Pin-Ups For Vets Founder Gina Elise is on a mission to boost morale and show appreciation for sacrifices made by wives of active duty and deployed service members.
LOS ANGELES, California–February 10, 2012—On the morning of February 10, 2012, four deserving military wives from So.California will be chauffeured in a limousine, donated by Exclusive Sedan Service in North Hollywood, CA, and taken to the scenic Virginia Robinson Gardens at 1008 Elden Way in Beverly Hills, Califronia, where from 9:30 a.m. to 3 pm, they will styled by the Classic Glamour Dolls team and then photographed in the breathtaking garden settings. The photos and video captured during this special event will be a wonderful momento for the wives, as well as for their husbands, who are all active duty service members.
Gina Elise, CEO and Founder of “Pin-Ups For Vets”, an annual award-winning pin-up calendar project benefitting hospitalized Veterans is joining forces with the styling team of Classic Glamour Dolls and Los Angeles photoghapher Marcus Menchaca on February 10th to give four lucky military wives from Southern California a day they won’t forget. Sweet Romance, a vintage jewelry line based in LA has also donated some beautiful pieces for the wives to wear in their photos and also take home as a keepsake from the day. The wives will end the day at a surprise dinner donated by The Stinking Rose. North End Pizza in Los Angeles will be catering a delicious lunch for the military wives during the photo shoot.
“We wanted to boost the morale and show appreciation for the sacrifices made by these incredible wives of active duty service members,” said Pin-Ups For Vets Founder Gina Elise. “We put up a YouTube video on the internet asking our military wives in Southern California to submit letters or videos to tell us about their personal lives as military wives and why they would like to be “Pin-Up For A Day” in this contest.”
Elise explains, “We received many very touching letters from these special military spouses.”
One wife, who is also an Army Veteran herself elaborates, “ I guess I got a little caught up in how proud I am to be a military wife and support our troops and vets. I would LOVE to be a pin-up for a day because it has been a secret passion of mine. I think it comes from growing up with my grandparents telling me stories from back then. I found out years after my grandmother passed away that she used to be a vaudeville dancer. And yes she was a pin up! I have always thought pin-ups and actresses from that era to represent iconic beauty. They represent glamour, sophistication and a sexuality that is all Hollywood. As a military wife who struggles with the everyday demands of work and family in these tough times. I don’t get to feel glamorous, or sexy, or sophisticated. I work 40+ hours a week to take care of my family and home. We all have our worries and stress. I know mine are not as bad as others. I have a wonderfully blessed life. Being picked to be Pin-Up for just one day would allow me to become part of the glamour of yeasteryear and forget the everyday world for just one day.”
One husband who is a Soldier, nominated his wife saying, “I truly believe my wife deserves to have this opprotunity because she always puts the needs of others before her own. And I am asking now, that you too share her beauty and her story with the world. She would never do this for herself. Which is why I am writing you and not her. She does not even know I am doing this for her. So it would be a wonderful suprise. Especially since she has always loved pin-up girls and so do I.”
“With much difficulty, we selected four deserving winners, who will each be styled with a unique pin-up look and then photographed on gorgeous grounds of Virginia Robinson Gardens. It is our way of giving thanks to these wives who sacrifice daily. These four military wives are the spouses of service members representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force,” explains Elise.