Barbara Mullen (1927–2023), unconventional 1950s model
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2 min readBarbara Mullen was a model in the 1950s whose slim frame offered a glimpse into the future of modeling.
- Died: September 12, 2023 (Who else died on September 12?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 96.
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Barbara Mullen’s legacy
Tall and slim, with a 20-inch waist, Mullen began modeling in the 1940s, a time when the current fashions called for curves. Her unconventional looks got her noticed, even if they weren’t in style, and she worked regularly for such magazines as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. As preferences began to change, designers and photographers sought out women with bold features and unusual frames, like Mullen, and she became a favorite of photographers like William Klein and Lillian Bassman.
After the 1955 death of her first husband from brain cancer, Mullen relocated from New York City to Paris, continuing to model there. But while her career was still thriving, she chose to walk away from the modeling world, moving to Switzerland and opening a boutique in the skiing town of Klosters.
Notable quote
“I’m not shy now, but I was then – and the camera didn’t talk back. It was really just a relationship between you and the lens. You stepped into those wonderful couture dresses and you were taken out of your everyday element. We were ordinary girls, but you felt…elevated.” —from a 2013 interview for the Daily Mail
Tributes to Barbara Mullen
Full obituary: The New York Times
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