Marilyn or Bettie?

[Plum Pea Dahl {★}]

Ok, this is a question for the ages: Marilyn Monroe or Bettie Page? Personally, I prefer Bettie Page. She was the "naughty girl" of pinup. She was a fun-loving beach girl and fierce dominatrix all rolled into one! Marilyn Monroe (beautiful icon that she is), seemed more one-dimensional and a little too cookie-cutter for my tastes.
But that's just my opinion. Tell me what you think!

[PhotoGothy]

I would be surprised if many on this particular site would pick Marilyn over Bettie; Bettie Page IS pinup in some sense, even if it is in the abstract and due mostly to the "aftermarket" in her image and iconography. Every single model I work with who wants to shoot pinup has a hard drive full of Bettie Page inspiring them. My two favorite models can knock out Bettie poses all day every day, they've studied her so thoroughly...
I guess I'm saying, Bettie Page, all the way!

[Kristy C]

Funny cause even though I am a brunette who wore Bettie bangs for years, I'm gonna go with Marylin. Why, cause I knew who Marylin was wayyyyyy before I discovered Bettie Page. I think I was about 12 years old when my dad's girlfriend, who was a Marylin fanatic, had me watch a movie with her in it. From that day, I wanted to be like her. I would sneak into my dad's GF's vanity when she was gone and try on her makeup, and pretend I was Marylin! Then she bought me a Marylin T-shirt for my 13th birthday and I wore it like every day :)

I may get flamed for this, but I actually think that Marylin was a little more attractive then Bettie. I know, I know.....I suck :) Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Bettie. Love, love, love her!

I actually had cut my bangs that way before I even knew who she was. I was about 17-18 years old and just trying to be punk rock, haha. Then I started hanging out in tattoo shops and a piercer I knew would call me "his little Bettie Page" so I went home and researched her on the net, and was a Bettie addict for many, many years. I even did look-alike contests at a sci-fi/comic convention on the east coast.

I since then have adopted my own style and am neither Bettie nor Marylin :)

I don't think either if them is "better" than the other though, they each had their own unique style and talents that made them who they are!!

[Plum Pea Dahl {★}]

OK, now that's actually an in-depth explanation! It's not really a question of who is "better"; it's just personal preference. They were both icons and nobody can take that away! Thanks for your response!

Kristy C said:

Funny cause even though I am a brunette who wore Bettie bangs for years, I'm gonna go with Marylin. Why, cause I knew who Marylin was wayyyyyy before I discovered Bettie Page. I think I was about 12 years old when my dad's girlfriend, who was a Marylin fanatic, had me watch a movie with her in it. From that day, I wanted to be like her. I would sneak into my dad's GF's vanity when she was gone and try on her makeup, and pretend I was Marylin! Then she bought me a Marylin T-shirt for my 13th birthday and I wore it like every day :)

I may get flamed for this, but I actually think that Marylin was a little more attractive then Bettie. I know, I know.....I suck :) Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Bettie. Love, love, love her!

I actually had cut my bangs that way before I even knew who she was. I was about 17-18 years old and just trying to be punk rock, haha. Then I started hanging out in tattoo shops and a piercer I knew would call me "his little Bettie Page" so I went home and researched her on the net, and was a Bettie addict for many, many years. I even did look-alike contests at a sci-fi/comic convention on the east coast.

I since then have adopted my own style and am neither Bettie nor Marylin :)

I don't think either if them is "better" than the other though, they each had their own unique style and talents that made them who they are!!

[Plum Pea Dahl {★}]

I'll agree with you that Bettie is more popular now than in her heyday. A lot of that is because the government seized her photographs so the public couldn't see them! But why the resurgence in the last decade or so? Hmmm...that's another discussion!

PhotoGothy said:

I would be surprised if many on this particular site would pick Marilyn over Bettie; Bettie Page IS pinup in some sense, even if it is in the abstract and due mostly to the "aftermarket" in her image and iconography. Every single model I work with who wants to shoot pinup has a hard drive full of Bettie Page inspiring them. My two favorite models can knock out Bettie poses all day every day, they've studied her so thoroughly...
I guess I'm saying, Bettie Page, all the way!

