SEXY crop scientist, Linda Bailey has come up with her answer to depression: Pin-up modelling.
Linda spends most of her days in the fields getting muddy, or dusty, but by night she is all feminine glamour and goes by the name of Lindy-Lou.
Her passion for pin-up has scored her a top place in the Miss Pin-up Australia competition where she will represent Queensland in the State Finals in the category for Miss Prestige Pin-up.
The 42-year-old is a proud single mum to 11-year-old Ryan.
Anyone can get pin-up photography done and are usually glamour shots intended to be ‘pinned up’ on a wall.
“My pin-up photo-shoot was a dream come true. I really love the whole idea of the rock'n'roll era,” said Linda.
Pin-up posing has been a release and healing process for Linda who suffers from depression.
“It’s great because you can take on a different persona and it’s a chance to be feminine, build self-confidence and self-esteem.”
For most of her life Linda has struggled with genetic depression and although her tough journey continues every day, her strength and ability to push-on shines through.
“If I was to win (Miss Pin-up Australia 2013) I would like to raise awareness to people about depression and to let down the barriers and stigma attached to the illness,” she said.
Linda recently came home after a three-week stay in a psychiatric ward. “One day I was on the computer and I screamed.
“My roommate came over to me and said, ‘What’s wrong? Are you OK?’
“I told her I had been shortlisted as one of the three top finalists in Queensland for my category in Miss Pin-up Australia.”
It was by chance that Linda stumbled across the competition while on Facebook.
“I love pin-up so I was ‘liking’ all the pin-up pages on Facebook when I came across this competition. I didn’t know if I should because I was feeling pretty down about myself at the time. I never thought I would get anything.”
Linda feels pin-up posing is something she can do to make her feel good, a natural anti-depressant.
“I can have the chance to be feminine and to be a proper lady.”
Before the girls get judged they will be meeting in Brisbane with all other Queensland state finals to go through deportment, make-up and hair styles.
“I can’t wait to learn how to do my hair properly.
“Pin-up is really uplifting and in this competition if you are bitchy you will be disqualified. I really want to get the message out there to all the young girls who feel they’re not worth it.”
These great pictures were taken by Linda’s chosen photographer, Dean Agar.