression is real. I LOVE the designers i get to model for. and i just
love what i do & feel so lucky. i know it is not just about me but also about being a good role model for women & girls!

RP: To be pinup model is a work for you or out and away it’s a great time, hobby for you?
BD: It is a lot of hard work. I happen to love what i do, so it is fun too. but not easy. the best art is when you can make it look easy but you really know how much hard work goes into it.

RP: You’re posing in front of the camera in tons of beautiful clothes and accessories. I think it’s really a great opportunity to luxuriate your adoration for clothes and shoes don’t you?:)
BD: YES! & that is the fun part!

RP: How does a professional pinup model spend her day in general?
BD: answer lots of emails… hehehe… Organizing what will be shot next & cleaning up after the shoots;)

RP: Do you have a preferred substyle between pin up?
BD: Yes, i love high fashion & fetish

RP: You’re adored by tousands and you’re THE IDEAL for lots of girls in this world. How’s it affects you?
BD: Oh my goodness thank you!!! I am so flattered. I really have no idea, i just try to stay grounded & not read the press about me.
i focus on pleasing my fans & helping new designers & websites have success.

RP: What’s your advice for starter/new pinup models?
BD: Shoot as much as possible, even if it is your mom, boyfriend or friend who shoots you & post the pix!
if people like what they see they will contact you;)
BE CAREFUL! never go to a shoot with a photographer you do not know. ALWAYS take a friend.
cell phone photo Levi took;)

RP: What are your plans and dreams you’d like to reach in life?
BD: I really would like to bring Rockabilly culture in to focus for the general population.I hope what i do brings attention to Rockabilly music. I would love to see some of the AMAZING musicians i know get music awards!! Also I hope to design clothes for a long time! Oh I Especially hope that i can continue to inspire women, young girls to fallow their dreams.

RP: If somebody proficient in pin-up culture, they HAVE TO know your cheesecake mini films what are really genius! What brings the idea to make something like that?
BD: Thank you sooooooo much. It is really just improvised. playing records & just going for it.
there is no veneer to what i do. It is all real in the moment.

RP: Dear Bernie, thank you for accepting this request and answering the questions, we’re really honoured and it was a fascinating experience to read the answers and hear what do you think! We wish all the best and send a BIG XO for you and Levi!

Here is a bit wider selection of Bernie’s pictures:

Ghoulina von Royal

This entry was posted by Ghoulina on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 9:26 pm and is filed under Pin-up. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.