Style Icon: Bettie Page

by Phebe Hunnicutt (Subscribe to Phebe Hunnicutt's posts)
Posted Dec 12th 2008 at 4:48PM

Style Icon Bettie Page Dies at 85

In 1950 27-year-old Bettie Mae Page was approached about modeling while she walked along the shore at Coney Island. When she agreed, she couldn't have known that the resulting photos would fundamentally change popular culture. On December 11, 2008 at the age of 85 the bondage model turned fashion icon died. To celebrate the notorious and remarkable Bettie Page Stylelist took a look back at the famous pin-up's career.

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

In 1955 (the same year this photo was taken) Page was featured as the January Playmate of the Month in Playboy Magazine and won "Miss Pin-up Girl of the World."

Archive Photos/Getty Images

In the late 70s and early 80s several books featuring collections of Page's modeling shots were published. She quickly developed a cult following that focused as much on her style as her figure. Need proof? Her patent leather bondage inspired shoes would fit right it on any modern red carpet.

Archive Photos / Getty Images

This racy shot shows off both Page's famously curvy figure and her signature hairstyle.

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

Sweet and simple, Page covers up but keeps her trademark bangs.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

(FILES) Pin-up Betty Mae Page is seen in the 1954 film "Varietease." Page, the bombshell pin-up queen who both titillated and outraged Americans during her legendary career as a model and actress, died December 11, 2008, her agent said. She was 85. "With deep personal sadness I must announce that my dear friend and client Bettie Page passed away at 6:41pm PST this evening (0241 GMT Friday) in a Los Angeles hospital," her agent Mark Roesler said in a statement. AFP PHOTO/INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTO/FILES (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

This undated photo provided Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 by CMG Worldwide shows Bettie Page. Page, the 1950s secretary-turned-model whose controverisal photographs in skimpy attire or none at all helped set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution, died Thursday. She was 85. (AP Photo/CMG Worldwide) ** MANDATORY CREDIT NO SALES **

THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGEThe story of the uber-successful 1950's pin-up model (played by Gretchen Mol) - one of the first sex icons in America and the target of a Senate investigation (based on her bondage photos). Directed by Mary Harron.

Picture House

THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGEThe story of the uber-successful 1950's pin-up model, one of the first sex icons in America, and the target of a Senate investigation (based on her bondage photos). Directed by Mary Harron.

Picture House

19. Bettie Page -- The original fetish pin-up girl and still the gold-standard in boot-and-bondage porn. Pin-ups, Pinups

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Filed under: CELEBRITY STYLE, Celebrity

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READER COMMENTS

(27)Add A Comment

Starcasm, 12-13-2008, 2:40PM

Goodbye Bettie! You'll always be fierce!

http://starcasm.net/archives/2044

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rod, 12-13-2008, 2:51PM

Bettie I love you, I've always loved you. I got your image tattooed on my arm 30 yrs ago & if I have a doubt of faith only need look at it to remember for such beauty there must certainly be a God. I look forward to seeing you on the other side.

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savizzy, 12-13-2008, 5:34PM

PARIS HILTON is on top of the celebrities gossips again. Drunk and fully NUDE she dancing at the private party. I've seen that video here:
paris-nude.notlong.com

Katie, 12-13-2008, 3:07PM

My little brother was a big fan B. Page. He always thought his wife looked like her. Know what she does. If he were still with us, he would be saddened at the news of her death.

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PANTYsniffer, 12-13-2008, 3:24PM

small town country girl created her own style that is still copied today 40 years later. she was a true pioneer who left her mark.

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turn_the_page, 12-13-2008, 3:27PM

Why do we celebrate trashy women? An "icon"? Of what - depravity? A woman with timeless style, grace and beauty she was not....

Let's not scrape the bottom of the barrel to come up with "icons", shall we? There are others far more worthy of adulation and praise.

All I can say is I hope young girls don't aspire to be like her...because she's not a role model, and she wasn't one even in her day.

Page is so déclassé...

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Jim, 12-13-2008, 3:46PM

I was 19, in USAF in 1950 I do NOT remember ever seeing anything about her.

Exilemike, 12-13-2008, 3:57PM

What are you, a moron?Bettie Page is the most photographed and illustrated model in history.Women today still copy her looks.She has inspired countless movies,comics, and the like.She has a cult following still today,over 50 years after she stopped modeling, no other model can say that.The comments you made couldn't be more wrong. I will tell you,if you said these things to my face,I promise, you wouldn't be standing after you said them.

jj, 12-13-2008, 5:25PM

Give me a break, will you. Bettie Page was awesome. Seems you are interested enough to read the article, look at the pictures and make a comment.

john mcniel, 12-13-2008, 3:56PM

It would be cool if they posed her dead 85 year old body in pin up poses and did a photo shoot.

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turn_the_page, 12-13-2008, 4:14PM

Exilemike, you're the moron. She was "famous" (infamous, rather) for no other reason than being scandalous. Decent people with morals and values did not admire Page, and women of taste did not emulate her.

I guess a person's opinion of her is directly proportional to one's taste and dignity.

And to counter your opinion that she is an "icon" simply because of exposure (pun intended), I offer the fact that we have self-branded neo-Nazi's running loose in today's society; so there is no accounting for people's taste or whom they admire, respect, and support. And not all of it is legitimate or validated.

I still think she was trash...

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Roxanne, 12-13-2008, 5:19PM

Ignorance is bliss, you obviously must still be stuck in your house reading your bible and preaching about god and his beliefs and trying to embed those beliefs unto those around you at all costs. Betty Paige is considered an icon, not only for her risque photos, but also for getting world wide recognition for the risks she took as a model and a pioneer in this industry.

By the way, how many cats do you own??? 50, 60, oh yeah, and are you an old maid or a widow?????

Jon, 12-13-2008, 7:11PM

Saying Betty Page is famous for no other reason but being scandalous is like saying Rosa Parks is only famous for sitting on a bus. You have to look at what they have done in the long term for society. Both are extremely different and have done way different things that has affected society, but both didnt let what other tell them affect what they did. at the time might have been small and insignificant but now have made a difference.

and please note, i'm not comparing them, just showing turn the page that is the little insignifcant things that can make someone an icon.

Bonnie Silver, 12-13-2008, 4:24PM

Why would anyone be sad for a woman passing away at 85?...In all honesty, let's admit..We loved her for her youthful photos, which are still with us....and always will be...

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Chardon, 12-13-2008, 4:30PM

Like her or not, the b*tch was hot. Her image will sell years from now. She was as much a part of our culture as Marilyn.

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dios, 12-13-2008, 4:28PM

Bettie is an unique all AMERICAN icon.., she was hip and cool because she didn't really know it or tried to be
She just had that "THING" that set her apart from thousands of other models
And she was so naturally georgoues and sexy and cute and adorable all at once
hope she died peacefully with out pain in her sleep having wonderful dreams

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James Rice, 12-13-2008, 4:38PM

I'm a fan of Bettie for about 30 years. Have collected
many books and pictures of hers. Also been a member of her
fan club. She is one great lady and I will miss her.

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Cathy Albertorio, 12-13-2008, 5:21PM

To Turn_the_page, you are so moral and Judgemental, and you must read the bible and are a so-called Christian, every hear the saying" Judge not yet ye be Judged", live it and then you to can be Christ like also, I love Bettie Page and I am a Christian, she will live on in our heart forever.

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