The Face and Body Shape of the Idealized Pin-Up Girls During World War II

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the representations of body and face in the pin-up girl imagery of nose art, as desired by World War II soldiers. Faces and body shapes of famous pin-up Hollywood stars were analyzed: Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Veronica Lake, Lauren Bacall, Mae West, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr, Dorothy Lamour, Vivian Austin, and Bettie Page. The common traits of nose art pin-up girls were designed to project an idealized version of feminine beauty, emphasizing physical allure-particularly in terms of body lines and facial features-while maintaining a playful and suggestive demeanor. Their attractive faces, curvaceous figures, and flirtatious poses blended Hollywood glamour with fantasy, serving as a morale boost and a symbol of hope or longing for soldiers far from home. The average birth year of the abovementioned 13 classic Hollywood pin-up stars was 1917.15 +/- 8.48, and their death year was 1917.15 +/- 8.48. Their mean lifespan was 70.08 +/- 21.33 years. The mean heights and weights of these stars were 163.23 +/- 7.11 cm and 53.54 +/- 4.82 kg, respectively. Their mean BMI was 19.98 +/- 1.16 kg/m2. Their estimated mean bust, waist, and hip sizes were 35.69 +/- 1.38 cm, 23.85 +/- 0.80 cm, and 35.54 +/- 0.97 cm, respectively. Their estimated mean chest-waist ratio and waist-hip ratio were 1.50 +/- 0.07 and 0.67 +/- 0.02, respectively. By examining these, plastic surgeons might shift away from contemporary standards toward those of the "Golden Age" (1930s-1950s); characterized by voluptuous, hourglass figures emphasizing bust and hips. This approach could lead to surgical results "glamour, romance, and excitement" prevalent in popular culture.