With locks as dark as midnight and a smile as bright as day, Bettie Page was much more than a beautiful pinup model, she was simply the best. A legend as much today as during her modeling days, every facet of Bettie Page's life and personality captures the interest and devotion of the thousands of fans that followed her career until the day of her mysterious disappearance.Bettie Page's numerous contradictions undoubtedly added to her charismatic personality. Nice and naughty, shy and daring, simple and exotic, Bettie Page shone with a freshness never before seen in the modeling industry. Without elaborate props, costumes, or set-dressings, Bettie Page produced some of the most beautiful shots to ever grace the covers of hundreds of magazines. Bettie Page's smoothly tanned skin, deep blue eyes and coal-black hair with her trademark bangs, were enough inspiration to spark the imagination of even the least experienced photographers. Her "girl next door" look and innocent smile only complemented that explosive combination of features.
Born on April 22, 1923, in Nashville, Tennessee, Bettie Page was the second of Walter Roy Page and Edna Mae Pirtle's six children. During Bettie Page's early years, the Page family traveled around the country in search of economic stability. At a tender age, Bettie Page had to face the responsibilities of caring for her younger siblings as well as helping her mother with the house chores.Soon, problems between Bettie Page's parents led to a divorce, which only worsened the family's financial situation. In order to support her family, Edna worked as a hairdresser during the day and washed laundry at night. When Bettie Page was only 10 years old, her mother placed her and her two sisters in an orphanage while she worked and saved money.
As a teenager, Bettie Page and her sisters spent countless hours trying different makeup styles and hairdos imitating their favorite movie stars. At the local community centers, Bettie learned to cook and sew, the latter, a skill that proved particularly useful years later when Bettie made her own bikinis and costumes. In these centers, a young Bettie Page sought refuge from her home and found enough peace and tranquillity to do homework and study. It was her hard work and determination that kept Bettie at the top of her class during her high school years. As a student, she was a member and program director of the Dramatics Club, secretary treasurer of the Student Council, coeditor of the schools newspaper and yearbook; she was even voted "Most Likely to Succeed."
As the Salutatorian of her class, Bettie won a $100 scholarship to Peabody College where she studied education while dreaming of becoming an actress. In February 1943, Bettie married her boyfriend of two years, Billy Neal. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Peabody College, Bettie moved to San Francisco to be with Billy. It was in San Francisco that Bettie got her first modeling job at a local furrier where Bettie modeled fur coats for clients.For the next few years, the free-spirited Bettie Page traveled from San Francisco to Nashville to Miami, even to Portau-Prince, Haiti, where she fell in love with the country and its culture. Back in the United States, in November 1947, Bettie Page filed for divorce from Billy and moved to New York. In 1950, during a walk along the Coney Island shore, Bettie Page met Jerry Tibbs, a police officer with an interest in photography. Tibbs took pictures of Bettie and put together her first pinup portfolio. Little did Bettie Page know how much her life was about to change.
Tibbs introduced Bettie Page to numerous other photographers including Cass Carr who organized outdoor photographic sessions, which Bettie Page intensely enjoyed. In a matter of months, Bettie’s modeling career had taken off. Camera clubs led to posing for various magazines such as Wink, Eyeful, Titter, and Beauty Parade. But it wasn't until her photographs were published in Robert Harrison's magazines that Bettie became a pinup star beyond comparison. In 1955, Bettie won the title "Miss Pinup Girl of the World." In January 1955, she was the centerfold in Playboys January issue. She was even named the "Girl with the Perfect Figure," with her photographs appearing in everything from record albums to playing cards.In 1953, Bettie Page auditioned for an apprenticeship at Sea Cliff Summer Theater in Long Island where she studied acting under the tutelage of Herbert Berghoff. With Berghoffs encouragement, Bettie Page secured several roles in various New York productions as well as various television appearances. Her off-Broadway productions included Time is a Thief and Sunday Costs Five Pesos. Bettie Page even appeared in the Jackie Gleason show.
FOR THE PLAYBOY INTERVIEW AND SOME UNCENSORED PICTURES OF BETTIE PAGE
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