I am currently obsessed with Nigella. I can’t help it, I want to cook cupcakes in high heels and wear ever-so pretty retro-style aprons while I do it. Which is why I’m crushing on the Cupcake Provocateur. A super-fabulous Americano who has a fondness for vintage inspired styles, food and music of the pin up era. She’s inspired by the June Cleaver type of wholesomeness combined with the class and glamour of Donna Reed and the sexiness of Marilyn Monroe and Betty Paige – it’s like we were actually separated at birth. Come meet her, she’s simply dee-voom.

Cupcake provocateur, what is it exactly and how did it all begin?
I have always had a fondness of cooking especially baking and experimenting in the kitchen. Yet I always dressed as if I was going out even if I was just staying home making cupcakes. I had wanted an apron that expressed my style and decided to make if myself, after that I was not only getting orders for my sweet treats but now for my fashionably sweet aprons as well, which has lead me to the path that I am on right now.

When did you discover you were a creative girl who could make items of fabulousness?
From a very young age, I always the girl that had to be different. I always crave to be creative in all aspects of life. I have to say my Mother was one of the people that encouraged me the most to express myself and to promote all types of my creativity, she had allot of faith in me by letting me be a partner in design for her jewellery line when I was a teenager, which gave me a lot of confidence to start my own business.

Who are your inspir-o-girls and why do they rock your world?                            
My Mom – As a single mother, business woman and part-time Super woman, she managed to juggle work while raising a child and made it look like ?cake? so to speak. My Mother is the inspiration for the person I would like to be.
Bettie Paige – for being an inspiration for so many generations of women and girls. She broke barriers in fashion and photography and made it ?okay? to be a sexy Strong female!

Is it hard to be creative and business-y too, if so, how do you make it happen?
In the beginning it was a little difficult. I thought if I acted to business-y that I was just conforming to a corporate structure, that I was trying to break away from. I realized very early that that is not the case at all. If a person is humble and has a genuine attitude & passion towards what they do and supply a quality product, it will show others that this person takes pride in their business and their art.

If you could return to another decade, which would it be and why?
I would love to take a ride in a Time Machine and bounce around from the 1900’s thru the 1960’s, but I have to say the styles of clothing, movies and music that most tickle my fancy are the 1940’s and 1950’s.

What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
Just living life, we only live once, why not spend it being positive and happy!

What’s your motto for life?
“…Live life in the moment, waste no time on regret and always love…”

What 5 songs would be on a Cupcake Provocateur soundtrack?
I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Never Met A Girl Like You – Edwyn Collins
Uprising – Muse
I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash
Leader of the Pack – the shangri las

Cynthia’s Sassy List – what’s your favourite…
Book: At the moment it would be The Lovely Bones
Make-up brand: Estee Lauder
Quote: “…Out of every fruition of success, no matter what, comes forth something to make a new effort necessary…”
- Walt Whitman
Movie: Casablanca
Food: To many to list, Italian and Russian cuisine are a couple of my favorites
City: Rome and New York City
Website: www.cupcakeprovocateur.com

What does the term Sassy Minx mean to you?
I would have to say a Sassy Minx would be a bit of a Vixen, mixed with confidence an of course an amazing sense of style in all she does.

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