America's First Plus Size Pin-Up Girl Was Playful And Beautiful, But Few Remember Her

#1 The Very First Plus Size Pin-Up Girl

The phrase "pinup girl" often conjures up images of hourglass figures and vintage fashion. But how often are the pin-ups we see actually plus-size women? The pin-up girls of the World War II era and the years that followed are iconic. Their playful yet sultry gaze, and their signature curvy bodies were enough to make most men at the time swoon.

#2 Meet Hilda and Her Full Figure

Hilda was not modeled after a real person; rather she was created straight from Duane Bryers' fantastic imagination. Hilda's figure was drawn realistically and her whimsical personality still shines through all her portraits. She was playful, clumsy, and completely fearless of judgement and her body. Hilda is a vintage icon who was "one of history's longest running calendar queens.

#3 An American Icon That Nobody Remembers

Despite being one of history's longest running calendar queens alongside the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable, even the most dedicated vintage enthusiasts probably won't have come across Hilda before. Could that be because of her size or just the fact that she was not a real person? In any event, her character was a beautiful creation and enjoyable to many.

#4 Artist Duane Bryers Had A Thing For Bigger Women

Artist Duane Bryers had the chops to have been one of the greatest pin-up artists in America, but possibly his lust for ample-sized women prevented that. That doesn't mean Hilda didn't inspire any red blooded man to swoon, it's just she hit at a time when going in to the 60's, women were looking to become more thin.

#5 Hilda Became A Slice Of Americana

Hilda's sweet, rosy face, fiery red mop top and that incredible abundant anatomy. Hilda is the only known ample sized icon in pin-up history. And yes, she very well does qualify as an icon. Her image is indeed a slice of Americana. Her popular calendars were best sellers for well over 20 years.

#6 She Wasn't As Pure As Depicted On Calendars

Hilda wasn't all pure and sweet. Some of the illustrations of her are considered adult in nature and often showed her breasts and rear end in scenes like taking a bath or swinging on a vine. Those drawing were normally left out of the popular calendars. While we didn't include any of those here, look at some of the gorgeous artwork of Hilda created by Bryers...