02 May Miss Pin Up UK favourite Bunty Beauford-Brown raising money for charity
A WOMAN who is in the running to be crowned Miss Pin Up UK is using her love of burlesque dance to raise money for a breast cancer charity.
Bethan Hurst-Haynes, 29, will take to the stage at the Chelmsford Social Club as her alter-ego Bunty Beauford-Brown during an evening of burlesque dance for Walk the Walk, which raises funds for breast cancer causes.
The event, on May 20, will showcase a line-up of rising talent with seven debut performances.
Bethan, of Gloucester Avenue, Chelmsford, said: “Boobs are fairly important to a burlesque dancer and promoting good breast health is vital for women, so when I was trying to decide on a charity it seemed like a natural fit.
“One of my very close friends (also a dancer) does lots of fund-raising for walk the walk, so being able to add to her efforts is very rewarding.
“I think the work they do is incredible and obviously invaluable.”
As well as helping to raise money for a good cause, Bethan, a customer support project executive, says the genre of dance and becoming her character Bunty, is empowering and exciting.
She said: “It give me an hour of “me time” each week where I can be fabulous.
“It’s a great excuse to dress up in something gorgeous – with feathers, sequins or anything sparkly! – to cut loose and just have fun.
“I love to dance and this is such an expressive varied art form – there is so much you can do with it and it’s great to be able to exercise my creative side creating acts.
“I have been extremely blessed to meet (and dance with) some amazing women over the past 18 months, we have a wonderful community and focus on empowerment, support and encouragement – you don’t have to be skinny or have dance experience – it’s about giving it a go, cutting loose and enjoying yourself!
“Why Bunty? Bunty is a mix of many women I love and admire – my mother and Nana feature heavily!
“Vivien Leigh is also a strong influence because of her face, with good dashes of Mae West, Jane Russell and Marlene Dietrich.
“Bunty is a well to-do lady of the manor – she’s very elegant, refined and “proper” but she’s straight talking – straight from the lip!
“She loves a good cocktail and a party.”
Bethan is currently taking part in the Miss Pin Up UK competition and needs votes to get through to the next round.
Find out more and vote at: pinupuk.com/girls/miss-bunty-beauford-brown
