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Best known for her performance in the 1946 film, Gilda, in which she played the femme fatale, Rita Hayworth
began her career being often cast as the exotic foreigner. Born Margarita Carmen Cansino, daughter of a
Spanish father and an Irish-English descent mother, her features were unusual and mysterious, giving her a
striking beauty for that time. However, Rita’s opportunities were limited to the small number of “exotic” roles
due to her Mediterranean appearance. To fight against those limits, and in order to better appeal to American
audiences, Rita took on her mother’s maiden name and changed her hairline using electrolysis and hair dye.
And what a change - that long red hair soon became a signature, in a style that influenced thousands of
women after her. And so it was born the Rita Hayworth we know today.
Iconic as a redhead, she reportedly got her big motion picture break because she was willing to change her
hair colour, while other actresses were not. She changed her hair colour eight times in eight movies! Her
exquisiteness, her talent and her boldness made her a star. By that time, Rita was not only a leading woman
but was also a leading fashion trendsetter. Jean-Louis, chief designer to the stars of the “Golden Age,” took
her as his muse. She wore elbow length gloves, had pin waved locks, wore body hugging gowns that showed
off her hour-glass figure and was often seen in lace and floral prints. In August 1941, the beautiful actress
was featured in an iconic Life photo in which she posed in a negligee with a black lace bodice. This photo,
shot by Bob Landry, made Hayworth one of the top two pin-up girls of the World War II era. For two years,
Hayworth’s photograph was the most requested pin-up photograph in circulation - all the GIs had it on their
lockers. In every occasion of Rita Hayworth’s life, she strived to be at her glamorous, provocative but classy
best. In later life, she admitted being proud of being considered sexy without having done nude scenes ever.
During her successful film career, Rita was a beauty icon that ladies aspired to look like.
Over the years, many events defined the power of the posture and style of the actress. Fred Astaire, for instance,
with whom she costarred, called her his favourite dance partner, because of her being so confident, provocative
and sensual. At 5 foot 6 and with hazel-brown eyes, Hayworth soon became a style and beauty icon and was
the face of MaxFactor in the 1940s. And by the end of that decade, she was also voted to have the world’s best
lips. As a consequence of her beauty and stylishness, Hayworth was even considered one of the top 25 female
motion picture stars of all time in the American Film Institute’s survey AFI’s 100 Years... 100 Stars.
Proving that her influence lived long for herself, Hayworth-worn dresses can claim thousands when sold
at auction. That’s what happened with the satin nightgown she wore for her famous World War II pin-up
pictures, sold by Sotheby’s in 2002 for $26,888.
Rita
Rita Hayworth achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era’s top stars,
featuring in a total of 61 films. Called by many as “love goddess” after she had become
the most glamorous screen idol of that decade, Hayworth was also the top pin-up
girl for GIs during World War II.
She was a talented actress and dancer, but also a woman who exuded style and beauty;
a lady whose films and photos amaze us until today.
HAYWORTH
STYLE ICONS //
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