Bettie Page, RIP

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Posted in burlesque | music on December 12, 2008

Betty Page

Legendary pinup queen Bettie Page died of pneumonia at the age of 85 in a Los Angeles, California, hospital Thursday, a week after suffering a heart attack, according to her agent.

"She captured the imagination of a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality," said agent Mark Roesler in a written statement. "She is the embodiment of beauty."

Page, said to be one of the most photographed people of the past century, became a recluse in recent decades. Yet, her images continued to be used around the world to market Bettie Page action figures, clothing lines and other merchandise. [CNN]

Videos below...

Bettie Page (April 22, 1923 - December 11, 2008)[2] was a former American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. She was also one of the earliest Playmates of the Month for Playboy magazine.

Her later life was marked by depression, violent mood swings and several years in a state mental institution.[3][4] While she faded into obscurity in the 1960s after converting to Christianity and serving as a Baptist missionary in Angola[5], she experienced a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s and had a significant cult following. Her look, including her jet black hair and trademark bangs, has been iconic within the rockabilly subculture and has influenced many artists. Page was a great-aunt of comedian/writer Benjy Bronk and a cousin of the mother of actress Mena Suvari. [Wikipedia]

RIP

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