A Vancouver Island woman has created an 香蕉视频直播渦nrealistic aesthetic香蕉视频直播� and in the process, built an enormous social media following.

Bianca Blakney, 25, known online as , is a social media personality and cosplay content creator from Nanaimo-Ladysmith known for her short-form retro-inspired cosplay.

The origins of her platform started roughly seven years ago when she met and befriended Sarah Bowman, of , who offered to hold a free photo shoot for the then-fantasy cosplayer. At the time, Blakney said she agreed to the photo shoot as a way to distract herself from a family member香蕉视频直播檚 death.

Three years later, in 2019, was when she said she really started to push content in hopes of building a name for herself after noticing the rise of other influencers.

香蕉视频直播淏ack then 香蕉视频直播� I had no money in my pocket, like not a penny. Everything was going to my daughter. And so it was just something that I could do. I set up my camera at home and all I had to be was creative,香蕉视频直播� she said.

From that humble beginning, Blakney has amassed nearly 12 million followers on TikTok and more than 433,000 followers on Instagram.

A significant ingredient to such clout is her unique take on pin-up modelling.

香蕉视频直播淚 initially started just doing blonde pinup. I loved Marilyn Monroe. I loved Doris Day. I loved a lot of these old Hollywood stars. And that香蕉视频直播檚 how I was introduced,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut then I fell in love with Fallout.香蕉视频直播�

The TikToker compared her sense of style to that seen in the post-apocalyptic video game series Fallout, which has an 香蕉视频直播榓tompunk香蕉视频直播� retro-futurism feel.

香蕉视频直播淭he certain thing that I do 香蕉视频直播� is the kind of stuff you would only really see in the original Star Trek,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 more of the 香蕉视频直播榓lternative fashion香蕉视频直播� on vintage 香蕉视频直播� People consider what I do as the unrealistic and unachievable aesthetic 香蕉视频直播� because it is,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Despite its allure to a rising niche audience, Blakney doubts the look will ever become mainstream. Based on comments she香蕉视频直播檚 read on social media, and comments made to her in person, she said she noticed people either don香蕉视频直播檛 like the look because it香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渢acky香蕉视频直播� or they absolutely love it for its nostalgia.

But for the TikToker, it香蕉视频直播檚 not just the look, it香蕉视频直播檚 also the lifestyle.

When not creating content, pin-up style or otherwise, Blakney likes to spend her time purchasing, and occasionally refurbishing, mid-century vintage electronics, appliances and furniture.

Her sizable collection includes a 1960s Joe Colombo 香蕉视频直播榮pace age香蕉视频直播� bar set, a retrofitted 1950s Admiral TV set, wall panels by interior designer Verner Panton for the Visiona 2 exhibit in 1970, Treco furniture from the 香蕉视频直播�70s, as well as vintage exercise machines and hairdryers. She香蕉视频直播檚 also picked up incidental odd and ends like unopened bottles of Coca-Cola and cans of coffee from the 香蕉视频直播�60s.

And if she can香蕉视频直播檛 find or purchase what she wants, she has it made, such as her fibreglass custom atomic bed, or space helmet complete with an air filter and cooling fan. Her ultimate goal, she said, would be the have a space-age house.

Beyond her style, the TikToker believes she香蕉视频直播檚 racked up such a following due to her genuine personality and sense of humour, rarely shying away from being the butt of her own joke.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 also very open about my issues in the foster care system and the abuse in the past 香蕉视频直播� I feel like a lot of people can relate, knowing that they can get through it 香蕉视频直播� to be able to see someone who has gone through what they香蕉视频直播檝e gone through to become successful, I think is inspirational,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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