BY MONIQUE QUINTANA

Growing up, I also had a love affair with the pinup girl. I used to beg my parents to take me to the only 1950s themed dinner in town, and I twirled in circle skirts my grandmother had sewn for me in blue and green Hawaiian print fabric. I don’t really feel like me if I’m not wearing a cat eye and a red mouth. It’s become part of my feminism.

What always troubled me about the pinup aesthetic was that I never saw pinups who looked like the women of my family, and while I loved (and continue to love) looming pinup figures like Marilyn Monroe and the cult queen Bettie Paige, I’ve always been looking for something a little more relevant to my experience. There are many reasons why the pinup aesthetic appeals to women of color. It’s an aesthetic that celebrates the body and encourages transformation. It can help a woman find her own magic and be confident. It can connect her to the women that came before her, to her heritage.

I’ve been on social media for less than a year and while it can be problematic at times, it has helped me find these communities of women that I’ve been seeking for so long. Instagram has become my favorite social media platform. Here’s a very short list of accounts for and by pinups of color. There are so many, but here are a few that have made an impression on me over the past several months.

#Repost @rubychampagne -- All the babes 💕 #vlv20 #vivalasvegasrockabillyweekend #babes #pinups

220 Likes, 6 Comments - OFFICIAL Pinups of Color Page (@pinupsofcolour) on Instagram: "#Repost @rubychampagne -- All the babes 💕 #vlv20 #vivalasvegasrockabillyweekend #babes #pinups"

@pinupsofcolour

This account features several lovelies daily. You’ll see pinups that are contemporary and retro, of many different shapes, sizes and colors. It also shows the many different manifestations of the pinup look. Some pin-ups are more natural, some have tattoos and rainbow colored hair. Some are more vampy in their aesthetic, while others are more playful. There’s no rule about beautiful here.

Neil Kendall Photographer : Lou On The Rocks and her Japan themed ghost enchantress act... yes, such things exist! Born in Geneva of Japanese parents, Lou first booked me for a Tiki shoot a few years back and she flew in this week for this shoot... last year we shot a Tura Satana, 'Faster Pussy Cat,Kill! Kill!' tribute number. I knew the real Tura who sadly passed away four years ago. Afterward she sat with me and went through my collection of Asian glamour queen photographs of the 1950's from my huge burlesque collection. There aren't nearly enough Asian women on the stage in Burlesque, we need more!. MUA Lou On The Rocks

112 Likes, 1 Comments - OFFICIAL Pinups of Color Page (@pinupsofcolour) on Instagram: "Neil Kendall Photographer : Lou On The Rocks and her Japan themed ghost enchantress act... yes,..."

A possible shoot??? #Repost @kassandralove -- @valentinaazulxo @radiant_inc 😍

173 Likes, 1 Comments - OFFICIAL Pinups of Color Page (@pinupsofcolour) on Instagram: "A possible shoot??? #Repost @kassandralove -- @valentinaazulxo @radiant_inc 😍"

I got to have a fun lady date with @reneemarielopez & @misscelinamae this afternoon! We had lunch at a cute diner here & then went vintage shopping; it's always a lovely time with great girl friends! #pinupgirlclothing #coutureforeverybody #pinupstyle #pinupgirlstyle #pinup #pinupgirl #modernpinup #pinuplife #pinuphair #pinupfashion #vintageinspired #pinupgram #vintagehair #vintagestyle #vintageart #vintagediner

211 Likes, 21 Comments - Yvonne V (@tigermouth) on Instagram: "I got to have a fun lady date with @reneemarielopez & @misscelinamae this afternoon! We had lunch..."

@tigermouth

Yvonne V hails from the town I live in, Fresno Ca, which is the very pulse of the Central Valley. With her rockabilly glamour, she celebrates all kinds of California, from the time warp of a diner, The Chicken Pot Pie Shop located in Fresno’s arts and culture center, the Tower District, to the buzzing dream place that is Anaheim’s Disneyland. And while she is a lover of camp and whimsy, she has a serious knowledge and appreciation for the history of the pin-up girl, and relays the beauty of the past like colorful bubbles of memories.

