Evelyn Nesbit

A petite, slim American model with brown hair and blue eyes, Evelyn Nesbit spent over five decades in the spotlight. Born in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, she began modeling around age fourteen, posing for artists in Philadelphia and later New York. She became a favorite of illustrator Charles Dana Gibson, who idealized her as a "Gibson Girl," and her image appeared in newspapers, advertisements, and calendars. Her career as a model, ballet dancer, and actress spanned from 1901 to 1955, starting when she was just sixteen.

Her personal life became the center of a national scandal. In 1906, her husband, Pittsburgh millionaire Harry Kendall Thaw, murdered architect Stanford White, who had been her lover when she was a teenager. The crime captivated the public, and Thaw's trials ended with him being declared insane. He was institutionalized, escaped once, and was released in 1915. Throughout this period, Nesbit continued her work, touring Europe with a dance troupe and giving birth to her son, Russell Thaw, in Germany.

Later, she moved to Hollywood, where she acted in numerous silent films. She also wrote two memoirs about her life, published in 1914 and 1934. Evelyn Nesbit died in Santa Monica, California, in 1967. She was 82 years old.

Her life, marked by tragedy and fame, remains a notable chapter in American history.