[Carissa Lindon]

Both gorgeous, but I gotta go with Bettie!

[NolaChick™ {Madam}]

Apples and Oranges.

Bettie Page was a pinup queen. She was who she was because she was a revolutionary who was before her time. She pushed the envelope with bondage, nudes, etc. when it was still taboo to do so. Bettie was the queen of the tease, who managed to keep her mystery after she faded from the limelight.

Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood manufactured movie star. She oozed sex, no doubt, but she did it differently than Bettie. There was no tease about her. Looking at Marilyn (the character that was created), you knew exactly what you were going to get: sex, plain and simple. She was built up as a tragic figure who came from a bad family, couldn't keep a man, was difficult on set and who had drug issues.

Marilyn was the woman every man wanted to take care of. Bettie was the woman who every man wanted taking care of them.

[Josie Raven]

I'm sleepy so I'm not gonna get into it, but I prefer Marilyn =)

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

I have to go with Marilyn. She owned her sex appeal and knew what to show the fans. Truth was, she was smart and creative and loving, but had her public image down. In short, Marilyn knew what she was doing. And goodness she was stunning!

Bettie was a free spirt who didn't mind doing nudes and other taboo pictures, but she also didn't seem to understand what she was doing when she was doing it. She really was a nice girl, and yes has become an icon, but didn't even know she was one until Life Styles of the Rich and Famous found her and told her.

I love them both, and think they both are amazing in their own right, but my pick goes to Marilyn. She holds a soft spot in my heard since childhood, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds was one of my favorite movies when I was young and continues to be today.

[Plum Pea Dahl {★}]

You explained it better than I could have! Marilyn was definitely a cookie-cutter product of Hollywood, who embodied a one-dimensional aspect of sexuality. Bettie was naughty and nice!

NolaChick™ {M} said:

Apples and Oranges.

Bettie Page was a pinup queen. She was who she was because she was a revolutionary who was before her time. She pushed the envelope with bondage, nudes, etc. when it was still taboo to do so. Bettie was the queen of the tease, who managed to keep her mystery after she faded from the limelight.

Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood manufactured movie star. She oozed sex, no doubt, but she did it differently than Bettie. There was no tease about her. Looking at Marilyn (the character that was created), you knew exactly what you were going to get: sex, plain and simple. She was built up as a tragic figure who came from a bad family, couldn't keep a man, was difficult on set and who had drug issues.

Marilyn was the woman every man wanted to take care of. Bettie was the woman who every man wanted taking care of them.

[Cali Chaos]

such a hard thing to decide... but although i love bettie with a fiery passion, Marilyn owned it and herself... and is far from one dimensional... lil girl lost making her vunerability her power

[Cloe Cupcake {★}]

i LOVE Marilyn! she is such an icon of beauty, even to this day women are trying to be her, emulation her style, red lips blond hair and bombshell curves! Betty was great but i just don't find that she outshined Marilyn!
I have loved marilyn for many years ever since i saw i photo of her in life magazine in one of my art classes, i always new who she was but i didn't really idolize her untill that day in grade 9 art! oh the good old days, she was nude on a crimson blanket and she just looked soooo beautiful and real unlike the standards set by todays models and actresses. I feel that bettie just wasn't as curvy. and i prefer the curvy marilyn look!

[Cloe Cupcake {★}]

YES!! GENTLEMEN PREFER BLODES!! I LOVE THAT ONE TOO!!

Roxy Tart {PLA} said:

I have to go with Marilyn. She owned her sex appeal and knew what to show the fans. Truth was, she was smart and creative and loving, but had her public image down. In short, Marilyn knew what she was doing. And goodness she was stunning!

Bettie was a free spirt who didn't mind doing nudes and other taboo pictures, but she also didn't seem to understand what she was doing when she was doing it. She really was a nice girl, and yes has become an icon, but didn't even know she was one until Life Styles of the Rich and Famous found her and told her.

I love them both, and think they both are amazing in their own right, but my pick goes to Marilyn. She holds a soft spot in my heard since childhood, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds was one of my favorite movies when I was young and continues to be today.