I'm so sad I didn't get to go to Pinup Parade today! Throwback to the spring event when I did a Disneybound of Sulley from Monsters Inc. and my group won the disneybounding contest! I'm definitely looking forward to next Pinup Parade! #pinupgirlclothing #coutureforeverybody #pinupparadeinthepark #pinupparade #pinupgirl #pinup #vintageinspired #vintagehair #disneybound #monstersinc #disneyland #disney #disneyootd #pinupgirlstyle

167 Likes, 9 Comments - Yvonne V (@tigermouth) on Instagram: "I'm so sad I didn't get to go to Pinup Parade today! Throwback to the spring event when I did a..."

It's been so rainy in California lately! I'm ready for some golden spring afternoons, how about you? #pinupgirlclothing #coutureforeverybody #pinupstyle #pinupgirlstyle #pinup #pinupgirl #modernpinup #pinuplife #pinuphair #pinupfashion #vintageinspired #vintagehair #vintagehairstyle #goldenhour #pinupgram

179 Likes, 11 Comments - Yvonne V (@tigermouth) on Instagram: "It's been so rainy in California lately! I'm ready for some golden spring afternoons, how about..."

Is it spring yet?!🌹🌺🌸🌷 It's just around the corner, and I can't wait to see all the #NaturalBeauty that awaits, since it's been raining so much these last several months. Photographed by @aslinemmelie #NaturalHair #Vintage #VintagePlaysuit #VintageStyle #PinupStyle #PinupStyle #BlackPinup #BlackBarbie #Pinup

2,074 Likes, 48 Comments - 💖👼🏾🌺🌷 ANGELIQUE NOIRE 🌷🌺👼🏾💖 (@theblackpinup) on Instagram: "Is it spring yet?!🌹🌺🌸🌷 It's just around the corner, and I can't wait to see all the #NaturalBeauty..."

@theblackpinup

Angelique Noire adorns herself in classic looks from the 1940s and 1950s, but she encourages black women to make the aesthetic their own. She shows that you can totally style natural hair in pin-up looks such as victory rolls and bumper bangs. What’s the most beautiful thing about her? She uses her platform to lift up her community and support movements like Black Lives Matter and women's rights.

"To live in the light of a new day and an unimaginable and unpredictable future, you must become fully present to a deeper truth - not a truth from your head, but a truth from your heart; not a truth from your ego, but a truth from the highest source."- Debbie Ford 📸 credit @Underground_NYC ______________________________________ #Pinup #BlackPinup #PinupStyle #PinupGirl #VintageStyle #PinupDaily #BarbieDoll #Melanin #BrownSkin #MidCentury #Fashion #BlackDoll #Nostalgia #BGKI

2,764 Likes, 57 Comments - 💖👼🏾🌺🌷 ANGELIQUE NOIRE 🌷🌺👼🏾💖 (@theblackpinup) on Instagram: ""To live in the light of a new day and an unimaginable and unpredictable future, you must become..."

I found a good spot.😊🇺🇸 "March For Women Of Color" @WomensMarchLA @WomensMarch * * * * * * * * #IMarchForUS #IMarchAgainstHate #WomensMarch #WomensMarchLA #WomensMarchGlobal #WomensMarch2017 #WeMarch #HumanRights #WomensRights #BLM #LGBTQ #LGBT #Immigrants #WhyIMarch #StopNormalizingChump #MarchAgainstTrump #StopNormalizingTrump ..................................................... #BlackPinup #PinupGirl #ILoveVintage #ILoveRetro

2,814 Likes, 29 Comments - 💖👼🏾🌺🌷 ANGELIQUE NOIRE 🌷🌺👼🏾💖 (@theblackpinup) on Instagram: "I found a good spot.😊🇺🇸 "March For Women Of Color" @WomensMarchLA @WomensMarch * * * * * * * *..."

Yesterday's behind the scenes with @tragicglamour ❤💕

4,687 Likes, 21 Comments - Ashley Marie Rosas (@pinupdollashleymarie) on Instagram: "Yesterday's behind the scenes with @tragicglamour ❤💕"

@pinupdollashleymarie

Ashley Marie Rosa, a Mexicana identified pin-up, is intensely beautiful and has a whole lot of integrity. She’s proud of her body and is open with talking about body image with her followers. She recently had a fat transfer procedure and was very honest about what she had done and her reasons for doing it. She has also made sure to emphasize the seriousness of undergoing the procedure and the long journey to recovery. Her account is a glimpse into her professional life, fun times with her love and friends, and she also posts fun hair and make-up tutorials that are a playful kaleidoscope of glamour.

