Bettie Page

Bettie Page

Bettie Mae Page (April 22, 1923 – December 11, 2008) was an American model who became famous in the 1950s for her pin-up photos. Often referred to as the "Queen of Pinups", her jet black hair, blue eyes, and trademark bangs have influenced artists.

Page was "Miss January 1955", one of the earliest Playmates of the Month for Playboy magazine. "I think that she was a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society," Playboy founder Hugh Hefner told the Associated Press.

In 1959, Page converted to evangelical Christianity and went on to work for Billy Graham. The latter part of her life was marked by depression, violent mood swings, and several years in a state psychiatric hospital. After years of obscurity, she experienced a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s.