Temanu O’Brien-Schmidt believes that pin-up is often misunderstood. For her, it’s more than playing dress up, it's a way to express herself and even her culture.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding, that people think it’s like cosplay or people are just dressing up to be flamboyant,” O'Brien-Schmidt told NITV.
The 22 year-old, a descendant of the Mabuygilgal people on the southeast coast of Mabuiag Island with family ties to Badu Island, is one of 12 finalists at this year’s Cooly Rocks On Pin-Up pageant, one of the largest of its kind in the country.
Cooly Rocks On takes place on Yugambeh and Minjungbal land at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and is a celebration of all things vintage, from cars to music and fashion.
O’Brien-Schmidt said while she entered the pageant for a “confidence boost”, after years of attending pageants to watch, she feels part of a community that welcomes everyone.
“It is a broad scene where there are a lot of ladies who come from different backgrounds and it’s a place where people come together," said O'Brien-Schmidt.
"It’s an uplifting community, that’s the reason I joined it to start with."
Temanu O'Brien-Schmidt hopes to go on to be part of international pin-up pageants in Las Vegas and New Orleans. Source: Supplied
O’Brien-Schmidt said some of her outfits that will feature in the pageant will include a handmade traditional zazi grass skirt she has made herself, as well as pearls that have been passed down on her mum’s side - a long line of pearl divers.
“Everything is tied together and even some of the pearls that I’m going to be wearing in the jewellery on stage are from my great grandmother,” said O’Brien-Schmidt.
“My great grandfather was in the pearl diving industry, so that is passed on generationally."
O'Brien-Schmidt said the music she has chosen to accompany her routines will be by prolific Torres Strait Islander artist, Henry Gibson Dan AM, also known as Seaman Dan, a late relative of hers whose music combines hula, jazz and blues with traditional music from the Torres Strait.
While she can't reveal too much more at this stage, O'Brien-Schmidt said her performances will tell a "coming-of-age" story through song and dance, with some added surprises.
Pin-up pageants and a love of vintage fashion also runs in the family with O’Brien-Schmidt’s mother competing in the Cooly Rocks On pageant as a finalist in 2018.
O’Brien-Schmidt said her mum, who she calls her “number one supporter”, has been by her side to help with all preparations in the lead up to the big weekend next month.
“[Mum’s] definitely happy that we share the same passion, like mid-century fashion, so she’s definitely excited to see me put myself out there outside of my comfort zone at a bigger level,” said O’Brien-Schmidt.
“She’s just been there with everything going through each section, head to toe…if I’m having second guesses she’ll let me know her opinion and she’s even helped me make all the hair pieces that I’m wearing on stage.”
O’Brien-Schmidt’s grandmother has also been by her side to help out and encourage her ambitions in the scene.
“I grew up sewing, my grandma taught me sewing and how to make dresses,” she said.
“A few of the garments I’m wearing in the pageant, I made myself with my grandma, so she’s shown me those skills.”
Hoping to place and take home a top prize, for O’Brien-Schmidt Cooly Rocks On is just the first step in her pinup journey.
“I’d definitely like to go and travel to Las Vegas,” said O’Brien-Schmidt.
“There’s a rockabilly Queen of the Car Show pageant, which is probably the biggest pageant in terms of pin-up, so that one’s an international pageant, which I have to definitely work towards, but that would be my next step in that world.”
For now, O’Brien-Schmidt hopes to inspire other young women in the audience.
“I’m looking forward to being on stage, connecting with a lot of different people and then hopefully after the show, other people connecting or those who are in the crowd who are from a cultural background, Torres Strait or Aboriginal, and might show them the confidence, like yeah you can definitely go on stage, have fun, be yourself.”
Cooly Rocks On takes place from 4-8 June 2025.
