Top 10 Beauty Icons of the 20th Century

A tomboy at heart, beloved by her family and friends, Carole Lombard enjoyed a happy, stable childhood until her parents unexpectedly separated in 1914. With high cheekbones, bright eyes, and full lips, Carole Lombard embodied the beauty ideals of the 1930s. Women traded their large, round eyes for thinner eyebrows and lighter eyeshadow. This era also introduced creative contouring techniques, subtly reshaping a person's face with makeup.

In 1930, Paramount Pictures signed Carole Lombard, launching her to the top of Hollywood's leading actresses. During the 1930s, while millions of Americans struggled under the crushing weight of the Great Depression, Lombard reigned as Hollywood's top comedic actress—named the 'Queen of America's Baseball' by LIFE magazine. Her famous on-screen partnership with Clark Gable, the 'King of Hollywood,' solidified her status as a beloved icon of her era.

For her fans, Lombard's final film, the satirical masterpiece "To Be or Not to Be" (1942), released posthumously after her death, remains her lasting gift to the world—a timeless classic that stands as one of her best works, unlike any other in Hollywood's history.

Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Casino in New York City in 1918, came from a family of professional dancers. She shortened her name at 12 years old when she began performing in clubs in Tijuana and Agua Caliente, Mexico. Starting in 1935, she appeared as Rita Casino in several supporting roles in films like *Under the Pampas Moon* (1935) and *Dante's Inferno* (1935) alongside Spencer Tracy. She graced the cover of *Time* magazine, and a 1944 photograph from *Life* magazine became iconic for American soldiers fighting in World War II.

When it comes to Hollywood allure, one cannot deny that no woman was ever quite like Rita Hayworth. With her titian hair, Hayworth left an indelible mark on the silver screen, becoming a cinematic icon and an inspiration for generations to come. As one of the most captivating beauty icons of the 20th century, she became the ultimate representation of 1940s glamour. The signature makeup look of the 1940s featured fuller eyebrows, subtle eye makeup (earth-toned eyeshadow, thin eyeliner, and jet-black mascara), and bold, plump red lips.

Marilyn Monroe is renowned as an American actress and model. She gained fame as a popular model in the 1940s before transitioning to acting. Marilyn Monroe became a major sex symbol in the 1950s, starring in several commercially successful films, and is regarded as a cultural icon. Known for her blonde bombshell roles in iconic films like *Monkey Business* (1952), *Gentlemen Prefer Blondes* (1953), *Niagara* (1953), and *The Seven Year Itch* (1955), Monroe won a Golden Globe Award in 1960 for Best Actress for her role in *Some Like It Hot* (1959).

As one of the timeless beauty icons of the 20th century, Marilyn Monroe embodied and transcended the beauty ideals of her time. An exaggeration of the 1940s fashion style, the 1950s look focused on pale, mask-like skin that highlighted the eyes and lips. The 'mask effect' was achieved through thick liquid foundation and heavy powder. Eyes were accentuated with winged eyeliner, while her seductive red lips were made fuller with overdrawn top lips.

Jean Shrimpton was a famous supermodel of the 1960s and a Vogue cover girl. Born in Buckinghamshire in 1942, she grew up on a farm and attended a convent school in Slough before studying at the Lucie Clayton Charm Academy, a modeling school in London. She was one of the first models associated with the term 'supermodel,' with *TIME* magazine calling her a model in 1971. She began modeling at 17 and became famous for breaking the mold of the aristocratic, sensual models that had previously been in vogue. Nicknamed 'The Shrimp,' she was known for her thick hair, arched brows, and doe-like eyes.

By her early twenties, Shrimpton had gained worldwide fame. She began acting, starring in the 1967 film *Privilege*, and started high-profile relationships with actor Terence Stamp and poet Heathcote Williams, before deciding at 30 to leave the modeling world behind. In 2009, *Harper's Bazaar* named Jean Shrimpton one of the 26 greatest models of all time, and in 2012, *TIME* listed her as one of the 100 most influential fashion icons of all time.

Farrah Fawcett perfectly embodied the paradoxical beauty ideals of the 1970s, from the celebration of a toned, sun-kissed physique to a penchant for dazzling, glittering products. On September 22, 1976, Fawcett debuted as the former police officer Jill Munroe on the hit TV show *Charlie's Angels*. Alongside fellow stars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith, the Aaron Spelling production became a massive success, garnering record-high ratings. Shortly after its premiere, a poster of Farrah in a red swimsuit, exuding innocence, sold 12 million copies.

This image catapulted Fawcett to superstardom, encapsulating the perfect mix of the girl-next-door sweetness and the allure of a blonde bombshell. Additionally, her layered hairstyle became a trend among American women, so much so that Farrah Fawcett-branded shampoo was introduced. Despite her overwhelming fame, Fawcett chose not to return for the second season of *Charlie's Angels*. Spelling, who held significant influence in Hollywood, sued the actress for breach of contract. Confronted with a $7 million lawsuit, Fawcett settled out of court by agreeing to make recurring guest appearances on the show for the next two years.

