A Vancouver Island woman has created an B次元官网网址渦nrealistic aestheticB次元官网网址� 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 memberB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淏ack then B次元官网网址� 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,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淚 initially started just doing blonde pinup. I loved Marilyn Monroe. I loved Doris Day. I loved a lot of these old Hollywood stars. And thatB次元官网网址檚 how I was introduced,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut then I fell in love with Fallout.B次元官网网址�
The TikToker compared her sense of style to that seen in the post-apocalyptic video game series Fallout, which has an B次元官网网址榓tompunkB次元官网网址� retro-futurism feel.
B次元官网网址淭he certain thing that I do B次元官网网址� is the kind of stuff you would only really see in the original Star Trek,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 more of the B次元官网网址榓lternative fashionB次元官网网址� on vintage B次元官网网址� People consider what I do as the unrealistic and unachievable aesthetic B次元官网网址� because it is,B次元官网网址� she said.
Despite its allure to a rising niche audience, Blakney doubts the look will ever become mainstream. Based on comments sheB次元官网网址檚 read on social media, and comments made to her in person, she said she noticed people either donB次元官网网址檛 like the look because itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渢ackyB次元官网网址� or they absolutely love it for its nostalgia.
But for the TikToker, itB次元官网网址檚 not just the look, itB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址榮pace ageB次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址�70s, as well as vintage exercise machines and hairdryers. SheB次元官网网址檚 also picked up incidental odd and ends like unopened bottles of Coca-Cola and cans of coffee from the B次元官网网址�60s.
And if she canB次元官网网址檛 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 sheB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 also very open about my issues in the foster care system and the abuse in the past B次元官网网址� I feel like a lot of people can relate, knowing that they can get through it B次元官网网址� to be able to see someone who has gone through what theyB次元官网网址檝e gone through to become successful, I think is inspirational,B次元官网网址� she said.
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mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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