Born: 22nd April 1923

Status: Immortal Lingerie Icon

Immortal Line: “I was never the girl next door.”

Why?

Why has Bettie become immortal? Why do men revere her? Why do so many women want to be her, even for only a few hours?

Reasons to be Betty Page

• First she is sex.
• Second she looks like she’s having fun.
• Third she’s not taking herself or her underwear seriously.

About Betty Page

Full Name: Betty Mae Page

Known as: ‘The Queen of the Curves’ and ‘The Dark Angel’

Early Years

Betty was born in Nashville, Tennessee, the second child of Walter and Edna Mae. As a teen Betty loved to ape the makeup and hairstyles of famous movie stars. Betty also learned to sew. When she went into her modelling career these skills would come to the fore and help create the look that made her a lingerie icon.

The Model

Betty travelled a great deal during her early years; to the west coast and San Francisco and even to Haiti before taking her movie star ambitions to New York. During the 1940s a great many ‘camera clubs’ were formed to get around the photographing of nudes.

It was with these clubs that Betty started her ‘glamour’ career. During the 1950s Betty worked with Irving Klaw who produced short speciality film shorts of bondage and fetish scenes. Such films as the very camp sounding ‘Leopard Bikini Bound!’ made Betty’s name and gained her a loyal following.

These scenes throbbed with fetish devices; stockings, high heels, and the occasional whip.

Iconic Pictures

It was with the photographers Jan Caldwell, H.W. Hannau, and Bunny Yeager that the famous and iconic shots of her with two cheetahs (Mojah and Mbili) were taken.

In 1955 Yeager sent some pictures to Hugh Heffner (the founder of the Playboy magazine) and Betty’s status as lingerie icon was made.

Betty Page Personal Highlights

• Voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed in High School
• Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree
• Appeared on TV in the Jackie Gleason Show
• Playboy Playmate of the Month January 1955
• Miss Pinup Girl on the World, 1955

Revival

Between1976 and 1980 pictures of Betty reappeared and built the cult of ‘The Dark Angel;’ she appeared in such publications as ‘A Nostalgic Look at Betty Page,’ ‘In Praise of Betty Page – A Nostalgic Collector’s Item.’

The Biopic

In 2005 the film ‘ The Notorious Betty Page’ was released and the cult about Betty and her lingerie, the short films and the stills were everywhere.

Surprising Facts

• Betty made a lot of her own lingerie and outfits including the ‘Jungle Girl’ outfit.
• Served as a Baptist Missionary in Angola.
• Get stockings like Betty or try one of those high wasted suspender belts.