Always wanted to write for a magazine...

LATEX LATEX LATEX

The magnificent Cole Black shared his latest video with me, and now i’m sharing it with all of you. I love these vignettes from Cole, he’s a talented fellow and i hope i’ve introduced a few more people to his wonderful work. Some stunning models feature, wearing amazing outfits. Check it out. 

BIANCA BEAUCHAMP!!

Being a fan of the latex realm and latex models, it was always an idea of mine to feature the great Bianca Beauchamp on my blog at some point. For various reasons (one being the doubt she’d have the time or inclination to participate) I held off contacting her with the speculative suggestion. It wasn’t until October and the release of issue 193 of Bizarre magazine that I actually decided to approach Bianca’s representatives about the possibility or working with the industry icon.

The Bizarre issue that influenced me was the umpteenth time Bianca had appeared in the publication’s pages, and showcased a variety of her finest latex clad moments from a span of a couple of months. Shot as usual by her husband and regular photographer Martin Perreault, the pictures beautifully encapsulated Bianca’s work. From stunning nudes to unsurpassed latex imagery, the feature had me coming back again and again to review the pictures and Bianca’s Q&A style content. I was so energised by the piece that I immediately went through various channels to get in touch with Bianca or her people. As it happened I was contacted shortly after by Martin Perreault, who was vital to setting up the whole interview and making Bianca’s presence on my blog a reality. The interview I conducted with Bianca is one of my proudest accomplishments, and she added so much to the experience. I was not only blown away with what we were able to achieve together, but also the attitude Bianca had towards the project, and the desire to help out this passionate writer.

I used the word legend in the title of this award, and I do so sparingly on my blog. But when you’re talking about someone like Bianca Beauchamp, the word legend can not be used enough. For her years of contribution to the adult, fetish and mainstream modelling industries alone, she deserves massive praise and more accolades than I can bestow. But more than that, for her down to earth nature and willingness to help out creative people way below her status, Bianca should also be applauded. I gladly and gleefully award Bianca Beauchamp my legendary guest Alty, and once again thank her and Martin Perreault for making a dream interview a reality.

The word legend is used all too often in many walks of life. But my next guest on the Alt Girl botherer blog is someone I describe as a latex legend for more than reasons of alliteration. Bianca Beauchamp has been leading the way in latex modelling for many years. Her work is adored all over the world, and she has been involved in some of the most innovative uses of latex ever seen. Such a dedication to one material is unheard of, and while she is also very adept at glamour modelling, it is her latex work that grabs this interviewer’s attention. A Stunning Canadian beauty, who is muse to not only her photographer husband Martin Perreault, but countless other aspiring artists and designers. I’m delighted to be able to feature her words and work on my blog, and highlight a stellar career that is going from strength to strength. Please enjoy my interview with the magnificent Bianca Beauchamp.

 

Q: Welcome to the Alt Girl botherer blog Bianca; celebrating over a year of interviewing the most incredible women from the alternative world. I am thrilled to feature you and your work, how are you doing today?

Bianca: Very good and thank you for having me here.

Q: You had a very interesting start in the modelling industry, with hard choices and decisions having to be made. With teaching and modelling both viable options, can you talk us through what pushed you into modelling, and how your magnificent career began?

Bianca: When I was 18 years old, I went to a local sex shop and bought myself a black mini latex dress with my thin budget (I was working at McDonald’s). I first wore it on Halloween night paired up with cat ears. Dressed up as a cute Catwoman, I wanted to surprise my boyfriend (Martin Perreault, the photographer) and I sure left a positive mark! After that night, Martin asked me to pose for his camera. He used to go to Art school and he was no stranger to photography, although he was not into that field professionally back then. I first didn’t enjoy modelling very much because I was too self-conscious and I had that fear of looking ridiculous. What kept me going was actually seeing how much Martin liked taking photos of me; he called me his muse. The results weren’t bad either, not great but not bad. So I kept going and worked on my fears but never ever did I think back then this would actually become a career. And I don’t think Martin thought he would become a professional photographer either.

Back then I was studying at college, then I completed a French grammar certificate at the University of Quebec in Montreal. Then I started my studies at another University I don’t want to name, to become a teacher of French in high school. So here I was both studying and modelling for my boyfriend, until he got this crazy idea (so I thought back then) of opening a website dedicated to me and latex photography, with a members zone. The idea was also to help me pay for my studies, and help us pay for latex outfits to continue having fun with our photos. My Latex Lair website was born in 1998 in the infancy of the internet, and since then it’s been a huge success and pleasure to me. The success was so big that the University where I was studying found out about it and they threatened to fail me if I didn’t close it. Back then, my Latex Lair had no nudity or hoods and heavier rubber outfits. It was pretty tame, so I do believe they overreacted. With my studies in direct conflict with my modelling, it became obvious I had to make a choice. On one hand, I was holding a sure stable teaching career, on the other a promisingly wild and crazy, but not so stable modelling career. Guess which hand I picked?! And here I am now still happily modelling. It’s not a career I planned as a kid. It kind of almost happened without me realising it, and I’m very glad it did. And no, if you’re wonder, I wouldn’t go back studying to become a teacher. That belongs to a past I don’t want to go back to.

Q: Whenever I ask alternative models or performers to list their inspirations, your name comes up a lot. Are you aware of the number of people your work has inspired, and how does it feel to be so loved by fans? Do you feel any pressure from it?

Bianca: It’s always very flattering hearing and reading emails and messages on how I can be a source of inspiration for someone. I truly feel very touched and honoured to hear that, and it sure puts a nice smile on my face. I don’t feel any pressure from it though. I always set my goals very high for my photo shoots. I’m my own toughest critic.

Q: As I’ve said already, you’ve influenced thousands of aspiring artists and models with your work, but can I ask who inspires you? Do you have any personal icons or people you looked up to when you started modelling?

Bianca: When I started wearing latex, the Internet was totally new and I couldn’t find much about latex fetish. If by any chance I did find photos, they would mostly be of poor quality or very porn oriented. That was another reason why I started my own website – to bring something different to the scene, something with class and sexiness and passion. One person was already on a similar path before Martin and I. His name is Peter Czernich, the creator of high quality fetish photography magazines Marquis and Heavy Rubber, and a talented photographer himself. Back then he didn’t have a website yet, and was operating his fetish magazines at full throttle. Scans of his photos would appear online here and there. His latex fetish photography has always been amongst the best, and I got so impressed by his talent that I even contacted him to go model for him and his magazine in Germany. I was 20 years old with punky fuchsia hair, flat boobies and an empty bank account. Fun times! That Euro-Trip was one of the best ever! I visited four countries in 20 days. When I got back home, I was sleepwalking thinking I was lost in a Paris subway. I was exhausted from the trip but so happy I had met Peter in Germany. Since that trip, I’ve modelled for Peter a few more times and always enjoyed the results very much. I still consider him a leader today, and definitely a pioneer of classy latex fetish photography.

Q: It’s clear that location and scenery play an important part in a Bianca Beauchamp shoot. Your work has taken you all over the world, where have been some of your favourite places to shoot and why? As fans we all have our favourite Bianca Beauchamp shoots, but could you tell us what have been some of your personal career highlights thus far?

Bianca: I admit that my tribute photo shoot in the Fiji islands to Lara Croft (the world renowned video game character from Tomb Raider) features amongst my favourites. The photo shoot was done in two parts actually. The first shoot took place at sunset on top of a hill in wild Fiji. I had to climb 177 steps dressed up with my latex top, shorts and holsters under a sizzling sun and burning hot temperatures. I thought I was gonna die of heat stroke throughout the shoot, but it didn’t show and the photo shoot turned out awesome. The second part was done in front of a blue lagoon. This time, I was dressed up with the silver wetsuit Lara wears to go swim (the one Angelina Jolie wears in the second movie, but a latex version for me). We only had 20 minutes of light left so we had to shoot so quick I almost don’t even recall doing the shoot at all! I now look at the shots and I’m like, did we really do this?! It feels so strange you know; you travel so far, days of travelling by car, plane, boat, scout the locations, spend so much time for prep, and in the end it took 20 minutes to shoot an entire shoot which means only a few seconds per photo. I think this all makes each shot even more special.

