A Northern California Native, Brettie Page grew up in Eureka and now resides among the gorgeous redwoods of Monterey, California. Our own Mitzi Valenzuela recently connected with her after Brettie was crowned Miss Mooneyes 2020. Check out the interview below:

Favorite classic car? It’s hard to choose, but I love 1938 DeSoto because of their incredible art deco lines.

What is your favorite car show to attend? I love Midnight Mass because it’s a huge party.

What do you love most about pinup modeling? I love creating art with amazing photographers, meeting wonderful car buffs, and nerding-out with them over incredible classic cars.

What does Vintage Style Not Vintage Values mean to you? Vintage style, not vintage values is a term that was coined by Dandy Wellington, an outstanding and dapper jazz band leader.  Many in the vintage community have adopted it as a rallying cry. To me, it means that while I love the glamour of the vintage esthetic that I don’t romanticize or glorify the problematic aspects of the timeframe that still impact marginalized communities today, especially communities of color. It also means I actively work to undo those problems in my role as a pinup and in my personal life and work life outside of pinup culture. 

What do you love most about vintage fashion? Vintage garments are so much more visually interesting than the fashion we have now. I have a 13” difference between my waist and hip measurements. Slipping on my first 1940’s cocktail dress was a revelation for me. This clothing fits me better than any pair of jeans I’ve ever owned. Vintage clothing is also a more ethical and environmentally friendly way to shop. Instead of buying fast fashion that wears out quickly and goes to the landfill, was likely produced in a sweatshop, and made of fabric that contains plastics, you’re wearing something unique and made in a way that lasts and can be repaired. The make do and mend mentality of vintage clothing really appeals to me.

What is your favorite fashion decade and why? If I had to pick, 1935 to 1945 would be my favorite time frame. I adore the 1930’s because of the outstanding bias cut evening gowns like those Rita Hayworth and Joan Crawford wore and *any* of the outfits worn in the movie The Women and I love wartime 1940’s dresses because designers got so creative with embellishments because of fabric rationing.

Who is your favorite Hollywood starlet? My favorite Hollywood starlet is Rita Hayworth because she was such an incredible tour de force. She could sing, dance, and act, and her wardrobe was filled with Gilbert Adrian’s incredible bias-cut evening gowns. I style my wet sets after hers and have been practicing her Gilda hair flip for a long time.

How does it feel to be Miss Mooneyes 2020? tell us about your experience? It’s difficult to put this into words. Becoming Miss Mooneyes has been a long journey and is the culmination of a lot of hard work. I had to overcome some of the most painful obstacles I’ve ever had. I first competed in Miss Mooneyes in 2018. I didn’t place. The incomparable Dee Dee Cupcake (the longest and shortest Miss Mooneyes) wiped the floor with all of us! She earned that title hands down. You go, Dee Dee! This inspired me to grow as a pinup and to work much, much, harder. 

The day of my 40th birthday was the day before the contest. I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off packing, sewing on patches, and borrowing last minute props and decals. I wrote the answer to my question, unsure whether the judges would like it. I embroidered my name and the name of one of Dean’s builds onto the suit while Jim drove me down I-5 as the light died. 

I felt the love of my friends and family shine through me as I took the stage. It gave me courage and it gave me wings. I just had fun. I could not have realized this dream without their support. When they called my name I burst into tears of joy.

A month later I’m still overwhelmed with gratitude. Winning was my dream come true and proof that with the love of my friends and family behind me that I can overcome any obstacle. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I promise to be the best Miss Mooneyes I can be.

Tell us about your amazing outfit that you had specially made for the contest? 

I initially balked at reinterpreting the garage girl theme. After a lot of handwringing, I started researching the Mooneyes brand. This took me down the rabbit hole that is vintage drag racing in Southern, California. I found an amazing old photograph of Dean Moon and his crew in their pristine white Moon racing suits on the salt flats. I was also inspired by photographs of Vicky Wood, a groundbreaking female racer. 

I didn’t have a plan, but I knew I wanted to do something different than denim, bandannas, tool boxes. My girl Jena gave me a nudge and said “don’t be the mechanic, be the driver.” Kim Clark of Time Machine Vintage spent hours with me looking through vintage patterns. We ended up combining two different patterns to create the perfect early 50’s MQQN race suit. Her hubby, who’s a long time racing buff let me bounce the details off of him. I scoured the internet for vintage racing patches and MQQN branded gear. I made sure to research which companies and sponsors were contemporary to Moon’s work and tried to find patches with their logos. I agonized about where to place those patches.  If you look at Vicky Wood‘s suit, she actually has the same pure oil logo patch that I put near my heart. 

I added NHRA lapel pins and bright Mooneyes yellow details to the suit. A dear friend helped me create the Go! With Moon vinyl that I added to the back of the suit. I accessorized my ensemble with checkered earrings, vintage necklace and bracelet, and bright yellow spider mums from my friend Jamie at Chatterblossom, along with a belt I made with a safety belt buckle. The finishing touch was my prop, a vintage fire extinguisher. My husband had the last-minute epiphany to fill it with compressed air so I could tell a dad joke and hose down the judges and Dee Dee as I took the stage. Who doesn’t love a good stage gag?

What are you goals for 2020? My goals for 2020 include more pinup publications, fundraising for charities that benefit women, children, and marginalized communities, representing American Pomade Girl’s new line of hair care products, and, OF COURSE working to do the best job I can representing the Mooneyes brand as Miss Mooneyes. I can’t wait to travel more, Covid willing.

Where can we see more of Brettie Page? You can follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/brettiepage or check out my girl gang, the Vivacious Vixens on Facebook or Instagram. Look for me at car shows and vintage jazz dance events! I hope you’ll save me a dance!