R.I.P. Bettie Page

From Shine

The origins of rockabilly.

Pinup queen Bettie Page died last Thursday at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy of sexual freedom, feminine power, and cult-figure style. As a model in the late '40s into the '50s—through more than 20,000 photographs—Page softened the image of sexual bondage, added a sense of humor and light-heartedness to traditional cheesecake photos, and inspired generations of fans to create comic books, biographies, knickknacks, and a 2005 film in her honor.

For fashion and beauty fanatics, Page will be remembered best for her iconic and enduring style, which never changed and which included thick black bangs, super-arched eyebrows, bright red lipstick, dark nails, and platform pumps. More than a half a century later, one can still see Page's influence—in Katy Perry's bangs, Lindsay Lohan's dark nail polish, Dita Von Teese's entire look,