Another great location was In New Zealand at a wild waterfalls, but boy it was damn cold, this time I thought I was gonna die of hypothermia. Another fond memory I keep about my past photo shoots is the one I did on a black sand beach in Maui, Hawaii. We flew to Hawaii with the purpose of finding a black sand beach. But that beach’s location in particular was hidden from tourists in tourist books because the island’s inhabitants wanted to preserve its beauty. Thanks to a friendly local that we encountered by chance, we found the most beautiful black sand beach, and shot there. But wait! To get down there, I had to climb down a dusty, sandy, rocky, steep 50 meter cliff by holding on to a suspiciously old rope attached to a tree! I was not equipped for this, and wearing only sandals. That descent was so tough! I swear I thought I was gonna break my neck and die! But once I got on the beach, I forgot my scares. I was alone on this beautiful volcanic black sand beach with the gentle waves kissing it. A pure delight! Then, I saw this humongous wild monk seal relaxing on the beach just a few steps away from me. I was told later that only 2,000 monk seals are still living, and to me to be so close to one of them was truly a fantastic and unique experience!

Hawaii teaser trailer can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/50989870

Last but not least, recently I’ve enjoyed modelling at a naturist resort called Desire Resort & Spa, in Mexico. Over there, I can dress up as kinky as I want and nobody cares. Actually, it’s even encouraged! It makes my photo shoot go much smoother as I don’t have to hide from possible tourists. I think it’s the only location I didn’t think I was gonna die while modelling ha-ha! But there was one time that was scary though. Because it rained so much the month before, the water level of the swamps and sea next to the hotel rose significantly enough for a crocodile to escape from the swamp and go surfing in the sea near the beach! A clueless guy was doing his morning crawl two meters away from the crocodile! I saw it all happen while doing yoga on the beach! Oh, the croc didn’t attack anyone but let’s just say during that trip, I preferred to soak my cute latexed butt in the pool. I certainly didn’t wanna end up as croc food thank you very much!

Q: Your body of work with latex is astounding, and of the highest quality. After all these years modelling the stuff, could I take you back to your first piece of latex clothing? How did it feel pulling it on for the first time?

Bianca: Well, my very first piece was the mini-dress I mentioned earlier. That dress was in fact made by Montreal based latex designer Polymorphe. Soon after my purchase, we became pals and Polymorphe supported my latex career a lot by making me crazy custom outfits. In exchange, I always gave them a lot of exposure on the web, helping to popularise their brand. But latex was financially out of reach for a girl that was working at McDonald’s, so Martin tried to actually make me a few pieces himself. Most of them ended up just like that gorgeous purple latex gown he made me at the very beginning… ripped.

 

To be continued…

Regular readers of this blog will know that I’m a latex junkie. I love to feature models that specialise in sporting the majestic material, and do so with aplomb. I’m not sure what it is about the stuff that captivates me so, but I know it always catches my attention, and some of my favourite imagery involves latex clad models.

Previously on this page I have featured such latex lovelies as Ruby True, Pandora Deluxe, VioletEyes, Whiplash, Rubber Monkey latex, etc… I am indeed a fan of their work within the latex field, and while I also bow to their talents in other genres of modelling, it’s a special thing when these ladies are wrapped in shiny rubber.

The next guest in my latex odyssey is a lady with a massive following world wide. Someone who has appeared on the cover of Bizarre magazine many times, and is synonymous with the art and skill of latex exhibition. Her name is Bianca Beauchamp, and she is rightfully seen as a legend within her industry.

It’s an interview that I could have never envisaged conducting when I began this blog project over a year ago. During that year however, I am delighted to say that my blog has gathered momentum. Through experience and hard work I have been able to secure interviews with impressive females from every level of the alternative modelling and performance realms.

After lengthy discussions with Bianca’s representatives, I was granted an interview with the amazing lady herself; the results of which are due for publication later tonight. I was humbled to know that my previous interviews and work on this blog were enjoyed by such a gigantic presence within an industry it is my passion to write about. I was also blown away that Bianca would set aside time to answer my questions and talk about her work with me. When a model has been at the top of her industry for as long as Bianca has, there’s a risk that any interview might have a blasé feel to it. However, having witnessed her contribution I have to say that Bianca brought a freshness and enthusiasm that really impresses. It’s a very interesting piece indeed, with sublime visuals provided by Bianca’s photographer husband Martin Perreault. I hope everyone will check it out and enjoy.

The article will be published this evening (UK time), and I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks.

Following on from my Bizarre magazine anniversary special interview with David McComb, I’m very happy to be able to bring you all an added extra interview with the magazine’s Art Director Dave Kelsall. As Art Director Dave is responsible for model submissions, as well as the selection of cover stars etc. Basically he’s the man in the know when it comes to anything involved with the look and content of every issue. The ideal candidate for the Alt Girl botherer blog to talk with wouldn’t you say? This piece will also hopefully be of interest to aspiring models and Bizarre contributors that follow this blog, and are fans of the magazine. Without further ado, I’m delight to share my short interview with Mr Kelsall, which was conducted just over a week ago. I hope it’s a source of entertainment and information for interested readers…

 

Hi there Dave, Could you tell us a little about your background in the industry, and your role within the Bizarre family?

Far too long working on Video Games magazines, far too long working on Internet Magazines and now I’ve been at Bizarre… for far too long. I tend to outstay my welcome everywhere I end up! I’m the Art Director… which basically means I do everything to do with the look and feel and final production of the Magazine/Brand. I’ve been responsible for over 100 cover shoots… which involves finding the right girl, the theme, location, styling, Hair/make-up, set designers, photographers and if I was really lucky I got to commission amazing bespoke (usually latex) outfits. 

I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what goes into finding girls to appear in the pages of Bizarre? What do you look for in contributors, and what is the course of events from approach to publication?

The right girl could come from anywhere. Chance meetings, other magazines, blogs, websites, recommendations, continual pestering, submissions, friends of friends. Continual pestering works really well… there’s just so much to do on the magazine that I forget half of the girls that email me about appearing in the mag. Perseverance really does work… because you get to see a model develop and what they are capable of achieving in the monthly updates. I’m never going to ‘not look at pictures’ that are emailed to me - ever. I just don’t have time to respond most of the time. I wish I did.
“Alternative” has become a little bastardised in recent times, with those heavy blacked rimmed glasses (know the ones?) shoved down everybody’s throats and labelled “Alt”. Is it important in your eyes that alternative remains alternative, and doesn’t become a trademark used by ”lads mags”?

This is a hard one to answer… because I really don’t know. I’m not sure what alternative is anymore. Is it crazy hair… tattoos… latex? I like to think that anyone can model for Bizarre - and they have! I feel just as comfortable using Kitty Lea (popular lads mag/page 3 model) for a Bizarre cover as a traditional ‘alt model’ because she is absolutely amazing at what she does and looks utterly stunning in latex. She’s loads of fun and game for anything… we set her on fire once. She was cool with that. And then there’s Nina Kate (heavily tattooed goddess), she’s one of the most stunning looking models I’ve ever met… she doesn’t just model like the best of them… she also makes her own clothes, buys her own props, begs and borrows amazing things from her vast army of friends and contacts. I can’t think of one girl that I’ve ever been disappointed with… because I always ask them the same question… WILL YOU DO ANYTHING WE ASK OF YOU? Will you eat a heart, jump around a burning wrecked car, get covered in custard, handle a snake, wrestle a dwarf, get drenched in water, wear a moustache, dress up like a pony, act stoopid etc… But getting back to your question… I still don’t really know. I think there should be an algorithm made up… something like AREA OF TATTOO COVERAGE x HAIR COLOUR divided by MUSIC TASTE = ALT. MODEL. Deduct points for not liking cupcakes… or something. Hey, I’ve nicked girls I’ve seen in FRONT and LOADED… maybe I’m not qualified to answer this question.

