The Definition of a Pin-Up Model

A pin-up model is a beautiful woman, usually scantily clad, featured in a poster or magazine. Pin-up models are not advertising anything; they are just posing seductively for the camera. A good pin-up model never poses naked, but leaves very little to the imagination.

Origins of the Term

The term pin-up model began to be widely used in the 1940s during World War II. American soldiers who were stationed overseas would carry magazine prints or small posters of beautiful women with them from camp to camp as a way to remind them of home. The prints were called pin-ups because the soldiers pinned them to walls or posts near their bunks. After the war the pin-up industry continued to be very popular. Young men and teenagers would pin photos of beautiful women to their bedroom walls. Several actresses became famous for their popular pin-up modeling work.

Famous Pin-Up Models

One of the most famous pin-up models of all time is Betty Grable. In fact, Grable's pin-up modeling work is the most recognizable from the war years. Any glamorous actress from the 30s and 40s produced pin-up work, however. Lena Horne, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, and Dorothy Lamour were all very well known for their pin-up posters. Marilyn Monroe is probably the most iconic pin-up girl from the 1950s. Pin-up photos were used to promote actresses so that more people would see their films. Sandra Dee, Bettie Page, Lili St. Cyr, and Cyd Charisse were also very popular pin-up girls from the 1950s.

Modern Pin-Up Models

Pin-up posters are still very popular with teenage boys and younger men. Pin-up girls of the 1970s included Farrah Fawcett and Loni Anderson, among others. Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, and Anna Nicole Smith were some of the most famous pin-up girls of the 1990s. The early part of the 21st century has a new batch of pin-up girls who grace the dorm rooms and bedrooms of young men. Jami Deadly, Bernie Dexter, and Heidi Van Horne are well known for their pin-up work. There has been some concern that the prevalence of computers will make pin-up art obsolete, but it hasn't seemed to have an impact on sales of pin-up models yet.

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