My view of the world of the Notorious Bettie Page!

I’ve just had the pleasure of watching “The Notorious Bettie Page” movie this afternoon and I must say, my admiration of this lovely pin-up icon has risen!  I recommend it as an absolute “must see”! I find this film to be eye-opening and touching… and I believe that this film may help the general public become more open-minded. Not just towards modeling but also towards a great amount of people who are in show business and show themselves, towards innovative arts and innovators; because Bettie was an innovator, jumping headfirst into something so modern and for that time so taboo that she knew not what would come of it. What I especially adored is the sense of naivety that was carried in Bettie through the whole 90 minutes; it lightened up the movie, made her a lovable and sweet character and made her all the more human!

The sweet Betty Page!

                Though Bettie doesn’t have much to do with Burlesque, she did love to dance and there are a few recordings of her doing so. It’s the all around feel of the 50s Pin Up and her impeccable style, even when bound up, that makes this lovely model an absolute favorite! Many of the outfits that she wore in her shoots were also very close to what we now associate to Burlesque fashion.

                Nowadays, fetishist and many fetishes are a lot less taboo. Fetish models, photographer, the fetishist are so out there – loud and proud, as it were, with their parties, social groups, gatherings and so on. In the times of Bettie Page, over half a century ago, on the verge of such things being illegal, she was one of the progressive and radical models of the time, though now some of these photos look naive and inadequate for our time. It is commonly known that all things ahead or on the break of their own time are deemed outrageous, abnormal; fear of the unknown, inexperienced kicks in.

Fetish photo of Bettie!

                The 1950-1960s is the time of Elvis, Marilyn, Ava, Kim, Bettie and many other…it is the time of the Sexual Revolution!  It is said that the 3 men who commenced the notion of the Sexual Revolution are Sigmund Freud, Alfred Kinsey and Hugh Hefner. I believe that the movies and the celebrities partially helped stir that movement. Don’t tell me that women didn’t play their part! For example – Bettie modeled for Hefner’s Playboy which helped weaken taboos and make nudity and sex more of an open topic.

Magazine spread!

                Bettie is a monumental, and I would say notorious, figure and she has been ever since her initiation into the world of modeling and celebrity. What worries me though is how these celebs of the past become a trend and are admired for being trendy, rather than for who they were and what they’ve achieved. I see this happening with Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Betty Boop, and with Bettie Page too. How everyone takes up loving one of these icons because everyone else does, without having really taken a great interest into their work. I have taken an interest in Bettie Page but this trend about her pushed me away, I am glad however that I have ventured into the world of Bettie and by finding out about her, now can safely proclaim my admiration.

Rawr! A real tigress! 

Fetish photo by Sean Azzopardi.

                Being an alternative model myself, and having ventured into the world of fetish modeling, I admire Bettie for being a fierce initiator and trendsetting Pin Up, with style and a pure, fun-loving nature about her.

Movie Trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd252I7A6NE

Bettie Page beautifully played by Gretchen Mol!!