Finally (as I now you’re very busy) are Bizarre models judged as much on their attitude as they are on their appearance? Does it take a certain type of character to model for the magazine?

Well, yes. See above. You can’t come to a Bizarre shoot and knock out a few signature looks… you’ve got to be up for having a laugh, being brave and seeing what happens… I find that’s when the best pictures get taken. But let’s not forget the stylists, make-up artists and photographers though… you’ve got to have the right team and I’ve always been very lucky to have had a very loyal, trusting and friendly gang around me. Nina Kate, Florence Druart and The House Of Harlot have been especially good to us over the years… those outfits have absolutely transformed some girls! While I’m writing my Oscar acceptance speech I must also mention Bianca Beauchamp, Mosh and Masuimi Max… there are 3 girls that could appear every month on the cover of Bizarre. I think Bianca has done over 10 covers now (all superbly shot by her husband Martin - have you ever seen a bad Bianca shoot? No - it don’t exist!). You couldn’t find more different looks, characters and styles in those 3… so no… it doesn’t take a certain type at all. I suppose this is the key to being a Bizarre cover girl - be yourself and never try to copy anyone else. Do your own thing… and never give up trying.

Massive thanks go to Dave for taking the time to answer these questions in such great detail. Special thanks also to the marvellous David McComb, who put me in touch with his Art Director as a result of our original interview. It was a fantastic experience dealing with the Bizarre editor and his team, I was bowled over by the accommodating nature of those behind the scenes at such a big publication. I was impressed with their support of fellow creative and expressive ventures, and I shall forever be grateful to Bizarre magazine for their contribution to this blog.

 

Images used in this piece were provided by Bizarre magazine, and used with permission.

 

September marks this blog’s one year anniversary, and to celebrate I’ve managed to ensnare an industry big cheese. As this venture is my ode to magazine writing, and indeed my audition piece for a future career in journalism, who better to mark twelve months of interview and review than Bizarre supremo and editor David McComb. David was kind enough to give up his time to answer some questions about his publication, and what goes in to producing the monthly assault on our senses that is Bizarre magazine. Thanks to David’s candour, the Alt Girl botherer blog celebrates its first birthday with an exclusive look behind the scenes of an alternative magazine that has spearheaded the industry for many years. I hope fans and aspiring contributors alike will enjoy reading the interview, and if you’ve ever wondered what goes into an issue of Bizarre, look no further. Thanks to everybody for your support this past year, and I hope this is adequate reward for following this blog… 

 

Welcome David, it’s a real thrill being able to feature Bizarre magazine’s head honcho to help celebrate my blog’s one year anniversary. How are you doing?

I’m good, thanks. I’ve just finished editing the text for the first instalment of our two-part interview with HR Giger; a feature I’ve been working on for three years, gently negotiating an exclusive audience with the master of dark art. It’s a thrill that the Giger interview has finally come through.

Would you be so kind as to tell us a little about yourself and your role within the magazine? What would you say are “must have” qualities for a Bizarre editor?

I’ve been editor of Bizarre for five years. Before that I was managing editor of the magazine – which is all about setting schedules and paying invoices – and prior to going full-time on Bizarre I was a freelance journalist working for Empire, Chat, FHM, Zoo, Top Of The Pops, Smash Hits and dozens of other mags.

Before hawking my wares as a freelancer I worked in videogame magazine publishing – editor of Nintendo Official Magazine, launch editor of the Pokémon Master Guide series – and I also spent two years of soul-crushing misery in business-to-business publishing after leaving the magazine journalism postgraduate course at City University, London.
While people might think editing Bizarre is a bacchanalian orgy of perverse parties and wild cover shoots, being a magazine editor is all about running a business. In order for the magazine to survive I need to balance budgets, manage schedules, engage freelance contributors, make sure all invoices are paid and watch deadlines like a hawk, so that the good ship Bizarre can sail onwards on smooth waters.
I do get to make a final decision on content and steer the direction of the magazine, but most creative ideas come from my contributors, and these days I don’t actually write much for Bizarre. My role is more of a curator than a creator.
Now it’s more important than ever for me to keep my business head screwed on as Bizarre is produced independently of Dennis Publishing. Dennis still owns and publishes Bizarre, but since last December my little company – Blackthorn Communications (www.blackthorncommunications.com) – has produced all the magazine content, run Bizarremag.com, and managed Bizarre’s Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter feeds. There’s no big company to protect me any longer, so I need to be sure the business is running efficiently, and ensure I have enough money to pay my contributors and make sure my taxes are taken care of. But as I get to work from home, in my own office, and surrounded by my own stuff, I’m happier than when I was commuting into London every morning and getting enraged by dumbass strangers on London Underground.

Your magazine richly deserves its tag line “The World’s #1 Alternative mag” following years of innovative and exciting content. Is there a Bizarre mission statement or credo that you could share with us? What are the publications main goals and objectives?

Our goal is to stay one step ahead of the pack, and showcase the best in alternative culture before anyone else.

Sometimes I forget how ahead of the curve Bizarre is; but you only have to look at the steampunk theme and special appearance from Viktoria Moskalova at the Paralympic Games closing ceremony to realise how Bizarre has consistently spotted trends and stars before anyone else. We first featured Viktoria on the cover in June 2008, and have been celebrating steampunk culture for over six years, and it was great to be reminded how innovative Bizarre is, and how our grotty little magazine helps set the agenda.

Unlike most magazines, Bizarre isn’t driven by release schedules or celebrity misdemeanours, and we have free reign to publish whatever the hell we like. We don’t always get it right, and there are some issues I’m pretty ashamed of as we didn’t achieve what we’d set out to do. But, overall, I’m proud of the fact that Bizarre consistency showcases intriguing subjects from the darker side of life, makes people think, and shows anyone who thinks they’re weird that there are plenty of other folk out there who are into the same things as them.

The last issue of Bizarre featured latex legend Bianca Beauchamp, and the current issue (released September 25^th) features the incredible Masuimi Max. How do you go about recruiting such industry greats every month? Is the mag’s reputation such that these women come to you, or is there a certain amount of grovelling and negotiation involved?

Bizarre has a fantastic relationship with Bianca and Masuimi – they’re my favourite models of all time, and are delightful to work with, professional when it comes to supplying images, and always look stunning in their cover shoots. Bizarre treats all its models with respect, and we always do our best to give our cover girls a voice in the magazine, rather than simply printing their sexiest pictures – so there isn’t much grovelling and negotiation involved. We do the right thing by our models, and what goes around comes around.

May I ask what goes into an issue of Bizarre? How far in advance is content produced, are you looking ahead to Halloween and Christmas issues way ahead of time?

We’re currently planning our first issue of 2013! Because so much work goes into features – briefing writers, gathering images, editing copy, designing layouts, editing pages and so on – the bigger articles have to be planned months in advance. Our reviews and news content come in a little later, so that we can be as up-to-date as possible when we hits newsstands, but the magazine features are now prepared months in advance of publication.

Each issue of Bizarre begins with your “Photo Assault”, a feature that has made me turn the page quickly and peek back gingerly at times. That must be an interesting decision process for the guys involved; are there limits or parameters to what can actually be printed?

If you’re freaked out by the images in Photo Assault, you should see the pics we choose not to print! Because Bizarre is distributed via newsagents and supermarkets, we need to be careful not to print images that could be considered obscene, or images that are gratuitous and have no journalistic value. It’s a tough balancing act as our readers want shocking content, but we need to self-censor ourselves because, if the magazine is withdrawn from sale and subsequently banned from supermarkets, that would be the end of Bizarre. But it’s always a dubious thrill to look at the hideous images our intrepid picture editor, Tom Broadbent, dredges up each month, and poring over pictures the rest of the world (thankfully!) doesn’t get to see.