Madonna is a pop singer and actress who launched her solo career in 1981, quickly becoming a phenomenon in the male-dominated music scene of the 1980s. As one of the most versatile beauty icons of the 20th century, Madonna was a style chameleon, but in the 1980s, she perfectly embodied the era's beauty ideal – bold makeup, heavy blush, blue eyeshadow, and neon colors, earning her the title of fashion legend. By 1991, she had 21 top-10 hits in the United States and sold over 70 million albums worldwide.

Madonna remains one of the most studied and beloved musical artists of all time. As the Queen of Pop and a cultural icon, she has built an entertainment legacy that will endure for generations. In January 2008, Forbes magazine named Madonna the world's wealthiest female musician. She earned much of her fortune from her H&M clothing line, a deal with NBC to broadcast footage of her concert tours, and her highly successful Confessions Tour, which remains the highest-grossing tour ever for a female artist.

At the age of 17, Cindy Crawford participated in Elite Model Management's 'Model of the Year' competition in Chicago, where she claimed the runner-up spot. She became the epitome of 1990s beauty. The decade saw a return to a more natural look: pale skin, matte or neutral eyeshadows, and bold lips in shades of red or deep brown. Her iconic beauty, especially the beauty mark above her lip, earned her multiple magazine covers. She also became a popular figure in film and television.

From the 1980s to the 1990s, Cindy Crawford reigned as America's top fashion model and one of the most recognized models worldwide, symbolizing the rise of the 'supermodel' phenomenon in the late 20th century. In 1995, Forbes ranked her as the highest-paid model in the world. By the end of the century, Cindy Crawford remained the most famous of the supermodels, known for her blend of wholesome sex appeal and her career diversification across various media platforms.

The great stage actress and outstanding film performer, Gladys Cooper, was one of the most respected artists of her generation. She began her career as a model in her youth, and after entering the theater, she became a famous postcard model for the British Army during World War I. Her first film appearance was in the silent film 'The Eleventh Commandment' in 1913, but she continued to perform on stage, earning attention for her role in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' in 1938 at the Open Air Theatre.

Her first significant film role was in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rebecca,' followed by a supporting role in the romantic classic 'That Hamilton Woman' by Alexander Korda. One of her most famous roles came in 1942 when she played the mother of Bette Davis’ character in the psychological drama 'Now, Voyager'; both she and Davis received Academy Award nominations for their performances. As the golden age of television began, Cooper found steady work in iconic dramas like 'Playhouse 90' and 'Twilight Zone,' appearing in three classic episodes of Rod Serling's science fiction anthology.

Actress Gladys Cooper personified the ideal Edwardian beauty – pale skin, thick brows, deep black eyes, and pearl-like lips. To achieve her porcelain complexion, Edwardian women used tooth powder and rice or pearl powder. They applied this using papier poudre – thin powder papers that could be applied discreetly without a mirror. Their lips were tinted with geranium and poppy petals.

Theda Bara became an iconic symbol of sensuality and mystery across generations. As the leading lady of the silent film era, she played a pivotal role in introducing the vampire archetype into American culture, with the infamous tagline "Kiss me, my crazy" from her debut film 'A Fool There Was' (1915) becoming widely recognized. Bara's fame, fueled by films like 'The Vixen' (1916), 'The Serpent' (1916), and 'The Darling of Paris' (1917), placed her alongside stars like Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford in terms of popularity.

One of the most captivating beauty icons of the 20th century, Theda Bara was the first to popularize the 'vampire' look with her pale skin, bold eye makeup (inspired by Middle Eastern techniques), and dark red lips. Though not as frequently remembered as some of her contemporaries, Bara left an indelible mark as the creator of trends, earning the title of Hollywood’s first true sex symbol.

Bara reprised the vampire role in several other Fox films, most notably as Cleopatra in the 1917 film. Several makeup innovations of the time contributed to the iconic look of beauty symbol Theda Bara. The 1910s witnessed the creation of the first mascara by TL Williams, who named it Maybelline after his sister Mabel. Additionally, Max Factor introduced the first commercial eyeshadow, made from extracts of the henna plant.

The Louise Brooks Society is celebrated not only for her fame as an actress but also for her versatility as a Denishawn dancer. Nearly forgotten for a time, Brooks emerged from obscurity to become a 20th-century icon, even serving as a muse. With her pale skin, cupid-bow lips, signature cropped tops, and bold style, Louise Brooks remains one of the timeless beauty icons of the 20th century, epitomizing the 'flapper chic' aesthetic.

Brooks parted ways with Paramount Pictures in 1928 after being denied a promised pay raise, choosing instead to head to Europe where she starred in the German films 'Pandora's Box' and 'Diary of a Lost Girl.' This move cemented her place in cinematic history. Louise Brooks was praised as one of the first actresses to adopt a natural acting style, opting for more genuine emotional expressions rather than the exaggerated performances that were common at the time.

Her roles in silent films and shorts left a lasting impact on countless women, inspiring the famous bob haircut she popularized, which became a defining trend of the 1920s. Women who sought to emulate her slim silhouette often used natural-looking makeup, with dark eye makeup created from kohl and cake mascara. Lipstick was applied in the 'Cupid's-Bow' shape on the upper lip.