Life is too short to not be yourself.
It’s a statement that Angela McIntosh lives by, and she hopes that she can encourage other woman to be who they are and celebrate their individuality.
Angela, aka Angel Blush, has been named as a finalist in the 2022 Miss Vintage Australasia, the only finalist from the Top of the South.
She says her work in the burlesque industry has helped her with body confidence and she wishes all women could feel comfortable in their own skin.
Her passion for vintage-themed clothing grew when she was working as an accountant before having children.
“My work wardrobe was very boring, so I ended up looking at posse bow blouses and how to incorporate some more femininity into that corporate style, and then it kind of just grew and grew.”
Angela will hit the catwalk in September to compete for the title of Miss Vintage Australasia, as part of Vintage Fest NZ at the Lincoln Event Centre in Christchurch, alongside nine other finalists.
She says the festival helps promote the vintage aesthetic and lifestyle to people who might be interested, as well as celebrating femininity and all different body shapes and ages.
Entering competitions has also helped Angel make life-long friends.
“I have an autistic four-year-old and sometimes it’s such a struggle. In another competition I made a really good friend who also has an autistic four-year-old, she’s become an amazing friend.
“Sometimes you can feel a bit on your own, having someone so amazing and creating that bond has been one of the big factors as to why I wanted to continue entering competitions.”
Angela says Nelsonians are very accepting of her style and will often make comments on individual pieces and how they bring back memories.
“People here are really positive; Nelson is really good in that regard.”
People often ask how she has the time to get ready with three small children.
“Getting dressed it takes me exactly the same amount of time to put on sweatpants as it does a dress and the same for lip balm vs red lipstick, it doesn’t take me any longer.”
She says after suffering from post-natal depression, putting in effort to do things like applying her signature red lipstick helped her.
“It really helped me feel like myself and recognise myself in the mirror. I think that’s important, I just want to say to people ‘look, you can just live your best life, if you’ve got kids and you’re not 21 anymore, it doesn’t matter, just be yourself and celebrate that’.”
She is so comfortable in her vintage attire that her two-year-old daughter will ask ‘mummy, where’s your red mouth gone’ if she’s not wearing lipstick.
“Do what you want to do, because really nobody cares, life’s too short to not be yourself.”