This blog is all about alternative women, and celebrating individuality and expression. “Alt” is an ideal that a lot of publications are buying into these days, but Bizarre is the original and best. When considering women to feature within your hallowed pages, what characteristics or traits are you looking for?

To be honest, I tend to stand back and let Bizarre’s art director, Dave Kelsall, make a decision on the girls we use, as he has an infallible eye for spotting models who are perfect for the cover of Bizarre.

But being a Bizarre model is about more than sexy good looks – it’s all about attitude. A great example is Radeo, who we featured on the cover of Bizarre in June. For visual impact she’s a fantastic cover model as she’s hot as hell, has great body art, and has idiosyncratic stars tattooed on her nipples. But what made Radeo a great Bizarre cover girl was the spunky interview she gave us, where she raved about science-fiction, action movies and her insane ramblings on Twitter. She’s not just a pretty face – Radeo’s fun, sexy, exciting, and the sort of person you’d want to party with until dawn.

Fetish is an important element in Bizarre, and in particular latex. Is it a happy coincidence that you feature lots of latex lovers, or do the higher ups at Bizarre towers have a particular penchant for the squeaky stuff?

You may not believe this, but we don’t actively look for latex shoots! It just so happens that some of the most exciting girls are shot in latex outfits, and so we end up bouncing back to the rubber theme time and time again.

Latex is a sensual material with strong connotations of kink, so you get a lot of imaginative, outsider designers creating clothes that look like they were tailor made for the cover of Bizarre. From Ruby True’s slinky latex fox outfit, complete with inflatable tail, in August 2011, to Bianca’s kinky pink number she’s wearing on the cover of our current issue, latex is a material that’s inspired innovative designers to create unique costumes, which become mind-blowing when one of our cover stars slips into them.

Another key element in an issue of Bizarre is artwork. Be that celebrating new artists from various mediums, or body art from readers and practitioners alike. Would you say art is as integral as any other facet of the magazine?

Outsider art has always been a part of Bizarre’s DNA, and it’s becoming more important all the time. With the mainstream success of shows such as Miami Ink, more and more people are looking at tattoos as a valid form of art, as well as a means of self-expression. And as Bizarre has always celebrated the best ink from around the world, it makes sense for us to devote a lot of space to our inked readers, and unique designs that you wouldn’t see in mainstream magazines.
Recently we decided to expand our Readers’ Art section in the magazine, because we were overwhelmed by the volume of contributions we receive each month. I don’t know if it’s because we’re in recession and people have more time to be creative, or simply because the internet allows artists to share their work more easily and build a portfolio, but we’re receiving more art from readers than ever before. We didn’t have enough space to print the best submissions, so we expanded the section to create a published gallery and celebrate new talent.

An innovation that has brought Bizarre great rewards is the Ultra Vixens and the cover girl search. It’s always a well entered competition and a very coveted prize. Are you excited by the new raft of entries that will undoubtedly come your way for the next cover girl opportunity?

We are staggered by the incredible contributions we receive for Ultra Vixens each month, and our community editor, Amanda Cobain (AKA Mandatron), has a tough time selecting the readers to put in the magazine.

We’re currently keeping an eye on models as they sign up for the Ultra Vixens website (www.ultravixens.net), and will look to arrange a London shoot sometime in future when we’ve selected 10 girls we think could be a cover star. Some of these shortlisted girls might appear on the cover of Bizarre, or maybe none of them will make the grade – but what we want to do is create an environment for new stars to shine, and hopefully discover the next big players in alternative modelling.

It’s clear that the readers are vital to Bizarre’s success, and a large portion of the mag is dedicated to reader involvement. I don’t know of a magazine that is as in touch with its readership, and knows what is desired from month to month. There’s a real sense of co-ownership and strong online community. Would you agree with those observations?

Reader contributions are the lifeblood of Bizarre. In my career I’ve worked on much bigger and more successful titles, but no other newsstand publication gets as much feedback from its readers as Bizarre, and so it’s the best magazine in the world to work on. I’d love to fill the entire magazine with reader content as it’s wildly exciting and innovative, but we also need to be careful to give readers plenty of the other sick stuff they’re interested in!

Bizarre couldn’t exist without contributions from the community we’ve fostered in the magazine and online, and I salute anyone who takes the time to get in touch with us. (And, on that point, don’t get upset if you send Bizarre something and it doesn’t get featured – we get more post than our small team can handle, so don’t be afraid to send stuff again if we don’t get back to you immediately!)

Bizarre is a pinnacle for many within the industry, fetish and alternative models/photographers hold the publication in the highest esteem. Have you got a message for those aspiring to appear in your pages, and for all those faithful fans that read every month?

To photographers and models… be innovative, work hard and be nice! There’s a lot of competition out there, so you need to keep evolving your work, embracing new ideas, and looking for an opportunity to shine. And, if you do get a break, don’t be a twat – nothing’s more likely to turn us off than somebody who’s difficult to work with, so treat us with respect and we’ll do the same for you.

To readers… keep buying the magazine and help Bizarre to survive! In these dark times of recession, magazine sales across the board are plummeting – and if you don’t support Bizarre, it will eventually disappear, just like all those other great magazines that have died in recent years. My team and I will always bust a gut to bring you amazing stories from around the world, and give our readers a platform to showcase their talents… so don’t forget to buy the magazine now and again, and don’t just borrow your mate’s dog-eared copy!

Thanks very much for your time and helping me to celebrate a year interviewing alternative artists on my blog. Good luck with the future of Bizarre, and thanks for the hard work of the entire team. Could you give us any hints at possible future content/features we may see in Bizarre in the future?

Some forthcoming attractions include… the second part of our HR Giger interview, Bizarre spends the night in a cursed mansion (and just about survives), more world-class body art, exciting HP Lovecraft news and much, much more!

I can not thank David enough for all the time and effort he put into this article. With deadlines and issue releases looming, he managed to fit in a detailed and very informative interview with the Alt Girl botherer blog. He came across as a very endearing character, and someone who impressed me with his dedication to helping out a creative project. I wish him and his magazine all the success in the world, and I for one will be supporting Bizarre a lot more from now on. A great publication, with a massive heart behind it. They care about their readers, and I hope if nothing else, that fact shines through in this piece. 

Q: You’ve also participated in the past in alternative fashion modeling, with examples shot by the likes of HBP photography and Radiant Inc. How did you enjoy that style of modeling Sarah? Is it something you’d like to pursue at all?

S: Absolutely. I consider myself an alternative pinup model. I like to take the idea of the classic pinup and vamp it up! For example, I could do a classic pinup shoot in a retro kitchen, which would be awesome in itself, but for me it would be even better if I was a pinup Vampire from the 1950’s in a retro kitchen and instead of cupcakes I had a heart oozing and gushing with blood! I am always up for any style of modeling, just vamped up a little.

Q: I get the impression that a shoot for you has to be interesting first and foremost. Ideally you go for theatrical or dramatic shoots, or at least interesting clothing. It’s not enough to just show off clothes. Would that be an accurate observation Sarah?

S: Yes. For me I don’t just shoot to shoot. I put a lot of time and effort into everything. I can’t spontaneously do a photo shoot, well I could but I prefer not to. I conceptualize a lot of my shoots from beginning to end. Photographer, hair and makeup, wardrobe, styling, concept, location, etc etc. Some shoots come together really fast others take a lot of time depending on the concept. But that is one of the reasons why I love modeling. I love planning everything, seeing everything come together and seeing the final shots.

Q: It’s clear that you also enjoy the pin up era and style of photo shoot Sarah. Your showing at Viva Las Vegas Car Show 15 was dazzling, and in Instagram uploads also we can see your love of the period hair and clothing. Where does your love of that era come from?

