Women who are more then they seem on paper are a passion of mine. Their complexity inspires my every move. They prove to me, over and over again, the only person limiting my dreams is my self. These women are why I attempt to do what I do: learn how to tell their multifaceted stories with depth and character.

Bernie Dexter, pin-up model extraordinaire, is one of those women.

I made the mistake of thinking at the beginning of our interview process that I “knew” about Bernie Dexter from hours of searching through her images (for inspiration for costumes design for projects totally unrelated to this one) and a few quick overview of her Myspace and website.

What I learned was a very valuable lesson that will hopefully save me from making an ass out of myself again: READ BETWEEN THE LINES, read with an eye for detail, take notes, and then, READ AGAIN AND AGAIN BEFORE TALKING TO THE ICON.

Bernie Dexter has so much going on that it’s hard to take it all in. There are details of her life that I didn’t catch until reviewing my research for the third and fourth time.

So, let me start by saying: Bernie Dexter, thank you for being patient with me. You are kind.

Now, you aren’t reading this to learn about me. So, let’s get to Bernie.

Twelve ways to be like Bernie Dexter

1. Live your passion. Pin-up modeling is a natural extension of Bernie’s passion for rockabilly and glamour. Her personal photographer is her husband Levi Dexter, “living legend and Rockabilly icon.” The old saying goes: if you have to change your wardrobe, you’ve made the wrong career move.

2. Marry your hero. When asked who her everyday hero was, Bernie responded “Levi Dexter. He is the one who gave me the courage and security in myself to do this…He really makes my world more wonderful then I ever could have imagined and has made all my dreams come true.”

3. BE rockabilly or whatever else your passions are. Breathe your lifestyle, don’t just assimilate it – this approach makes creating one’s public image so much easier.

4. Let your Mom inspire you. “All of my mother’s choices that she made in life and career, the good and the bad, have helped me make better ones for myself.”

5. Burn, baby, burn. An entire line of Bernie Dexter candles are available on Black Corset Candles website.

6. Inspire Art. A mother lode of Bernie Dexter art is available for a connoisseur’s collection. Available impressions of her image range from clothing designs to tattoos to musical lyrics and drum beats. Collect them all!

7. Be professional – leave your Diva at the door. Pin-up is a business. Therefore, a good model acts accordingly. “There is no ‘secret’ to success, other then putting out good pix and being easy to work with. A lot of people think that it is hustling and winning contests. I never won contests. I just kept shooting and made sure I was enjoying what I was doing.”

8. Your own faux fur line. Coquette Faux Furriers offers the Bernie Dexter Signature Line, an accessory necessity to retro allure.

9. Be an exclusive model. Companies, like Jonesie Cake – designer of clips, hats and wings, believe that Bernie Dexter represents the image of their product. No other models need to apply.

10. Design your own lingerie line. In collaboration with Lucy B. Lingerie, Bernie Dexter has released a signature line of lingerie that “is painstakingly reproduced from vintage patterns and styles… The authentic detail is very unique and rare!” The lingerie was inspired by the old skool Camera Club models.

11. Create the hub of coolness. Bernie’s website is a one-stop shop for all that is rockabilly and pin-up.

12. Check the drama at the door. Bernie’s friends are the low maintenance and down to earth kind of people. This helps her stay focused. High drama is just a distraction that Bernie does without. She attributes this to her mom who had few female friends. Her mom said that “women tend to behave badly and she just didn’t want that in her life. As an adult, I have become the same way.”

Bernie’s Story in her own words:

“hi, my name is Bernie Dexter. i am a rockabilly girl who lives the rockabilly lifestyle. i have been modeling for about four years now & enjoying it very much! i draw my inspiration from the music i listen to & Rockabilly culture i surround myself in. one of my favorite performers from the 1950’s is Johnny Burnette, but i also love lots of modern bands like Levi Dexter, meteors, the Cramps, & heaps more! i also draw inspiration from vintage girlie magazines & Exotique books that i have collected over the years. John Willie & Olivia are my favorite artists.

i have also always been fascinated with starlets of the silver screen & 1950s burlesque! when i was a child, i used to tell my mom i wanted to be a movie star! not the kind from today, but the kind from the glamorous 1940’s or 1950’s! my mother was a burlesque dancer, so i guess you can say it runs through my veins! i do not do live burlesque, but do love to make home movie dance clips & still photos.

as a child, i would stand at my mothers side & watch her apply her make up. i was amazed by the transformation. she even used false eyelashes! i think that is where i learned most of my own make up techniques. however, i am a licensed cosmetologist & worked for M.A.C. Cosmetics in the mid 1990’s. M.A.C. is where i learned to be free & creative. i first discovered Bettie Page at a yard sale! i found a stack of trading cards. they were 5.00 & to a starving beauty school student that was a lot. but i had to have them! i did not even look at all of them till i got home. she reminded me of my mom & it was the first time i had seen ANYONE who had a similar body type as myself. this was in the early 1990's & i had never even dreamed of owning a computer. so i could not even google to find out more about her. i did not even look at what her name was till way later. all i knew is for the first time she really made me feel comfy in my own skin.

i had long given up the idea of modeling. it was my dream as a young girl, but after door after door being slammed shut because i was too petite, i had focused on behind the scenes. I started working on shoots for photographer friends doing hair, make up & wardrobe. i have collected vintage clothing, lingerie, burlesque & pin up costumes since i was in high school.

i was told by Holly Madison with in 5 min of us sitting her down to do her make up " you look just like Bettie Page!" i just laughed it off & said all Rockabilly girls have this hair cut. she said " NO... You REALLY do. i should know i have met her." So i did not argue;)

after working on many shoots, i was asked to sit for a lighting test to help out one of the photographers. So, i did. i entered the photo in a contest & the modeling offers came flowing in! i could not believe it! i thought they all must be crazy! heehee...

people thought I resembled pin up queen Bettie Page. even one of my close friends said " bernie, you look like Bettie Page." i was like what???? i do not see it??

i was so so nervous that these companies who wanted me to model would be disappointed. i asked Levi what i should do... he was very quiet & said... i always thought so but never said anything... i just enjoy you being you... & that is how it all started.

it is not my intention to emulate her. she is amazing & one of a kind & i am too! ;)”

Bernie Dexter

One of her inspirations that she mentioned to me, but not in her story, is the vintage Burlesque star named Zorita. Bernie finds her images “amazing.”

Also, when asked to “describe a moment that another woman took the time to enlighten you and you think about it often as inspiration,” Bernie answered:

“When I was a senior in high school, my teacher and his wife saw me struggling. She really took the time to help me see if you want something, do not depend on others. She made it clear that I can do anything I want if I work hard enough. I think about her all the time.”

Since I know this wasn’t enough Bernie for you, go to www.berniedexter.com to get saturated in Ms. Dexter!

Ms. Dexter was an absolute joy to work with and I was very lucky for her to be the first interview of this collection…