Under the Hood: Cherry Bombshell Brings Community to Centre Stage

Published on 19 April 2026

There’s a certain kind of magic that lives beyond the rev of an engine at Rare Spares and Repco Rockynats 06. A magic defined not by horsepower, but something far more enduring — the sense of community that connects entrants both on and off the track.

Perhaps one of the best examples of this can be found in the red lipstick, vintage silhouettes, and the unmistakable camaraderie of the Rockabillynats Pin-Up Competition, taking centre stage at the FMX Kaos Showgrounds precinct this afternoon. What began as a niche off-track feature at Rockynats 02 has grown into one of the event’s most loved showcases of Rockynats’ enduring community spirit.

At the heart of it all is Cherry Bombshell, the organiser, MC and driving force behind the competition since its inception, for whom the event represents the perfect intersection of two lifelong passions: cars and theatre.

“My dad was a huge Harley Davidson motorcycle enthusiast, loyal to the core,” she recalls. “As a result, I spent a lot of time immersed in the car scene growing up, but while everyone was fascinated with the grit and grease, I was always drawn to the artistry that comes with it. The paintwork, the airbrushing, the pin striping, the way people made something uniquely their own.”

That early fascination with the creative side of the industry led her to start attending retro car meets as a teenager, where she first discovered the rockabilly scene.

“As a bit of a tomboy, it was like I’d finally found my people,” she says. “There was this beautiful contrast between the masculinity of the car scene and the bold, unapologetic femininity of pin up. The Rockabilly women I saw up on stage felt like superheroes to me in their red lipstick and petticoats, and I just knew I had to get involved.”

With a background in theatre and performance, stepping onto a stage came naturally and her pin-up persona, Cherry Bombshell, first began to take shape. Inspired by her bright red hair and a bold red car to match, she was drawn to a name that felt as memorable and larger-than-life as the worlds she was performing in. The Cherry felt instinctive, while Bombshell captured the confidence, energy and theatricality she brought to every stage she stepped on.

Despite being naturally enamoured by the performance and aesthetic side of the pin-up world, it was the people she met along the way that ultimately inspired her to create a pin-up collective and competition of her own.

“Everyone thinks Pin-up is a competition, like a beauty pageant, but it’s not. It’s all about camaraderie,” Cherry says. “Backstage, you’re sharing lipsticks, fixing each other’s hair, calming nerves. It’s community first, always.”

That ethos helped spark CQ Pin Ups, the local collective Cherry co-founded with two fellow pinups, Vixen Von Veale and Ms Ava Delight, born out of a desire to create more localised opportunities for women in Central Queensland’s growing pin-up scene.

“Traditionally you had to go to the big cities to experience anything like this,” she says. “When Rockynats first came to Central Queensland, we saw a chance to create something here that reflected our own community.”

In a twist that speaks volumes about the grassroots nature of that journey, Cherry wasn’t even present at the very first Rockabillynats competition she’d worked so hard to bring to life.

“I was actually in the maternity ward giving birth to my daughter,” she laughs. “But the girls stepped in, ran with it, and made it happen. That’s what community looks like—you don’t do it alone.”

Since then, the RockabillyNats Pin-Up Competition has grown into a standout part of the event’s off-track program, evolving each year while staying true to its inclusive roots. One of the most impactful additions has been the beginner’s fashion parade, designed as a low-pressure entry point for anyone wanting to give pin-up a go.

“It’s taken on a life of its own,” Cherry reflects. “People can sign up on the day, wear whatever they have, and just experience what it feels like to be up there. It’s about inclusion, not intimidation.”

This year’s competition showcases that philosophy more than ever, with an incredibly diverse field of entrants, from first-timers to decorated pin-up performers hailing from across Queensland, as well as long-time Rockyabillynats spectators finally stepping into the spotlight. This includes the winner of the Rockynats 05 Beginners Parade, who is taking the leap and competing on the main stage for the first time.

“There are women here from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Mackay and some who’ve been coming to watch for years as fans who’ve finally decided this is their year to step on stage themselves,” she says. “Seeing someone graduate from being a fan or beginner to a main stage competitor is such a special highlight for me, it’s what I’m looking forward to most.”

This year’s theme, ‘Paint the Town Red,’ celebrates one of the most iconic colours in both the rockabilly and automotive worlds.

“Red is bold, it stands out, it owns the space and fits in so well with the automotive theme of the whole event,” Cherry says. “But it’s also a nod to that idea of getting dressed up to go to town with your friends, wearing your town best.”

Entrants are judged across three areas: outfit and styling, entertainment value of their routine, and their ability to engage with the crowd.

“It’s so much more than just how you look,” Cherry explains. “It’s about confidence, creativity and connection.”

Cherry is adamant that it’s this underlying thread of connection that has shaped the competition’s most memorable moments.

“One year we had a competitor who was so nervous she froze mid-routine and walked off stage,” she says. “But all the other entrants went backstage, rallied around her, and then completed the routine alongside her so she could finish.”

The following year, that same entrant returned, this time with far more confidence, and not only placed runner-up but won over the hearts of the audience and received the People’s Choice award.

“That’s what Rockabillynats is all about,” Cherry explains. “It’s not about perfection. It’s about having a go, knowing you’ve got people around you, and coming back stronger.”

What began as an idea for a local competition has become a defining part of the Rockynats experience, proof that the strength of the event isn’t just in the machines on display, but in the people who bring it to life.

“It always comes back to community,” Cherry says. “These women aren't just on stage; they’re out there competing in the drags, drifts, burnouts, and Show’n’Shine too. The event has always been a safe space for femininity in the car community that focuses on inclusion and celebration! That’s what makes Rockynats what it is.”

You can catch all the action of the 2026 Rockabillynats Pin-Up Competition on the Showgrounds Stage at the FMX Kaos Showgrounds precinct from 11:00am–12:45pm today.