S: I am not really sure to be honest. My parents were never into it, or my friends. I guess maybe at a young age I saw movies, images and was drawn to it. I also love how that period and pinup modeling embraces being a woman, and being curvy. I also don’t shoot nudes and I take joy in creating a fantasy for the viewer. I like to create something that entices the viewer. Each person can let their own imagination run wild. I definitely think pinup and burlesque helped me create that point of view. And simply put I love the look, the style, the hair, the clothes everything about the 40’s and 50’s. It’s all very feminine, sophisticated, but sexy at the same time.

Q: Recently you shared with fans a picture of you at an audition, I guess from your performance past and theatrical expression, acting wasn’t much of a jump for you. How long have you been interested in acting, is this the first role you’ve gone for?

S: Acting has always been in the back of my mind. Because of time and location I really haven’t put a lot of effort into it. But it is something I would love to try. This is the first movie role I have ever auditioned for. I can’t say much about it but I am very excited. It is a long process and it will still be awhile before I know for sure if I get the role. But just the experience of auditioning and trying something different is awesome.

Q: I have to ask about latex now Sarah, it’s a favorite subject for me and I always ask guests who have a similar love of the material. You’ve worked with it as a Vamp Girl, but also have shoots coming up involving latex. May I ask what do you like about the material, how does it make you feel when wearing it?

S: Latex is one of my favorite materials. It’s very unique and sexy. I feel great when I am wearing it. I also appreciate the time and skill that goes into making latex. It is amazing to see what designers can create. I have lots of shoots coming up involving latex. I will be shooting for Kitty Crème Latex, Cherry Pop Latex and Lady Allura’s Latex!

Q: You can be seen currently in some exquisite shots by Tay Voss, pictured in amongst greenery and flowers it’s a very feminine and elegant set of images. Did you enjoy that shoot, and what are your thoughts on the pictures produced?

S: I love shooting with Tay Voss. She is very talented and we have created a great relationship! I do love horror, gore, and blood but I love romance and femininity. That is what I feel when I look at her work. I am very happy with the photos produced. They show a different side to me and that I am more then just a bloody Vampire.

Q: I also wanted to ask about a shoot you did with Kerri Pettit surrounded by book shelves a few months back? I’ve only seen behind the scenes shots thus far but you looked amazing wearing glasses in real bombshell poses. Do you remember that one?

S: Of course. That shoot will always be one of my favorites. I had the concept in mind and was determine to put everything together. I wanted it to be realistic so I contacted a local bookstore and they agreed to let us shoot there. That was the first time I shot with Keri and she is an awesome photographer and person. I am actually shooting with her again for Teddy’s Underthings. It also was the first time I worked with Janet Cake and Dottie Vee. They are two amazing makeup/hair artists and awesome people. They are very supportive of me. I have worked with them many times since and will continue to work with them for as long as I model. The photos have now been released and I am very pleased. It is definitely my take on a classic pinup look but adding my vampiness into the mix! And who doesn’t love a naughty librarian!

Q: Away from your work now Sarah, can I ask about the artwork you display on your body. You have some lovely pieces tattooed on your skin. Can you talk us through your designs please?

S: Thank you! My first tattoo is Japanese Kanji on my right wrist, it says Free Spirit. I got that when I was 18. My second piece I got about 4 years later. It is a pinup style angel on the outside of my left forearm and a devil woman on the inside. It means a lot to me because it is my biggest piece; it took 3 months to complete. I sat in the chair for 6-7 hours a few times. I had the concept for a long, long time and would dream about the day when I could actually get it done. Luckily I have an amazing boyfriend who gave this to me for my 21^st birthday. My 3^rd piece is a tribute to my cat family, ha-ha. I have always loved animals, but cats have a special place in my heart. I have 4 cats and they mean the world to me. I got a colorful zombie/vamp kitty on my right forearm. My 4^th piece is for my love of the culinary arts, cooking and food! I call him my killer chef. It is a skull with fork and knife cross bones, with a chef hat and bleeding eyes.

Q: I’m always interested in people’s relationships with tattoos, what’s it like for you when you’re in the chair? Do you enjoy the experience?

S: I love the experience and the whole process leading up to it. It is hard to explain. I love the sounds of the needles and the tattoo machine. All the smells. The feeling is good and bad. It will hurt at times but it is definitely a control thing. Like I was able to do it and I can take the pain. I will NEVER like anything about the healing process afterwards.

Q: Do you have any plans for more tattoos in the future?

S: For sure! I am planning to finish my right arm. My artist Aimee Surrat at Big Deluxe Tattoo-Sin City has started creating it. It will be one big sleeve. It is going to be a Vampire’s lair with two sexy Vampires and all of their minions. After that I hope to start with my legs. First two will be sexy pinup chefs one on each calf. One will be a classic beauty; the other will be a bloody Vampire with her fangs stabbing into a bleeding heart.

Q: You always seem to be involved in exciting projects Sarah, can you tell us a little about what’s coming up and where we can see your work in the near future?

S: For sure. I have lots of amazing collaborations with clothing designers and companies coming up. I will be shooting for Teddy’s Underthings, Affinis Apparel, Exquisite Restraint Corsets, Dahlia Deranged Designs, Cherry Pop Latex, Scarlett Ginger, and Lady Allura’s Latex! I also will be working with two photographers I’ve never shot with before. First is Damon Allen of Blacklight Imaging. We will be doing the shoot for Cherry Pop Latex and another shoot we have planned that I am going to keep secret for now. But it is a concept I have always wanted to do and it will be very fun, sexy, and naughty! Next in October I will be shooting with Charlie Bones Photography. She is a talented photographer from California. We will be doing a fun 60’s themed set. I will be continuing with the movie audition, lots more fashion shows and events, hopefully will be in the pinup contest at Rockabilly Reunion in Lake Havasu, AZ, and I will be at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. I hope to be published in more magazines, get my first cover, and travel to LA and New York City. This has been an amazing adventure and I am so excited to see where it takes me!

Can we please finish the interview with Bernard Pivot’s questionnaire?

What is your favorite word? Deliciousness.

What is your least favorite word? Hate.

What turns you on? Latex, boobies, fangs, blood, confidence, kindness, sensitivity, leather jackets, tattoos.

What turns you off? Hate, racism, narrow mindedness, bigotry, and bad hygiene.

What sound or noise do you love? Tattoo Machine.

What sound or noise do you hate? Loud, annoying, crying, whining, children.

What is your favorite curse word? Fuck.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Author/Writer.

What profession would you not like to do? The President of the United States.

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? I guess I was wrong, you do exist!!!!

 

It was a journey getting here, but I am over the moon that I finally got Miss Sarah Vamp on my blog. She’s a total goddess, and so generous with her time. I’ll always have time for her, and I wish her every success with whatever direction her work and creativity takes her. For more information please head to the links below to follow and become a fan.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/SarahVampModel

www.twitter.com/sarahvampmodel

Once again, all images used in this piece were provided by Sarah, and are the products of the following artists in order of appearance: 1) Photographer: Radiant Inc, Make up: Janet Cake, Hair: Dottie Vee, Corset: The Black Room 2) Photographer: Radiant Inc, Hair: Kimber Dempsey 3) Photographer: Keri Pettit, Make up: Janet Cake, Hair: Dottie Vee 4) Photographer: Radiant Inc, Hair and Make up: Lisa Robinson, Prosthetics: HobbyFX.co.uk

It’s KayKay time everybody! It’s my immense pleasure to be able to post my latest interview with the incomparable KayKay Sakura. We’ve been planning this piece for a few months now, and I’m thrilled it’s finally finished and ready to share. KayKay is a unique individual, an energetic and positive source of creativity and inspirational energy. She’s a character that I was drawn to because of her great work with latex, however when I researched her work further I discovered a photographer and model who truly captivates. Everyone I have spoken to about KayKay has wonderful things to say about her, and in the course of this interview I can understand why. Such a down to earth lady and someone who really deserves fanfare. Check out our chat, and get to know a terrific lady.

