Robbin Bain was a former beauty pageant winner who became a “Today Girl” on television, offering fashion and beauty tips in segments for NBC’s “Today” in the 1960s.
- Died: October 21, 2023 (Who else died on October 21?)
- Details of death: Died in Southampton, New York, of breast cancer at the age of 87.
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Robbin Bain’s legacy
Born Barbara Jane Bain in Flushing, New York, she changed her name to Robbin to avoid confusion with the actress Barbara Bain, who had a thriving television career at the time. In 1959, Bain entered a beauty contest sponsored by Rheingold Brewery. After being crowned Miss Rheingold, her career in the world of fashion took off. Bain appeared throughout the U.S. and Europe, and she began modeling for Revlon, Helena Rubinstein, and others.
In the early 1960s, Bain began appearing on such television shows as “The Jackie Gleason Show” and “To Tell the Truth,” the latter of which saw her participate as a panelist alongside future star Betty White (1922–2021). In 1961, she became a “Today Girl” on NBC, whose alumni include TV journalist Barbara Walters (1929–2022). She was featured on the news show “Today,” offering beauty and fashion tips. During her time with the program, she was often the only woman on set.
Bain left “Today” after just two months to give birth to her first daughter, Dina. She also had a second daughter, Lara. Rather than return to modeling, she launched a career in interior design.
Tributes to Robbin Bain
Full obituary: The New York Times
