InsaneJournal

Bettie Page Will Live Forever
I thought about titling this “Bettie Page, We Will Miss You”, but it just didn’t feel right. It’s not that it’s not the truth, but it’s certainly not the whole truth. The Bettie Page that most of us know was frozen in time over 50 years ago and will be with us forever. It seems that is exactly how she wanted it.

The Bettie Page of the 50’s stays fresh and new. The old pictures are still in high demand and circulation, but she is also featured in new art and fiction. Unlike many past beauties and serious role models, Bettie never becomes dated. She continues to inspire younger generations. Her message has timeless meaning, probably because it wasn’t meant to be a message at all. She just WAS in a time when being was completely unacceptable.

I’m sure all Bettie fans have their own reasons for loving her. I like her for many of the obvious reasons; her beauty, the outfits, the “deviant” nature of her work, the comedy, the irony, and of course her timeless sexiness.

I love her because I can relate. She did what she did and it was just the most natural thing for her to do at the time. She wasn’t trying to prove a point or make a statement. She was making a living and having fun at the same time. She had no political agenda and wasn’t doing anything dirty in her eyes, but she was blindsided and treated like a criminal for it. I can relate because I don’t know how many times I have been going about my own business, having fun and just being me, and been accused of something far more sinister, planned and thought out.

There is a beauty that shows through in the fun she has and the lack of agenda. That in itself sends a message and it’s the one that lifts me up when I hear people saying that if a woman is sexy she is trying to screw with people’s heads.

I’m not slamming women who are activists and trying to make a statement, or women who knowingly take risks and put themselves on the line. I do think that Bettie’s way of just being herself has an impact and meaning that can’t be duplicated on purpose, and it speaks to a different part of the soul – the part that rejoices in self expression no matter what form that takes.

For me, Bettie Page will live forever. Everything that I have gained and stand to gain in the future from her existence still exists and will continue to grow. The only thing that I regret is having failed to write to her and let her know how much I appreciate her. All is not lost, though. That realization has moved me to act now and write to those people who I do appreciate and let them know.