 

Q: Welcome KayKay, it’s wonderful to have such an energetic and versatile artist on my blog. How are you doing today?

KayKay: I’m doing rather well thank you, and also thank you for having me!

Q: May we start by talking modelling? I know it’s only one facet of your work, but it’s the first aspect I came across. How did you get into the business?

KayKay: I never know how to fully answer a question of “how did you get into the business?” It’s not something I really thought about as a child; it was something I got into when an amazing glamour photographer (Holly Knowles) stumbled across my Facebook and asked if I wanted to model for her. I couldn’t turn down that opportunity and said yes. Since then, I’ve had various friends and other photographers around the South West asking if I wanted to collaborate with them. Seeing as I was still a newbie at that time, I thought to myself “Surely there is no harm in this?”

Q: Did you have any idea what to expect before you started modelling? What were your opinions of the industry before you were involved, and have they changed today?

KayKay: Not at all, the only expectation I had about the industry, was that it’d be a lot more glamorous that it really is. But the media hypes that up and I think I was extremely gullible and too young to understand it at that time. You do make your own views as you go along, as most people do with whatever industry they’re in.
In this industry, especially within the alternative scene, if you meet the right people and you get along with them, you’ll always have them around, which is comforting. And there’s a lot of diva-free models, and that is always soothing for anybody really.

Q: You’ve created a vast and varied portfolio since 2010, and it’s a joy to look through. Your images range from vibrantly colourful to artistic black and white and some amazing alternative and fetish pictures. Do you have a favourite style in which to shoot? What genre of modelling do you prefer to work within?

K: My favourite style as a model would have to be the fashion-esque styled shoots; whether I’m wearing latex or just clothing.  

Q: Your alternative fashion shots are beautifully fun, and you have been shot in some wonderful urban locations. Do your photographs ever reflect your own sense of style? Do you have any style icons from your industry?

K: Believe me when I say, I’m plain in the ‘real world’. I’ve noticed I’m constantly wearing black; skinny jeans/leggings, vest tops with vans or pumps. I think in my photographs, that’s where I show how I want to be, and that’s the only time I get to open up and be extremely stylish. If I was to wear whatever I wore in my pictures out in the public in broad daylight, I’d probably get looked at funnily.
I’ve always looked up to Gwen Stefani as my style icon, and in a way I still do now. However, if I could, I’d probably go wild on brands such as Agent Provocateur, Vivienne Westwood, The Kooples, and Jeffrey Campbell.
I probably would also be constantly wearing garments by a good friend of mine, Alice Vandy, her creations are amazing! And I have one of her garments in my portfolio as well.

Q: Another area of modelling that I think you excel in is your work with latex. It’s one of my favourite materials and forms of fashion. How did you get into working with latex, and how does the material make you feel when you wear it?

K: I was quite lucky with working in and with latex, the first time I had properly worn latex for a shoot was for Lady Allura’s Latex; she’d lent me a couple of garments for myself to model and to shoot. I’ve purchased some awesome ‘Starburst Hotpants’ from Lady Lucie in the past as well, and they where lovely to have on.
The material is awesome to have on, however if you’re in it for too long it can get quite uncomfortable. Latex if you really think about it isn’t as glamorous as most people think, you get hot and sweaty and no-one is comfortable when they’re in that position. However, it looks amazing on, so you do try and forget about the downfalls of it. I do feel a little more elegant when I’m wearing latex, though if you’re having a bad (bloated) day, the latex does show that off, which is never cool, but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of breathing in!

Q: I first came across your latex work when I saw you dressed as the Riddler from Batman. It’s a picture that urged me to find out more about your work, and in particular that shot. Could you tell us a little about becoming an extremely sexy Riddler, and what was that outfit like to wear and put on?

K: I can assure you now that the Riddler outfit is a lot easier taking off than it was putting on. When Rubber Monkey Latex first introduced me to the outfit, it had no zip at the back, so it was quite interesting squeezing me into the garment; especially being in such a tiny changing room, but we got me in it. The outfit is actually an amazing piece to put on; though I do think I got too much into character when I was wearing it. I turned into Jim Carrey’s Riddler; quite flamboyant, camp and overly smiley. I actually watched Batman Forever as research before the shoot so I could source his character into my brain.

Q: The Riddler garment is made by Rubber Monkey, a company you have a strong link with. I wondered if you would like to tell us about your love of Rubber Monkey’s products, and what pieces of theirs you have worn?

K: My love for Rubber Monkey isn’t just down to her products; it’s for the lady behind it all. She’s one of the closest friend and really it’s just a bonus we met to be honest.
I’ve worn quite a few of her garments in the past 12 months, when we first encountered each other it was actually through a status looking for models for Birmingham Bizarre Bazaar back in November 2011. Where Ms. Monkey let me wear one of her first creations, one outfit was this off-white two piece set, and the second outfit on that day, was a blue two piece set. I’ve also modelled various creations such as the simple bra and pants combo, leotards, playsuits, adorable pieces like the Dorothy from Wizard of Oz with Ruby Jewel being the Flying Monkey, a Thor inspired outfit, True Heart Bear, and not to forget a one off garment like elegant asymmetric turquoise dress.

Q: Lastly on latex, have you got any advice for people who want to get into wearing and working with it? What is the best way of putting the clothing on and taking it off, as well as caring for it?

K: Advice to people who want to get into and working with latex is approach any designer nicely if you’d like to model their products; I’ve always given designers respect, and so should everyone else really.
The best way to put the garments on is either with talcum powder all over you and inside of the garment. Though what I’ve found amazing for putting on latex garments is Pjur CULT (Dressing Aid & Conditioner) it literally helps slip the latex on without any problems, and it’s my favourite thing to have on me when there’s latex goodies involved. It’s an amazing investment, and it’s makes latex ultra shiny too!

Q: You’ve had some incredible photographers take your picture and create superb collaborations thus far in your career. Who have been some of your most memorable people to work with, and has anyone influenced your own photography work?

K: I’ve worked with some amazing talents in the past two years as a model, especially with my move to the West Midlands. I will always remember my first ever shoot with Holly Knowles, always.
Then there are photography talents like Salleh Sparrow, TwistedPix, Chris Sinnett, Simon Winnall, Andy Watson, Ed Robert, Danniella Jaine and Jemma Dodd, that I’ve been extremely thankful to, for giving me the opportunity to collaborate with them. And even though these are only a handful of names, I think these guys and dolls just deserve a good proper mentioning.
Q: Speaking of your photography, I really enjoy your work behind the camera as well as in front. When did you first become interested in taking pictures? Is it a passion that goes back to your childhood?

K: See now people don’t believe me when I actually say I started being behind the camera first. I’ve had a few photographers be a little stunned when I help them out with lighting or use photography terms. I first picked up a D-SLR when I was 15 and just took snapshots of flowers, landscape, food and the occasional self portrait. It wasn’t till I turned 18 when I pushed myself into taking portrait photographs, working with local South West models to boost my confidence being behind the camera.

Q: You’ve done many stunning self portraits, is using yourself in photographs a way of exploring your modelling and photography at the same time? Or is it a bit of fun to exercise your skills? Or is it more out of necessity?

K: It’s a mixture of all those things really. Some of the images are purely down to my emotion and how I want to show off my creativity in that mind frame.
A lot of my shots are from just playing around really, on my camera and on photo-shop. Also it was a way to learn different techniques, and soaking in all the advice I was given and using it to my full advantage.

Q: Your style of photography is very fresh and again, vibrant. You have a wonderful understanding of colour, and can handle the subject very well. Is colour something that inspires you?

K: Pretty colours will always be a part of me. I just can’t help myself when it comes to colours, even if an image is dark; there is always a splash of blue, green or even pink somewhere in there. It just makes me happy.

