Northland pin-up mum Lady Sugarbelle chases Miss Vintage Australasia crown

Dargaville mum Janelle Reynish is delighted to be a finalist in this year’s Miss Vintage Australasia pinup pageant in September.

Fewer than 10 years ago, Northlander Janelle Reynish was dressing down in black clothes in a bid to blend in with the crowds.

These days, the 33-year-old Dargaville mum lives life in full colour as a 1950s pin-up girl known as Lady Sugarbelle, winning pageant competitions at car events around the North Island.

Reynish was recently named one of the top 10 finalists in the Miss Vintage Australasia 2026 pageant to be held in Christchurch on September 26.

She is stoked to be representing Northland at the event.

“Being a plus-sized girl, I was bullied at school,” she said.

“But dressing in pin-up has given me the confidence where no one can take me down.

“I love the fashion and how the women look; with the hair and makeup, you feel like a film star.

“I want other girls in the same situation as me to think, ‘If she can do it, why can’t I?’”

Reynish’s passion for bright floral colours and “kitschy prints” began around eight years ago, soon after marrying her husband, Gordon, in 2018.

The couple were on their way home from their honeymoon in Paihia when they spotted a car show in Hikurangi.

“I said we might as well stop in, and I had a dress packed for that era.

“I thought I’d give it a try and I’ve never looked back.”

Reynish is now well known in Dargaville and around the Northland classic car community.

Her two daughters – Sofia, 8, and Izabella, 5 – are following in her footsteps, and her husband is a photographer at car events.

Every summer, the family head along to shows and fundraisers; this season, out of the 10 they have attended, Reynish has won competitions at seven.

She was the best-dressed female at the Blue September fundraiser in Whangārei, the Hukerenui Car Show, the Waipū Classic Car and Bike Show, and Hikurangi Auto Madness.

She was also the Miss Hibiscus Vintage winner at the Rodders Beach Festival in Ōrewa, and was crowned Queen of the Thunder at the Frankton Thunder in Hamilton.

Being a finalist in this year’s Miss Vintage Australasia pageant is one of her biggest achievements to date, she says.

Janelle, aka Lady Sugarbelle, has been dressing as a 1950s pin-up girl for nearly 10 years.

“I’m super excited and nervous, not only to represent Dargaville but the whole Northland area on such a big stage.

“Hopefully I can inspire others to do what they love and love themselves the way they are.”

Pageant organiser Sharvelle Poissonnier – aka Miss Chevelle Charlotte – said the event was a “mid-century pageant” held between New Zealand and Australia.

Finalists would compete for the titles of Miss Vintage Australasia, Runner Up MVA, Miss Media, and Miss Personality, she said.

There would also be international and national cabaret performers to keep audiences entertained.

Poissonnier, from Canterbury, said the event was “more than just a pageant”.

“It’s a family, a community and a place where we create relationships and togetherness.”

Reynish said she would love to win a title or two.

“But at the end of the day, I get to step on that stage and put my personality on show.

“And I get to show my girls that just because I’m a mum, I’m still out there chasing my dreams.”

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.