Pulp Sushi: Goodbye Bettie Page

50s pin-up queen Bettie Page dies

When I first heard about Bettie Page suffering from a heart attack and placed on life support last week, I knew it was only a matter of days before her passing. This morning, this link was sent to me and the tears came pouring out. I knew it was coming, and I was already preparing in my head what I exactly I wanted to say about this wonderful woman on my blog.

I learned about who Bettie Page was 11 years ago after watching a documentary about her. I've seen her image for many years before but never knew the woman behind her beautiful smile. I fell in love with her. I joined her fan club, The Bettie Scouts of America, I had to own as many Bettie Page items as possible, but had to stop because there was just too many.

For a short while I ran a tribute website to Bettie Page too. If my hair wasn't so curly, I would have rocked the Bettie Bang look too but I couldn't. To this day I still carry a Bettie Page pocket mirror in my purse. It's old, it's beat up looking, the corners are peeling off but I will not get rid of it. It would infuriate me when friends would ask "Was she a porn star?" Sure they didn't know any better but there was more to her than just bondage photos. She was christen so many titles, Queen Of Pinups, Queen of Curves, she truly was royalty to me.

After she went into seclusion, she had no idea the resurgence that occurred with her image starting in the 80s. She resurfaced again a few years ago when she attended a party at the Playboy Mansion and photos started appearing on the internet. This was a big deal because no one had seen her for years.

In the E! True Hollywood Story about her, she was interviewed in a shadow because she did not want her fans to see her as she currently looked, she just wanted them to remember her as she once was. Seeing this photo just warmed my heart. One, she still looked beautiful, two, she still had the bangs, and three she wearing a flannel shirt to the Playboy Mansion!!! :)

After hitting some bumps in her life, professionally and personally, I take comfort knowing that within the last few years she was able to witness just how much of an impact she has left on SO many people all over the world. When I first started writing this post, I had tears in my eyes and I had to stop a once or twice just to compose myself. Now as I look back on all these photos of her throughout the internet and remembering how excited I was learning about this wonderful woman, I feel joy and celebrate the life she lived and the impact she had on me.

I love you Bettie! I'll always carry you with me, not just as a mirror, but in my heart.