Q: You’re equally adept at capturing men and women in your photography, but what is your favourite subject matter? Would you agree that the female form is a remarkable source of beauty in a photograph, or are you able to find beauty in a myriad of places?

K: I’m going to be completely honest with this, but I do find women a lot easier to work with as a subject. The elegance that a lady can portray is something not all men can do. Also, because of the way I am and how I like to show my work, I often find that I always make men look feminine; and not all guys are into that. So yes, I would agree that the female form is a source of beauty, doesn’t matter what kind of story you’re trying to create.

Q: I always love the opportunity to talk to someone who is both a model and photographer. How do you think one aspect of your creativity influences the other? Do you think being a photographer has changed the way you model and visa versa?

K: In a way it has. A lot of people respect that I do both, which is really flattering. I do give all photographers benefit of the doubt these days, because even though for a model the shoot has been wrapped up, the photographer still works their socks off editing like mad. I’ve never even thought about asking a photographer “where are my pictures?” because I know they’re putting their time effort and hard work in, so I always give them time to do what they do best.
With new photographers, I’m able and willing to help them out if needs be, give them advice on techniques and such. I find it a huge compliment when a photographer turns around and asks “KayKay, could you help me on this please?” whilst I’m modelling, because to me it shows that they’re willing to learn and take a bit of advice from me. It’s always a nice feeling when you can help someone out.

Q: What would be your ideal relationship with a photographer? Do you like a lot of direction and sharing of ideas on set, or are you more spontaneous with your work? Also, as a photographer, what is your ideal relationship with a model? Do you like models to come with their own ideas, or do you like to take charge of a shoot when you’re behind the camera?

K: In a way, I do like some direction from photographers, as I don’t often push myself to my full limit with poses. However, I’ve always found that most shoots I do when I’m modelling are quite spontaneous, there’s not much planning and it’s just one of those “let’s get on and shoot!”
Myself being a photographer, I do sometimes like it when a model comes prepared and she knows how to get herself into a position, only because I’ll feel bad for pushing a model way too much with poses. In all fairness, those I’ve worked with in the past (and I’m sure in the future too) are all superstars, and they’re just adorable to work with.

Q: Finally KayKay, I’d love to touch on your own sense of style. You have a very unique and beautiful look. You are constantly reinventing yourself with ever changing hair styles and modelling projects. Is it fun to play around with different looks, and do you have any plans for future stylistic or fashion changes?

K: I do enjoy playing around with different looks as it just gives a bit more of a character in my portfolio and as a person. But I think, no matter how much my fashion taste changes in the future, I will be blonde as long as I can.   

Q: I couldn’t interview you without talking about your remarkable tattoos. You have some gorgeous artwork on your body, and I’d love to know more about the pieces and the decisions behind them. I particularly love your chest and stomach pieces. Could you at least talk about those two designs here?

K: My chest actually links with my arm piece; I grew up watching Sailor Moon right though my teenage years. My uncle would go back to Hong Kong for holidays, and whilst he was out there he’d send me V-CDs. For ages I wanted a chest piece, but I hadn’t known really what I wanted done. Then it dawned on me that Usagi had a chest locket so she can transform into Sailor Moon, but I didn’t want it as just that, so I had the tattoo artist (Karl Bowker: Kamikaze Ink) add in a keyhole.
My stomach was something I had planned and designed by myself for a good year, and then tattoo artist (Dave Marshall: Canvas Tattoos) worked his magic over it and cleaned it up for me. The writing says “Bloom to Blossom & Bloom to Perish”, these are lyrics from No Doubt, though people only recognise it from ‘What are you waiting for?’ which isn’t actually where I got it from. I’d first heard the line from one of their B-Side songs, which was called ‘Beauty Contest’. If you listen to the song it kind of makes sense especially with the industry I’m in. In the original design, I actually had red roses, but as this tattoo was a birthday present from my Godmother, I wanted to include both her favourite flowers (which are Orchids) and colour (purple). My Godmother had no clue I was going to get this done ‘til I showed her, and she was really touched by it, which was the main aim I was reaching for.

Q: How do you find the experience of getting a tattoo? Do you enjoy the pain sensation, or is that an aspect you just deal with to get the wonderful results?

K: I’m actually okay with dealing with pain, but I do have my limits. I still think to this day, that my stomach piece was by far the worst! Happy to say, I won’t be doing that again. The pain sensation and just dealing with it is something you’ve gotta do. It’s always worth it!

Q: Could I ask about your upcoming projects please KayKay? What are you working on at the moment, and where can fans of your modelling and photography work see you next?

K: At the moment I don’t really have anything specific I’m working on. Though I am hopefully going to be working with LatexGirlsHD (Cole Black) and other gorgeous ladies very soon on something pretty exciting. The best way to keep up with my work is my Facebook fan page, as I’m always updating that. Unfortunately, I am going through some technical issues with my website, so I can’t update that as often as I’d like to, but I’m hoping to sort that out as soon as possible.

Q: Can we please end with Bernard Pivot’s questionnaire KayKay?

What is your favourite word? I do tend to use the ‘C U Next Tuesday’ a bit too much… I’ve often found myself saying ‘awesome’ on shoots quite often too.

What is your least favourite word? I don’t really have a least favourite word.

What turns you on? The better half in a suit; nothing beats a guy in a lush suit. Moustaches/beards. Hip bones.

What turns you off?I don’t like feet. Or bad body odour, but I think that’s most people.

What sound or noise do you love? Laughter. Music. Babies laughing always gets me smiling too.
What sound or noise do you hate?I really despise it when my boyfriend (not intentionally) scrapes his knife on his plate and it makes that really horrible high-pitch squeaking noise. Ugh, it’s making me shudder just thinking about it.

What is your favourite curse word?The one that begins with an F and ends with a K…
and the C U Next Tuesday.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Fashion designer would be awesome. I wanted to be a Police Woman when I was little… Don’t think I’d have the balls for that now.

What profession would you not like to do? Nurse/Vet, I wouldn’t last a second in theatre.  

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?“You’ve obviously done something right to make it up here?”

 

Massive thanks to KayKay for her time and energy. It was my pleasure to feature her here and I really hope you guys enjoyed reading. I’ll put some links below so people can keep track of KayKay’s projects, I recommend following her various sites and pages; it’s always lots of fun!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/KayKay-Sakura/147219338632876

http://kaykaysakura.com

 

All above images were provided by KayKay and used with her permission. They are the products of the following artists in order of appearance: 1)KayKay Sakura by ChrisSinn Photography wearing Rubber Monkey latex 2) KayKay Sakura photography featuring Ruby Jewel wearing Rubber Monkey latex 3)TwistedPix photography KayKay wearing Rubber Monkey latex 4) KayKay Sakura photography of Betty Havok wearing Rubber Monkey latex.

 

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of a lady in latex. There’s something about someone clad in that shiny stuff that speaks to me, and a certain empowerment always accompanies latex images in my view. Before setting up this blog I was aware of Rubber Monkey latex and the stellar work they were doing in the industry. After talking with numerous models that had experience working with latex outfits, I realised that Rubber Monkey was fast becoming the premier latex provider in the UK. Of course I had to get in touch and try and get an interview. To my delight I was able to snare “head monkey” Em for an interview about a company that from humble beginnings has become a latex leviathan! I know Rubber Monkey has thousands of fans and loyal customers, and I hope they appreciate this piece.

 

It’s a genuine thrill to welcome the Rubber Monkey latex ring leader to my blog, how the devil are you, and what have you been getting up to recently?

At the moment I am super busy putting my new collection together. It’s a little bit darker and more vampish than my recent costumes and fun character work.

Rubber Monkey latex was only founded in July 2011 so has been in existence for just over a year. With that in mind, it seems that the majority of people shooting with latex in the UK are using your product. How have you achieved this? It must say a lot for the quality of your product and service.

