MISS MARCH 2007

CANDACE CAMPBELL

When she’s not modeling for a camera, Candace Campbell can be found making others look their best. The Louisiana born southern belle is a Paul Mitchell hairstylist to the stars that specializes in retro and glamour looks. She has worked with The Killers, Jennifer Tilly, Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries, Mikalah Gordon of “American Idol,” Courteney Cox, Aaron Carter and many others. Currently a resident in Las Vegas, Candace can be found producing pinup shows through her production company and cutting hair at the Electric Chair Salon when she’s not traveling the world. Pollystaffle.com got the chance to ask this beauty, who says she is inspired by the “bravery and elegance of Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn,” a few questions. Read what she had to say on how she got into modeling, what it’s like to have a pair of scissors near the head of a famous person, the difference between pinups and strippers and more as this month’s pinup.

PINUP OR DIE

CCF: From what I understand you were actually a collector of vintage clothes that sort of fell into pinup modeling. How did it come about exactly?

CC: When I was growing up I was obsessed with the anything antique! My mother says I was born in the wrong era. I couldn’t get enough of the vintage style. I started slowly but surely putting together vintage pieces I would find from time to time. It turned into an obsession. In fact if I get a present it’s usually an antique or something from an older era. everyone knows about my obsession. I started doing hair for some of the more popular pinups for photo shoots and the more I did the more I kept getting the suggestion I should do pinup modeling. I had done a little modeling before, but I’ve only been a pinup model for about a little over a year.

CCF: That’s pretty cool… Currently where can people see images of you?

CC: My website PinuporDie, which launched in January. I’m also in the Hot Rod Dolls calendar. I’m Miss April. I will also be in the West Coast Choppers 2008 calendar. I just found out I am going to be on the cover. Yay! I can also be seen on Myspace.

CCF: I read you are a bit of a perfectionist. How so?

CC: I have so many pictures of myself or hair I’ve done that I will never show because one little hair is out of place or a bra strap isn’t tight enough. I know its funny but I like to
show only the best.

CCF: Tell me about Candace Campbell Productions? What is it all about and what are some of the events you’ve put on?

CC: My productions are fashion shows set to the pinup style. We usually have rockabilly bands play and use the hottest pinup designers. It’s a chance for a lot of the amazing artists in this scene to show off their skills. I haven’t been putting on any productions recently. I’ve been focusing a lot on shoots. Any up and coming productions will be posted on both my sites.

CCF: You don’t believe in doing nude photo shoots, right? But you did a test shoot for Playboy? (LOL)

CC: I wasn’t ready to show off my goods when I did the shoot for Playboy. I feel like a big part of pinup modeling is what you don’t show. It’s the tease that makes it so addictive. I do plan on doing Playboy one day. When the time is right. I was way too shy then, and when I do my shoot with them, people will have anticipated that for a very long time. But I don’t think pinups should be naked.

CCF: No, I’m with you one hundred percent on the whole pinup thing. Why don’t you talk about the difference between the art form of being a pinup model, as opposed to nude modeling or being a stripper?

CC: As I was saying, I think pinups should not be nude. It’s not about what you show, it’s how you show it. That is the big difference between strippers and pinups and in Las Vegas it can easily be confused. Pinups are classy ladies that carry themselves accordingly. Nothing makes me madder than when I see an ad of some almost naked girl in hot pants with flat ironed hair, club clothes and not one vintage accessory whatsoever on, but claiming to be a pinup. I’m sorry but that is the strip club look, not the pinup look. And nowhere is it harder for a pinup to get respect than in this city where all the strippers jump on every trendy band wagon. Every stripper thinks they are a pinup right now. I’m always trying to educate people on what it really means to be a pinup. That is actually one of the big reason I don’t go by Candee. I do this because I love vintage and I love capturing it in photos. Strippers do it for attention and money. That’s the difference.

CCF: (LOL) I see. Let’s switch gears here. You’re a celebrity hairstylist. How did you get your doing that?

CC: I was actually really fortunate to assist Robert Cromeans. He is the artistic director for Paul Mitchell. When Paul Mitchell died, he took over. I was lucky enough to travel all over the world working with the best hairstylist in the world. In his salon in Las Vegas I got an opportunity to start working on a lot of celebrities and once you start the ball just keeps rolling.

CCF: Do you ever feel nervous and have weird anxiety like, “Oh my God, I’m going to screw up Jennifer Love Hewitt’s hair” or “What would happen if I accidentally cut off this Playboy Playmate’s ear”? Because I know I would. (LOL)

CC: I’ve been doing what I do comfortably long enough to just have fun with it. I was nervous when I started doing hair on models that weren’t even big. Now I do celebrity hair having fun. I’m always silly at work. I used to be so shy and nervous, but when enough people you idolize tell you that you’re amazing you start to believe it. Vegas is such a celebrity town now you get desensitized to all that pretty quickly at least in my job.

CCF: Is it hard some times to strictly stay professional like if you happen to be doing someone’s hair you’re a huge fan of?

CC: My boss did Willie Nelsons hair and I had to go outside. Usually it’s just another day at work. The days I have an interesting client, famous or not, those are the best.

CCF: Ever do John Stamos’ hair? You know, Uncle Jesse from “Full House”? (LOL)

CC: No, Rebecca got a pedi at my shop though. (LOL)

CCF: (LOL) Cool. Besides celebrities, you also cut and style everyday people here in Las Vegas, right? Do you get a lot of people that come in and are like “I want Bettie Bangs or so and so’s haircut”? What would be some of the more popular requests?

CC: Sadly, I cut Bettie Page bangs all day long. I do the horns. They all want the damn horns. All the boys want the emo cut or a pomp. And the girls get the Bettie Page bangs or the fashion mullet. I’m really sick of those cuts. I got rid of my Bettie bangs because of that. I couldn’t take it. But I always go back to them.

CCF: (LOL) So, what would you charge me for a mullet?

CC: Boy mullets are $55. Girl mullets are $100. Did I say I hate them?

CCF: (LOL)

CC: I used to refuse mullets, but now they’ve taken over and I’ve given in.

CCF: I’m just playing. I would never ask for a mullet. (LOL) You’re a fan or tragic love stories like “Sid and Nancy,” “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Romeo and Juliet.” What is it about these type of films that you find so appealing?

CC: The reason I love those stories, as messed up as they are, they have passion. Passion is so beautiful. It’s something most people never find. I am lucky enough to have a man that I am very passionate about. I think it’s what life is all about. My grandparents died two weeks apart. They couldn’t find a reason she should have died but we all knew she died because she couldn’t go on without her love. I was little, but I thought it was so sweet that she loved him so much she just couldn’t go on without him. I can only hope to be so lucky as to die of a broken heart.

CCF: Yeah, it’s a sad but romantic way to die. To wrap this up on a lighter note, you’re into Adult Swim, right? I am assuming you are a fan of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”?
Who’s your favorite – Master Shake, Frylock or Meatwad?

CC: I love “Aqua Teen.” Meatwad is my favorite, but my favorite Adult Swim show is the “Squidbillies.” I am from the south, so all hillbilly shows are so funny to me. That’s my favorite.

CCF: All right. Well, thanks for sharing with us Candace. If I decide I want “The Britney” any time soon, I’ll drop by so you can scalp me. (LOL) Take care.

- CCF, March 2007