Maria Stinger

With blonde hair and hazel eyes, she had the kind of classic 1950s look that turned heads long before she ever stepped in front of a camera. Maria Stinger was an American glamour model and former actress, known for bearing a striking resemblance to Marilyn Monroe. In 1953, fellow glamor photographer Bill Hamilton introduced her to noted photographer Bunny Yeager, and Maria went on to become the very first model to pose for Yeager.

Maria appeared in several nudie cutie features throughout the 1960s, building a career that blended modeling and early film work. She had been married to Harry Stinger from 1949 until their divorce in 1965. Tragically, her life was cut short when she died on November 1, 1967, at age 36, from an overdose of pills. Her work with Yeager and her Monroe-like image helped define an era of glamour photography.