I’m not really sure; I guess I have just been lucky. I like to think I’m quite honest in my approach to my latex. I am the first to admit I make mistakes and I am still learning. I’m not sure as a designer in any genre that you ever stop learning; you need to continually evolve and make something new. I work closely with a select number of models and photographers and I have become quite firm friends with several of them. I think this allows me the luxury of shaping shoots and they also understand what it is I am looking for in a picture and model.

Rubber Monkey may have only been around since last year, but could I ask how long you personally have been involved with latex production? It’s certainly not a skill you can develop in under a year. How did you get into working with latex? 

I bought a length of latex with the intention of trying to help a friend who is a burlesque performer. I did some research online and locked myself away for a weekend. After a lot of pulling my hair out, many a cup of tea and lots of referencing to my research, I emerged with my first pair of high-waisted pants. They were far from perfect but I was proud… It also gave me the bug to want improve and do more.

No matter how many times it’s explained to me, I can never get my head around how such stunning and intricate pieces can be made from a material like latex. Is it unpredictable to work with at all, or has your experience meant you can treat it like any other fabric?

In truth, sometimes it can be an absolute pain in the arse! It curls when you add the adhesive and doesn’t always hang in the way you might expect it to. You can easily adapt a standard pattern to work with and there is a degree of trial and error to get the perfect finish, shape and product.

I love the slogan I read on one of your pages “where fashion meets fetish and fantasy meet reality”. It’s such a perfect phrase and one hell of a mission statement. Is it your opinion or goal that latex should be worn day to day, rather that being only seen as fetish clothing?

I think there is room for latex is everyday clothing though it’s practically is limited by the fact it’s not always the most comfortable thing to wear. Predominant media icons such as Gaga and Katie Perry etc have helped to push the idea of wearing latex, but only so much as in a “dress up” nature. In 2010, Topshop launched a small range made from latex which compromised leggings and skirts so it is slowly making inroads.

Until I discovered Rubber Monkey latex, I had no idea there were so many different garments that could be fashioned from latex. Bras, knickers, tops, skirts, even socks! How do you realise you can make something like a sock out of latex? Are you constantly trialling new ideas and applications of latex?

I try and treat like a ”normal” fabric, so I think you are only limited by your imagination. 

On that same theme; I was wondering if you could explain how an idea for a piece of clothing goes from your mind and into reality. Is it a long process when a new piece is being created?

It normally starts for me with an idea for a photo shoot. I then progress that to a sketch which I use as my reference for making a pattern and then the final item. The length of time it takes to make something varies depending on the detailing or how creative I am feeling at the time. Sometimes I feel entirely devoid of skill and creativity and so have to step away to regroup and refocus.

What also impresses me about Rubber Monkey is that the emphasis is on made to order clothing. I love that you tailor your work for the individual, and I think that must only add to the affect latex has on the wearer. Maybe a silly question, but do you wear latex in your personal life? Would you agree that the right piece of tailor made latex does something to the wearer and almost empowers them?

It sounds terrible… but no I don’t. I’m not really sure why… I think it’s probably because I’m not a big fan of my own self image. I get so much more out of seeing it on someone who is really enjoying wearing it. I think anyone can wear latex and it can make you feel amazing. It’s no reflection on the quality of my work that I don’t wear it… I’m just an odd one.

Are there any designs or trends in latex that are more popular at the moment? Would you say you make more garments as costume pieces, fashion pieces, or fetish pieces?

Comic book characters and cult film icons are most definitely in vogue at the moment. Costumes for this genre have made up about 80% of my order book of late.

All my admiration for latex comes from seeing women wearing the outfits. How do you feel when you see your work being displayed by some of the most sought after ladies in the modelling industry? I love seeing VioletEyes in your clothing for example, do you keep track of whose wearing your stuff in what shoot etc…?

Violet Eyes is one of my absolute favourite people to work with. She is a genuine professional and has become a really good friend. Whenever she models my clothing I know I don’t need to worry about the result as she always makes it look amazing. This is also true of Ruby True, Salleh Sparrow, Kaykay Sakura and Ruby Jewel. Sometimes it’s hard to keep note of who is wearing what as often photographers will buy an outfit for use with a specific model. It’s only when I see it pop up online somewhere, or I am tagged in something that I realise who is wearing it.

I’ve asked many latex models this question, but who better to ask than someone so attuned to the material as you undoubtedly are. Seeing as your motto is “latex is for life” can you give us some advice for; putting on, wearing, taking off and storing latex clothing?

Treat your latex with precious care and mind your talons. I recommend using talc and lube to get your latex on, washing in tepid water with mild detergent, drip drying and storing it out of direct light at a not too hot or too cold temperature. I would also recommend using something like a Vivishine treatment on it. It will keep it soft and make it slightly easier when putting on, as well as giving it a mirror shine finish.

Another astonishing thing about Rubber Monkey latex is the prices. For such quality and well represented products, the cost is extremely reasonable. Playsuits for example are normally a big expenditure for ladies, but you produce stunning wears for amazing value. Was it important when you started out that your pieces were affordable? Is it key to getting more people wearing latex?

I like to think I offer my products at a price that makes it accessible to a variety of people. Buying latex is an investment but it doesn’t need to break the bank. I cover my costs and draw a minimal profit which allows me to further research and develop my skills, patterns and ranges.

Could I ask if there are any developing trends in latex that we should keep an eye out for? Is there anything new in latex production and application that will mean the material can be used in different ways when it comes to garment manufacture?

Hand painted and printed latex has been around for a while but I think it will be making a surge forward again soon, especially due to the big love there is for animal print right now.

Finally before we end the interview, can I please ask about your recent Carebear collection? When did you get the idea for such a selection of superb outfits?

The Carebear shoot was the result of maybe one too many glasses of wine, and me scribbling down a design and deciding that it needed to be done. I love doing characters and kitsch things, but I am also conscious of the massive influx there has currently been for this type of product. I thought “If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it big - not just 1 Carebear but 8 of them, in a rainbow of colours!” Which is what I did. I also wanted the pictures to go forward to be used in a charity calendar that would benefit MIND. The whole idea and concept of the shoot was to be light hearted and fun.  I decided to use the ever talented Twisted Pix as the quality of there photography is outstanding. Although they usually favour the more dark and fetish based themes, they totally embraced my crazy Technicolor notion. I cast the bears from a collection of models I had worked with before and who didn’t mind giving up there time in return for being in the charity calendar. In total, it took about a week to make the 8 costumes which consisted of braced knickers with tail and appliqué detailing, pasties, heart paw mitts and bob wigs with integral ears. After the shoot I sold them off and donated 20% of the proceeds to MIND.

Finally could we please conclude with Bernard Pivot’s questionnaire?

What is your favourite word? Poppet - I use it continually!

What is your least favourite word? I don’t really have one… I suppose it depends on its intent.

What turns you on? I like a well kept Mohawk on a cute chap.

What turns you off? Bad personal hygiene.

What sound or noise do you love? My little dude giggling.

What sound or noise do you hate? My little dude crying.

What is your favourite curse word? Bollox. 

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Architect.

What profession would you not like to do? Bin Man.

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Shine me up monkey, I’m ready to go!

 

Massive thanks to Rubber Monkey for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a real joy being able to feature the company and the incredible product it puts out. For more information please head to the links below, and keep up to date with the wonderful creations coming from the mind of a truly talented designer.

http://www.rubbermonkeylatex.co.uk

http://rubbermonkeylatex.tumblr.com

 

All images used in this piece were taken from Rubber Monkey’s websites. They feature the modelling talents of: Ruby True, KayKay Sakura, VioletEyes, Collette Von Tora, Sophie Gwyn-Smith. As well as the photography talents of: Joseph O’Brien, KayKay Sakura, and Twisted Pix. I think I covered everyone, if I’ve missed a name out, let me know and it will be gladly added.