Ingrid Jaugietis is normally a reserved textiles and cooking teacher at a high school in Canberra.
But when she pulls on her flared floral safari suit, seashell belt and bejewelled cape, she becomes someone else entirely.
That someone is Henny, her pin-up alter ego and Elvis lookalike.
Ms Jaugietis took out the NSW pin-up pageant first heat on the final day of the Parkes Elvis Festival on Sunday, wearing a pastel suit and a lei in a nod to the event’s Blue Hawaii theme.
She made the outfit, featuring a silky rhinestone cape, from a modern sewing pattern for flares and an altered vintage shirt.
“Even though I’m a teacher, I don’t like getting up in front of an audience,” Ms Jaugietis told AAP.
“When I’m wearing this, it’s my different personality and it’s a lot of fun – people bounce off your energy.”
The 51-year-old was one of few female Elvis lookalikes at the five-day festival, as many women dressed up in rockabilly style, or as Priscilla Presley or Marilyn Monroe.
“It is a bit rare, but there are a lot more women getting the confidence to come out and do it. The funny thing is, they’re mostly people my age.”
One of the pageant’s founders, Carmen Perrin, said there was a renewed interest in pin-up pageants because they’re diverse and inclusive.
“Any age, any shape, size, disabilities, genders; no matter what you are, everyone has the right to know they’re beautiful just the way they are,” Ms Perrin said.
“Pin-up is about feeling good and making others feel good.
“A lot of us have stage fright, so we confront our fears, grasp it by the horns and get up there and give it a go.”
Sunday was the final day of the annual festival, which is held in the second week of January to coincide with Elvis’s birthday and is officially endorsed by Presley’s estate.
It began in 1993 as a small local event, including a dinner and dance at the Gracelands restaurant, to attract visitors during the heat of summer.
The festival now draws in about 24,000 tourists from interstate and overseas, and features international acts.
Its 30th anniversary was billed as being bigger and better than ever, particularly after the region endured years of drought, mouse plagues and recent flooding.
In one of the final events, about 50 couples renewed their wedding vows at the Generosity Church before Elvis tribute artist Dean Vegas.
Mr Vegas told the couples marriage needs practice, patience and understanding.
“And a hunka hunka burning love.”
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