The definition of “sexy” pretty much doesn’t change, according to dictionaries. It’s the perception of it that does. It’s not how much of the body is shown, but how that body is projected. And here are some of those bodies that defied definition and defined sexiness for their respective decades of prominence:
1. 1920s – Famed for pioneering the bobbed ‘do, Louise Brooks was also among the first sex symbols of Hollywood. She was petite and kept in shape because of her dancing background (she was a showgirl before being a silent film actress). Her sexually liberated and outspokenness made body became the epitome of the flapper image, even if she had tiny breasts and a flat behind.
2. 1930s – Add a few pounds to Brooks and you got Betty Grable, the girl with the “million dollar legs.” Those legs were reportedly insured by her studio for—you guessed it—a million bucks. Her iconic bathing suit photo made her the no. 1 pin-up girl of the World War II era (said image was subsequently added to the Life magazine coffee table book, 100 Photos That Changed the World.
3. 1940s – Popularizing the widely-imitated peek-a-boo hairstyle, Veronica Lake, standing at half an inch under five feet, became the decade’s idea of sexy, courtesy of her femme fatale roles in film noir and being a pin-up model. She was an icon for her tiny frame, being “The Bitch” and debuting radical diet plans.
4. 1950s – Perhaps the most culturally- impactful sex kitten of the century, Marilyn Monroe, the original blonde bombshell, made the hourglass figure women’s perpetual pursuit. Measuring at 37-23-36, looks and poses made popular by the star are still being replicated by the Mariah Careys (in her “I Still Believe” music video) and Lindsay Lohans (in a recreation of the “Last Sitting” photo shoot) of today.
5. 1960s – A 180-degree shift from the previous decade, Twiggy’s stick-thin physique became somewhat the identity of “sexy” in the ’60s. Although she was naturally slim, her image was blamed, in part, for anorexia in women who strived to be like her. But that didn’t stop her from becoming one of the few models to achieve universal acclaim.
6. 1970s – Farrah Fawcett, Cher and Meryl Streep were all sex symbols of the ’70s. But the one body that left a huge imprint was that of Raquel Welch’s, signaling the return of the hourglass. Her publicity still shot for One Million Years B.C. became a best-selling poster and Playboy bestowed upon her the “Most Desired Woman” title of the decade.
7. 1980s – Known for some of the weirdest music, the new wave period was also the era of the supermodel. This was the decade that models were becoming mainstream celebrities and Cindy Crawford was at the vanguard of that as the world’s most famous supermodel. This time, “sexy” is seen as towering (Crawford was 5’9”) and healthy (she was a size 6).
8. 1990s – Before “sex tape” became a subculture, Pamela Anderson had to settle for her red bathing suit in Baywatch to flaunt her body. Although not everything was hers naturally, she became a leading sex kitten. But the ’90s showed that “sexy” is relative as male fantasies also included the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Gillian Anderson and Jenny McCarthy.
9. 2000s – Did Halle Berry know that she was making history when she emerged in that orange bikini in 007? Maybe not, but. Her cropped hair, tight body and bronzy chocolate skin became the precursor of trends such as androgynous haircuts, intense workouts and getting tans (in the case of Paris Hilton, getting orange).
10. Today – Megan Fox is, no doubt, this era’s image of “sexy,” which, in current characterization, is not limited to the body, but the totality. FHM’s “Sexiest Woman in the World” twice, Fox’s sexiness lies in her bad-girl attitude and ambiguously exotic looks. Men also put Jessica Alba in their top choices, an indicator that today’s perception of sexiness can go hand in hand with maturity—an opinion mirrored by women, who place Jennifer Aniston (at 40 years old) among those ranks.
