All The Babes
Dorian Leigh
Also known as Dorian Elizabeth Leigh Parker
Career
Active 1944 – 1957
Biography
About Dorian Leigh
Dorian Leigh, born Dorian Elizabeth Leigh Parker in San Antonio, Texas, was one of the first supermodels. She was American, of Caucasian ethnicity. Her career in modeling began in 1944 at age 27, which was considered late by industry standards. Standing 5'5" with black hair, blue eyes, and a slim build, she defied conventions. Within a year, she graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar and went on to appear in Vogue, Life, Elle, and Paris Match. In 1946 alone, she appeared on six American Vogue covers. She worked with renowned photographers such as Irving Penn, Cecil Beaton, and Richard Avedon. Her iconic Revlon "Fire and Ice" campaign, shot by Avedon in 1952, became a landmark in advertising and won Advertising Age's Magazine Advertisement of the Year.
Beyond modeling, Dorian showed an aptitude for engineering, working as a tool designer at Eastern Air Lines during World War II. She also founded her own modeling agency, the Fashion Bureau, pioneering the voucher system that paid models weekly, a concept later adopted by Eileen Ford, who started Ford Models after learning about Dorian's system. Dorian's personal life was dramatic; she had five children by different men, including a son with Spanish aristocrat Alfonso de Portago, who died in a racing crash. Her sister Suzy Parker also became a famous model, and author Truman Capote reportedly based the character Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's partly on Dorian.
In later years, Dorian wrote two cookbooks and an autobiography, and she became a born-again Christian. She died in 2008 at age 91. She was survived by three of her five children. Her legacy as one of the first supermodels endures.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Monday 7th of July 2008 (age 91)
- Years Active
- 1944-1957 (started around 27 years old; 13 years active)
- Birthplace
- San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Black
- Eye Color
- Blue
- Bra/Cup Size
- C
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
- Piercings
- ears
Frequently asked
How did Dorian Leigh become a model at an older age than most?
Dorian started modeling in 1944 at 27, which was considered old, and she was shorter than other models at 5'5". Harry Conover sent her to Harper's Bazaar editor Diana Vreeland, who was intrigued by her zig-zagged eyebrows and gave her her first cover assignment.
What was Dorian Leigh's connection to Ford Models?
After starting her own agency, Dorian shared her voucher system idea with Eileen Ford. Ford later started her own agency, which became Ford Models, after learning from Dorian's approach.
Which famous novel is partly based on Dorian Leigh's life?
Truman Capote's 1958 novel 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' features Holly Golightly, a character said to be largely based on Dorian and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt.
What happened with the 'Fire and Ice' advertising campaign?
The original 'Fire and Ice' ad was considered too risqué because Dorian held her hand in front of her breast, so it was re-shot. The dress was a Balenciaga copy with sequins only on the front, held in place with safety pins.
Did Dorian Leigh have any children with Alfonso de Portago?
Yes, Dorian had a son, Kim Blas Parker, with de Portago in 1955. De Portago died in a car crash in 1957, and their son later died in 1990.
Did you know
- Dorian Leigh was born in San Antonio, Texas, to teenage parents, and her younger sister Suzy Parker also became a famous model.
- She worked as a tool designer during WWII, starting at 65 cents an hour and ending at $1.00 an hour, before quitting to take a copywriting job.
- Her hair had a silver streak added for the Fire and Ice campaign, and she often wore her black hair in this style.
- She wrote two cookbooks, one on pancakes and one on doughnuts, after her modeling career ended.
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