Thirteen female veterans, collectively bringing 141 years of military service, have traded their uniforms for vintage glamour to participate in the 2027 Pin-Ups For Vets calendar. The project aims to raise money for veterans' healthcare and features women from all branches of the U.S. military reimagined as 1940s poster girls, reminiscent of those who boosted morale during World War II.
Founder Gina Elise, who selected the models from over 200 applicants nationwide, stated that the calendar offers a way for these women to rediscover their sense of purpose and a community of fellow female veterans. She also noted it provides an avenue for them to re-embrace their femininity, which often takes a backseat during their military careers.
Among the participants are Santa Barbara Mediavilla and Amy Jeanes, featured as Miss June, and Miss July Amanda Wood. For these Army veterans, the preparation for the calendar shoot marked a significant departure from their military experiences.
"When the girls did my makeup, I felt like a beauty queen," said Mediavilla, who served 21 years as an Apache pilot, helicopter mechanic, and chief warrant officer. Wood, 41, of Washington, who deployed to Iraq at age 22, recalled the challenges of being a rarity in male-dominated units. "In every avionics platoon I served in, women were a rarity. There were usually only two or three of us," she said.
Jeanes, 38, of Southern California, a five-year Army veteran and captain, shared her experience of needing to assert her presence. "Weighing in at just over 100 pounds . . . I carried the same amount in my ruck sack as a 300-plus pound lineman," she stated. Mediavilla, 49, described similar situations, recounting moments when male counterparts were surprised to learn they were communicating with a woman on the radio. "There was silence on the radio. [So I’d say] ‘Yes, this is a female talking,'" she recalled.
The women hope their participation will help challenge outdated stereotypes that all veterans are male. Jeanes, now a project manager in a predominantly male industry, noted that her combat leadership experience often commands respect. "When they find out that I’ve led soldiers into war, they’re like, ‘OK, maybe she knows a little bit of what she’s talking about,'" she said.
Elise, whose grandfather served in the Army during World War II, initiated the calendar in 2006, initially intending it as a one-time project. However, her experiences delivering calendars to veterans' hospitals and dressing as a pin-up girl to interact with patients inspired her to continue. She observed a profound positive impact on the veterans' demeanor, stating, "A lot of times, they’re not getting visitors … and they would see this World War II pinup girl come in and their whole demeanor would change. They would say, ‘Oh my gosh, am I dreaming?'" Elise added, "So I always say, ‘It’s the power of the pin-up.'"
