Tattoo flash 8 - the return of Brooke

Hello and welcome to the Balloon Ace tattoo studio.

Check out this month's tattoo flash for some Balloon Ace inspired ink!

The return of Brooke

We have been fans of Bendy Brooke for a long time and have collaborated with her for many years. These collaborations have included two dual branded collab balloons and almost weekly features on our social media channels.

Brooke has taken a short break from the limelight but has returned with a bang (pun intended).

As part of Brooke's return we are happy to feature her in an exclusive interview to give you guys an insight about what Brooke's life entails and what it's like to be a professional balloon model.

So without further ado ado here is our recent interview with Brooke!

The Bendy Brooke interview

Many thanks for taking the time to spare the time for this interview.

As an ice breaker tell us a little bit about the real Bendy Brooke

And thank you for featuring me in this interview! The real me spends the majority of my time with my family and kids. They keep me pretty busy! When I do get some free time to myself, I like to cook or draw. Though after (regrettably) dropping drawing for far too many years, I consider it more brushing up on my drawing skills at this point. I would like to turn it into another business of mine one day, as it’s something I love doing. I also really love gardening during warm seasons. I’m not much of a winter person - I hate the cold and love spending time outside!

How did you come up with your performance name of ‘Bendy Brooke’?

I wanted something that went with my name as well as described myself. At the time I was very flexible, so I went with Bendy. I’m not as flexible these days, but I’m still bending balloons!

You have been a balloon model for many years, what attracted you into modelling
with balloons?

I used to do livestreams regularly before I became primarily a content creator. One day someone had me do a private live balloon show, and the rush I got from playing with and popping balloons was unmatched. So I started making balloon videos, and I enjoyed making them more than any other kind of content. It’s led me to making nothing but inflation based content. I love playing with balloons as much as I love turning myself into one!

What are the things that you like about performing and modelling with balloons

Performing with balloons is extremely fun for me. They are a blast to play with and pop, and I get such a rush from popping balloons. I also love the aesthetic, the way balloons look, and how they feel. I love inflating lots of balloons at a time and just admiring how pretty they are before I do anything with them. Balloons can really liven up any space!

What are the things that you dislike about performing and modelling with balloons?

The only thing I can say I dislike about performing with balloons is the wounds they can leave! I’ve been left with countless welts on my skin and have even broken skin from popping them and have ended up with a few scars from them. Pops in the face or eye from blow to pops aren’t entirely comfortable either!

Social media and various other online platforms have made balloon modelling more
accessible to the wider masses to such an extent that numerous mainstream media
channels have run features on balloon models. What are your thoughts on the
impact of social media and performing with and / or modelling with balloons?

Social media and online platforms have had a big impact on expanding and reaching out to fans and keeping them up to date. They’re both valuable resources in bringing light to a fetish that many people did not previously know about and to the models themselves. Overall, they’re both great ways to showcase models’ balloon content!

We hear about online stalkers and people who exhibit predatory behaviour to people
making online content for social media. Do you worry about your personal safety
from being so visible in the public eye?

I do worry about stalkers and my personal safety, which is why I live with multiple layers of security. Luckily, I haven’t had any problems, but I am more than prepared if I ever do!

How do you cope with everyday people knowing about the type of modelling that you
do?

Not many people in my personal life know about what I do! Just my mom and my significant other. I tell other people that I work from home but spare them the details that would reveal what I really do for work. I stay private with what I do because I worry about the judgement and stigma that comes from creating NSFW content. Luckily the ones who know are very supportive. My work offers me a lot of flexibility and provides a liveable income so that I can spend a lot of time spending time with and taking care of my kids. Being able to always be there with them is a blessing and I’m so grateful for this line of work!

Some people are afraid of balloons, be it the sound, smell, texture or unpredictability
of balloons. With the amount of balloons that you work with, do you ever get scared?

I don’t generally get scared of balloons. Huge ones do scare me a bit though but just riding on them really. I’m surprised I haven’t broken a limb with some of the crazy things I’ve done with them, and that's the only thing I really fear!

Bonus question for if you are not scared. How would you suggest people who feel
uncomfortable with balloons to be more comfortable around balloons?

Well I was a bit scared of them when I first started making balloon videos. The loudness from the pops would always really startle me. My best advice is to just keep popping! If you’re like me, you’ll become more brave in time!

What are your favourite ways in which to use balloons?

I love overinflating them more than anything. I love how they look with huge necks, bending and stretching them to make them as big as I can. Blow to pops and sit to pops are my favourite. Overinflating them by mouth until they burst is always suspenseful and a huge rush, and riding on them until they burst is very enjoyable. I love making them neck by either blowing or sitting on them!

Over the years you have used many types, shapes, brands of balloons. Have you
got a favourite balloon?

I’d say I have two! The Tuftex 17 inch and Belbal 14 inch. I love the shape each of those get when they are overinflated, the sizes of them, and they are my favourite for both blow to pops and sit to pops. I love the crystal colours; they are so pretty! I’m also a huge fan of printed balloons.

Are there any of the now discontinued balloons which you would like to see
reintroduced?

Qualatex 24 inch definitely! I only got to play with a few of those and was very lucky to have someone send me some after they were discontinued. I loved the shape of them and the huge thick necks they can get. I’m very happy I got to play with some, but I’d really love more one day!

If other people are looking at getting into balloon modelling, are there any tips that
you would give them?

Ear plugs, ear plugs, ear plugs!! I was not so smart when I started making loads of balloon videos and only started wearing them after permanent tinnitus had settled in. They’re still loud even with ear plugs in so if the sound gives you a rush, you’ll still get that same rush. Just without risking your hearing!

If people want to view your online content where are the best places to look?

My website, BrookesBalloons, is the best place for my balloon content. I have all of my videos available to stream included with the highest tier membership, and it comes with free monthly downloads. It’s the only place you can view all of my balloon photosets as well, which are downloadable there! Clips4Sale is another great place to look for my content, I have very many balloon videos there too. If you’re looking for content where I’m turning myself into a balloon (expansion/body inflation), LoyalFans is the best place.

Have you got any closing thoughts that you would like to share with us?

I love being a balloon model and making balloon videos, it has been a wonderful opportunity and an awesome community to become a part of! It’s introduced me to several kinds of inflation fetishes, all of which I really enjoy. I’m beyond grateful for being able to work with Balloon Ace, they have been so kind and helpful, and I absolutely love their selection of balloons and unique prints.