A Nude Christmas

Event connected to the image’s subject, Bettie Page

In 1947, Bettie Page moved to New York as an aspiring actress. She worked a few jobs that never came of anything. In 1950, Page was walking on the Coney Island beach when Jerry Tibbs, an NYPD Officer and photographer, approached her. He informed her she would be a perfect candidate to be a pin-up model. Fast forward to her later years in her career, she is considered one of the best pin-up models to be. Both Jerry and Page were looking for their chance to fame. They agreed to him photographing her for free in exchange for his help to build her a portfolio. Tibbs was an influencing reason as to why she has her signature bangs.

Event connected to the artist, Bunny Yeager

Bunny Yeager was a woman who was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Knowing that she was born and raised in a diverse city like Pittsburgh gives the viewer of the photograph of Bettie Page more insight into her unique vision. In the early 1950s, Bunny participated and won several beauty pageants. At this time, she was living in Miami and was considered one of the greatest photographed women in the area. She spent a lot of time studying and scrapbooking poses for pin-up art. After these events, she was inspired to enroll in a school to continue her legacy as a professional photographer. A major event that catapulted her career was a school assignment. She photographed a woman named Maria Stinger. Her teacher noticed her talent and encouraged her to sell her photos to a magazine, which were then sold for the cover of a popular magazine title in 1954. The events leading up to this remarkable accomplishment aided in her ability to be one of the few talented female up-and-comers at the time.

Events connected with Yeager and Page’s relationship

After the successes both these women experienced in the early 1950s, Yeager and Page crossed paths in 1954. They didn’t work with each other for long, but they accomplished a lot together. Yeager was famous for her outdoor photography. When she sent photos of Page to Hugh Hefner, who recently started Playboy magazine, he suggested she took photos of Page inside. The famous Christmas shoot of Bettie Page was the result of his suggestion. Yeager sent Hugh the photos of Betty. In 1955, Bettie Page’s nude photo hanging Christmas decorations on a tree was the centerfold in Hugh’s Playboy magazine. At this time, the magazine was only two years old.

Each event mentioned guides one to understand the nude photo of Page hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree. The first event that represents the image subject, Bettie Page, gives one insight into how her past and random occurrences gave her the opportunity to become a pin-up model. The fact that she was a failed actress and her open curiosity when she met Jerry Tibbs were contributing factors that led to her success as one of the best-known pin-up models. These items can also lead us to the evaluation of her willingness to do things, like be photographed nude, which would normally be seen as taboo. In reality, she has the freedom to express her beauty internally and externally. The second event that represents the artist of the image, Bunny Yeager, aids one in understanding the upbringing of the mind behind the photo of Page. This background clearly shows that she had years of experience in the realms of modeling and photography. Her experience modeling provides her with the strength to understand the people she photographs. Also, this gives her insight into bodily freedom and how that can be expressed through photography. The third and final event representing the connection of Yeager and Page finishes the full circle from the first two events. Both of these talented women unite to create the ultimate experience of true comfortable female expression and freedom. This connection leads to both the women’s success as Playboy magazine is one of the most popular magazines.

 “Bunny Yeager.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_Yeager.

“Bettie Page.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettie_Page.

“Hugh Hefner.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2023, +https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hefner.

Sarahmasich. “Christmas Bettie Page (Playboy Centerfold).” Grapefruit Moon Gallery, 23 Oct. 2020, https://grapefruitmoongallery.com/61033.

Jp. “Bettie Page and Bunny Yeager: Legendary Queens of Pin-Up.” The Selvedge Yard, 9 Dec. 2010, https://selvedgeyard.com/2010/12/09/bettie-page-and-bunny-yeager-legend….

Jp. “Bunny Yeager: The Legendary Queen of Pinups and Photography, PT II.” The Selvedge Yard, 18 Mar. 2014, https://selvedgeyard.com/2014/03/13/bunny-yeager-the-legendary-queen-of….

Rodriguez, Tori. “Bettie & Bunny: The Real Story about Their Relationship.” Bettie Page, Ryan Https://Www.bettiepage.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/2017/01/Logo.png, 10 Nov. 2017, https://www.bettiepage.com/bettie-bunny-real-story-relationship/.

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/BettiePage/posts/10157252626365625.