There may be more Bettie Page imitators than Elvis and Michael Jackson combined, but I am most interested in the ones who didn't even wait for color photography. Presented here are a collection of "low rent Betties" from the 1950s. Back when Bettie ruled the pulp sleaze underground, her influence was so great any dame with an inclination to model "got a leg up" if she had the hair. Drop the bouffant, Chop the bangs and Drop the skirt. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but some of these faux foxes lack the Page perk. Just a few of the most blatant and obvious examples here...trust there were more. The one with painted eyebrows is shown twice because she represents the concept of epitome.
How did Ms. Page get her bangs? Photographer Jerry Tibbs suggested them because of her "high forehead" thus making both fashion history and an icon.
The most famous contemporary, and possibly most beautiful fake Bettie is Dita Von Teese, who has taken the look to the bank. Dita is a nice Michigan girl with the last name of Sweet. (True) The worst contemporary fake Bettie Page is the always not quite hilarious Kathy Griffiths, shown here doing her best to be both funny and sexy at the same time. I'm not sure either worked.
By the way, retro raunchy rebel rockabilly chicks? Don't get me wrong...I love the look. So does Beyonce. The REAL Bettie? Above with Irving Klaw.
NOTE: FOLLOWING COMMENT RECEIVED INTENDED TO TEAR ME A NEW ONE!
(Which I am more than happy to post. Thanks!)
Though lots of people label her (now) as a Bettie lookalike, the fact is that Kevin had a thriving pinup/nude career -- with bangs -- BEFORE Bettie came along. Consider this comment on page 43 of Richard Foster's Bettie bio:
> Yeaman was a fan of another black-haired cheesecake model, Kevin Dailey [sic...
> though I'm not sure the "i" belongs there]. He first heard of Carr's studio after
> a Yale graduate told him about a new talent who resembled Dailey, named Bettie Page.
Kevin had her own share of magazine cover shots. Worked for Klaw and the camera clubs, among her gigs. Still has a fan following.
A few more of Kevin:
http://vintagearchives.
Kevin's regularly mistaken for Bettie. Some dealer on eBay keeps hawking a stereo slide set as Bettie that's actually Kevin.
