This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7778963.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 50s pin-up queen Bettie Page dies | 50s pin-up queen Bettie Page dies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bettie Page, one of the most famous US pin-up models of the 1950s, has died in Los Angeles, aged 85. | Bettie Page, one of the most famous US pin-up models of the 1950s, has died in Los Angeles, aged 85. |
| Her provocative poses - often in bikinis - made her a cult figure and she was one of the first models to appear in Playboy magazine. | Her provocative poses - often in bikinis - made her a cult figure and she was one of the first models to appear in Playboy magazine. |
| Bettie Page was credited with helping to pave the way for the sexual revolution of the 1960s. | Bettie Page was credited with helping to pave the way for the sexual revolution of the 1960s. |
| Some pictures of her showing bondage and spanking generated controversy and attracted a congressional subpoena. | Some pictures of her showing bondage and spanking generated controversy and attracted a congressional subpoena. |
| The secretary-turned-model was admitted to hospital last month, suffering from pneumonia. She had a heart attack last week and never regained consciousness. | The secretary-turned-model was admitted to hospital last month, suffering from pneumonia. She had a heart attack last week and never regained consciousness. |
| 'Iconic figure' | 'Iconic figure' |
| "With deep personal sadness I must announce that my dear friend and client Bettie Page passed away at 1841 this evening (0241 GMT Friday) in a Los Angeles hospital," her agent Mark Roesler said. | "With deep personal sadness I must announce that my dear friend and client Bettie Page passed away at 1841 this evening (0241 GMT Friday) in a Los Angeles hospital," her agent Mark Roesler said. |
| "She captured the imagination of a generation with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality", he said. "She is the embodiment of beauty". | "She captured the imagination of a generation with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality", he said. "She is the embodiment of beauty". |
| I never thought it was shameful. I felt it was normal Bettie Page class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7779284.stm">In pictures: Bettie Page | |
| Playboy founder Hugh Hefner called her a "very dear person", AP reported. | Playboy founder Hugh Hefner called her a "very dear person", AP reported. |
| "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," Hefner was quoted as saying. | "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," Hefner was quoted as saying. |
| Bettie Mae Page was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1923. Her career took off after an amateur photographer in New York asked her to pose for pictures in 1950. | Bettie Mae Page was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1923. Her career took off after an amateur photographer in New York asked her to pose for pictures in 1950. |
| She featured in posters and photographs, including one of the early centrefolds of Playboy magazine. | She featured in posters and photographs, including one of the early centrefolds of Playboy magazine. |
| However not everyone was happy with the pictures. Some US lawmakers were concerned they amounted to pornography and subpoenaed Page to testify at a congressional hearing, although in the end she never had to appear. | However not everyone was happy with the pictures. Some US lawmakers were concerned they amounted to pornography and subpoenaed Page to testify at a congressional hearing, although in the end she never had to appear. |
| Looking back on her career, she told Playboy in 1998: "I never thought it was shameful. I felt normal. It's just that it was much better than pounding a typewriter eight hours a day, which gets monotonous." | Looking back on her career, she told Playboy in 1998: "I never thought it was shameful. I felt normal. It's just that it was much better than pounding a typewriter eight hours a day, which gets monotonous." |
| She was married three times but had no children. | She was married three times but had no children. |
| She disappeared from public view in the late 1950s, turning to religion and battling mental illness. However, decades later, she became the subject of renewed interest. | She disappeared from public view in the late 1950s, turning to religion and battling mental illness. However, decades later, she became the subject of renewed interest. |