IF you want to be Miss Ballarat Beat, you've gotta have sass.
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So says Miss Ivy Fox (AKA Karsha Armstrong), our inaugural pin-up girl champion.
The beauty pageant is as essential to the 50s rockabilly scene as hotrods and rock ‘n’ roll. So the de facto queen of the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival this year was Miss Fox, who wowed the judges with a combination of a cheeky cossie, a bright green evening dress, glamorous poses and a winning smile.
Click the image above to see more photos from the pageant
"You've got to have sass," Miss Fox breezed.
"You are born with a seed. It grows and you grow up, and then it blossoms with an event like this.
"It's all about encouraging people to develop a bit of confidence. A few of the girls backstage hadn't even been on stage before. It's not about winning."
This is the 23-year-old redhead's third pageant and her first crown after being runner-up Miss Camperdown Cruise last year.
She travels all the way from Adelaide to compete and, if she isn't already, has every intention of becoming a regular on the rockabilly festival scene.
"We don't have anything like this in South Australia," Miss Fox explained.
"I am into the whole scene. I love the cars, the music and the clothes.
"Some of the vintage outfits are handed down from your grandmother and some can be bought online. If you are really lucky you will see something at the op shop and – BAM! – you've got it for a few dollars."
Miss Ballarat Beat follows the format of a traditional pageant, with daywear, swimwear, evening wear and questions in between.
Miss Fox was up against a bevy of beauties including eventual runner-up Flirtatious Belle, Miss Congeniality winner Eva B Devine, Rockabilly Rebel, Katy Katnip, Broad Betty and others.
Pageant judge Miss Lu Lu (AKA Louise Emery) said the four judges were looking for a combination of confidence, entertainment and the right accessories.
"My focus is fingers, hair and make-up," she said.
"But we also like to be entertained.
"The scene is huge in Queensland, NSW and it is taking off in Victoria.
"The pin-up competition is an event within an event."