Hometown Honey pin-up contest ‘sweet’ alternative
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Carmen Ensinger
If one is looking for some gals a little more “mature” to feast their eyes upon in a pageant, then be sure and be sure and be at the White Hall Drag-O-Way (WHDOW) Reunion for the Hometown Honey Pin-up contest which will take place around noon on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Lions Park in White Hall after the presenting of the Colors.
The event is being organized by Amanda McKinley of White Hall, better known in the pinup world as Miss Dandy Lines. McKinley was asked by the WHDOW to hold the contest during their event.
McKinley explained a little bit about the contest.
“This is not your typical beauty contest,” she said. “These contests usually have a theme and the girls dress up in attire from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Pin-up takes the most glamourous part of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s and 60’s and while it goes along with the car culture and car shows, it stands out on its own.”
McKinley got involved with pin-up back in 2018 when she competed in her first pin-up event – the Miss Hooligan Pin-up contest held in Carrollton. She ended up winning her first competition and walked away as Miss Hooligan of 2018. The following year she competed in the Mother Road contest in Springfield, but didn’t place.
We all know about 2020 and the pandemic, but this year she decided to put her talents behind the scene and sponsor a contest right here in her own community.
“I have 10 ladies competing in this contest who have come from all over the area,” McKinley said. “Locally, they are from Eldred, White Hall, Jacksonville, Springfield and Alton along with several coming all the way from Missouri to compete.”
For these gals, and McKinley, pin-up isn’t just a contest, it becomes a way of life.
“We all compete under a stage name rather than our own name,” she said. “Some of us go by something similar to our own name while others go completely rogue.”
For example, McKinley by the name of Miss Dandy Lines, which she explains is a play on the word “dandelions”, which are her favorite flowers. Dandy is similar to the name she goes by “Mandy” and “Lines” is for her hobby, which is being an artist.
Other names competing in the Miss Hometown Honey include: Miss Ivy Von Cutie, who derived her name from her grandmother, Miss J. Marie, a play on the word “jamboree” and Ginger Divine. Those are just a few.
For McKinley, the best part about pin-ups is that there is no body-shaming.
“We do and promote pin-ups because we are body positive,” McKinley said. “You can be 100 pounds and all decked out and dressed up for this or you can be 400 pounds and decked out and dressed up and out on that stage because this isn’t a beauty contest – it is much more than that. It is more of a personality contest.”
There will be three judges that will judge on a variety of things, not just the “honey’s” looks.
“The judges will judge the ladies on whether or not their outfits fit the theme and whether they had a positive outlook on the stage,” McKinley said. “Because that is also part of the judging. If you are standing in line with a cranky look on your face, not paying attention, you will get points docked. You need to be attentive, positive and supportive. You need to clap for your friends. You are all competing, but points will be docked if you are not altruistic.”
First, second and third places will be awarded and each contestant will receive a goody bag filled with items purchased by McKinley.
“All of the items in the bag, including, of course, honey, were purchased locally,” she said. “The theme of this contest is ‘Hometown Honeys’ so it is only fitting that everything about it be local.”
