Vintage glory for Leamington singer Holly

Mother-of-three Holly Hewitt, 40, received the Best Solo Vintage Entertainer award at the recent National Vintage Awards in Cheltenham.

Going by the stage name of Gloria Sunset which she took on when she joined burlesque troupe Belles Burlesque Holly, a former agent in the West End, specialises in signing jazz and blues.

She said: “It was only two-and-a-half years ago when I joined local burlesque troupe Belles Burlesque that I found the confidence, support and belief that I could do this professionally. “It takes a lot of dedication, persistence and hard work, but its been astonishingly successful.

“I came up with Gloria Sunset when I was doing burlesque.

“The name had to fit with the character I had created and be tongue in cheek and fun. I had fun making a long list, Gloria Sunset just fit and she allows me to do things I normally wouldn’t.”

Holly says that the success of Blighty Bazaar, which was named Best Shop at the awards last year and a finalist this time around, the Chez Titine boutique at the Leamington shop and the general demand for performers shows how the industry is booming on a national scale.

She said: “With so many followers and the fact it is staying ahead of trends it’s not going anywhere for a while yet. The National Vintage awards celebrate the best businesses in the UK in various categories so I am so surprised and honoured to have been voted best solo performer. “

Holly works as the head of activities at the Royal British Legion’s Galanos House in Southam where she occasionally gets to sing for residents.

She said: “Going forward I’d like to take my act out into the community more.”

Search for Gloria Sunset on Facebook.