Newest video is up regarding 🍑🍑 Link in bio ❤ #ISpyMimosa

6,708 Likes, 55 Comments - Ashley Marie Rosas (@pinupdollashleymarie) on Instagram: "Newest video is up regarding 🍑🍑 Link in bio ❤ #ISpyMimosa"

Yesterday ❤ Dress is the Jasmine Pencil Dress from @topvintage_boutique

3,642 Likes, 16 Comments - Ashley Marie Rosas (@pinupdollashleymarie) on Instagram: "Yesterday ❤ Dress is the Jasmine Pencil Dress from @topvintage_boutique"

🌹Nopalera🌵

11.2k Likes, 183 Comments - 🌹Stay Groovin' 🕸 (@dandy.mandie) on Instagram: "🌹Nopalera🌵"

@dandy.madie

Activist and poeta, Dandy Mandie shares a wonderful and politicized existence. Donning pompadours and flowers in her hair, she’s a modern day echo of the Pachuca, women of Mexican descent who refused to assimilate to the rigid social standards of the 1930s and 1940s. On other days, Mandie will rock beanies and hoodies. She shares her poetry in both grand and intimate spaces. She’s like a beautiful revolution.

Today was beautiful. Even tho I fucked up n stuttered a bit I'm still proud of maself n I appreciate all the love and support and everyones energy. And all the fam that came through and everyone that said wassup. So many dope performers today, serio no other word to describe it but beautiful 🌹✨

4,400 Likes, 29 Comments - 🌹Stay Groovin' 🕸 (@dandy.mandie) on Instagram: "Today was beautiful. Even tho I fucked up n stuttered a bit I'm still proud of maself n I..."

"Remember you are powerful. That you're a xingona. That you're doin' something right. Look at the impact you have had on people's lives simply for being yourself and using your voice." I tell myself these things every day especially if I catch myself getting down over things that should no longer be given attention because I'm on a journey to bigger and better things. I'm very proud of myself. I feel like an even better version of myself and I have so much passion and strength in me I'm so ready to use it on a whole other level that I have been already. I'm gonna do many powerful things w in my lifetime. I see a very bright future for myself and I'm hyped af yall cause it's gonna happen ima make damn sure of it. I see little things coming together for me lately even though I know I got a whole lot more to experience and go through but I'll grow from it. I'm meeting amazing people such as @almaretta who has been helping me, a young xingona xicanita get to where I wanna be and getting even more involved w my community by guiding me and leading me on a right path because I was lost for a sec on what to do and where to start w seeeveral things. Thank you for all the motivation and for all the help and wisdom you have already given me in such a short amount of time knowing you. I'm already callin you ma second momma shiiiit lmao ❣️ and thank you for bringing a beautiful soul @laaamorenita into this world because I'm so happy we crossed paths 🌹 meeting a bunch of positive people and getting rid of the toxic, planning out things for our communities as well as my future. All I can say is I feel so damn thankful on so many levels. Thank you thank you thank you @almaretta @laaamorenita @hoodprofet , my momma wolf and all my supportive family members, all my real down ass friends, all my supporters here on ig, from the bottom of my heart thank you cause I'm feelin' another level of happiness and positivity :,)🌹💕

6,907 Likes, 24 Comments - 🌹Stay Groovin' 🕸 (@dandy.mandie) on Instagram: ""Remember you are powerful. That you're a xingona. That you're doin' something right. Look at the..."

Monique Quintana is a contributing Beauty and Fashion Editor of Luna Luna and blogs at razorhousemagazine.com. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing Fiction from CSU Fresno, and her work has appeared in Huizache, Bordersenses, and The Acentos Review, among others. She is a member of the Central Valley Women Writers of Color collective, the Latinx Authors Collective (LACO), a Squaw Valley Community of Writers Fellow, and this summer, she will be attending the Sundress Academy of the Arts Residency in Knoxville, TN. She is working on a hybrid Chicanx gothic collection entitled, A Little Saw And Other Children Pieces and her first novel, Chola Mona Lisa, which is about a mother who mysteriously loses the ability to smile on her thirtieth birthday and begins an affair with a gang banger- turned- artist after she agrees to pose in his large video art instillation in Fresno, CA. You can find her on Instagram as @quintanadarkling.