Dream Beauties

The sexual revolution of the 1960s was an exciting time. Women were now able to flaunt their sexuality and experiment without having to worry about the ramifications of society. Free love reigned and men and women were able to express themselves in a completely new way. The days of the precocious pinup were fading away. Now, magazines and newspapers were competing to push the sexual envelope and raise the bar – and eyebrows – with new gimmicks. Enter the “Page Three Girls.” In 1969, Rupert Murdoch, wanting to help boost sales of the failing Sun newspaper, decided to introduce the “Page Three” model. The first Page Three girl was Ulla Lindstrom who wore a white, loosely fitting tunic and a big smile. The feature was an instant hit and the newspaper continued to highlight models in suggestive and sexy poses. All sass and smiles – Ulla Lindstrom was the first Page Three girl. It wasn’t until one year later that Sun editor Larry Lamb decided to really push the envelope and published a photo of model Stephanie Rahn sitting in profile and fully nude. Soon topless models were the norm in the newspaper and sales went through the roof. Stephanie Rahn’s photo made The Sun sales skyrocket. Other newspapers around the world soon followed – adding their own spin on the Page Three girl and The Sun continues to feature topless Page Three models today. While The Sun was pushing the boundaries in newspapers, Playboy was exposing more and more of its models as well. In the past, the magazine would only feature topless models suggestively holding props that covered their pubic hair. In 1971, the magazine decided to bare it all when it showcased model Liv Lindeland in full-frontal nude shots. It sparked instant controversy when the magazine hit the stands. Baring it all for Playboy. Liv Lindeland poses in 1971 A year later, Marilyn Cole became the first full-frontal nude centerfold to appear in the magazine. Now nobody blinks twice when they see a fully nude gal in Playboy or online, but in the early 1970s this was considered radical for the time. Marilyn Cole was the first full-frontal nude centerfold. The 1980s and 90s continued to push sexual boundaries and with the invention of the internet, pornography started to become more and more mainstream. Boys no longer had to sneak their dad’s girly magazines to get a glimpse of a sexy girl; they could just find her online with a click of a mouse. It seemed like the art of the tease had almost been forgotten completely. But  with the neo-burlesque movement of the late ‘90s and popularity of companies like Suicide Girls focusing on the glamour in every woman – the cheesecake cuties of yesteryear are making a comeback. Women all over the world are embracing their bodies and expressing themselves while giving a wink and a nod to the women who paved the way.

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