Babette March

Babette March (born 1941), pronounced Marx, born Barbara Marchlowitz, formerly Babette Russell, or simply Babette,[1] who is now known by the name Babette Beatty,[2] was the first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model.[3][4][5] She was on the swimsuit issue cover of the January 20, 1964, issue.[6] This has been credited with making the bikini a legitimate piece of clothing.[7]

Early life

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According to Sports Illustrated, she was born in Berlin and raised in Brazil, Germany and Canada.[1] According to her website, March was born in Berlin in 1941, moved to Rio de Janeiro 1949, traveled from 1959 to 1961, lived in Manhattan from 1961 to 1979, lived in Montreal from 1979 to 1986, resided in Palm Beach, Florida, and Naples, Italy, from 1986 to 1992, after which she moved to Halfway, Oregon.[8]

Modelling career

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She started modelling in early 1962, beginning with a shoot for Weekend Magazine.[citation needed] By 1963 she was working for leading fashion magazines.[citation needed] She moved to a Park Avenue New York City apartment; eventually, she and her boyfriend settled in New York City.[9][10]

According to a Sports Illustrated retrospective and other corroborating sources,[specify] in her prime, she was the "highest-paid model of her day" while working for Ford Models.[1][failed verification][9] In the mid-1960s, she was earning $85,000 a year.[10] Eileen Ford describes March as the first elite photographic model that she recalls with gapped teeth.[11] She was known for living the high life and for partying with the likes of Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol.[2][12]

After modelling

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In 1976, she retired from modelling, then moved to a 54-acre (22 ha) farm outside Montreal where she raised pedigreed cattle, 40 sheep, 80 chickens and ducks, three horses, 14 dogs, and 18 cats.[1][12] She then married Dale Beatty, an architect, and settled in Halfway, Oregon, where she and her husband opened a bakery, restaurant, and art gallery.[12] She has become a highly regarded chef, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.[13] Her renovation, restoration and rejuvenation of the landmark bed & breakfast, art centre, bakery and restaurant was featured on a 30-minute Home & Garden Television channel show.[14] Her art work has been featured on the label of a line of wines.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Lidz, Franz (7 February 1989). "The Pixie Pioneer: Impish Babette March put on that white bikini and launched an institution". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  2. ^ a b "Cover model Babette Beatty holds the Jan. 20, 1964 Sports Illustrated". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  3. ^ Curtis, Bryan (2005-02-16). "The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue: An intellectual history". Slate. Washington Post Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC. Archived from the original on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  4. ^ Hoover, Elizabeth D. (2006-07-05). "60 Years of Bikinis". American Heritage Inc. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  5. ^ "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues 1964–2006". Sports Illustrated. sicollection.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  6. ^ "SI Cover Search: 1964 swimsuit". Time Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on August 10, 2009. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  7. ^ "The bikini celebrates 60 years". 22 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06.
  8. ^ ""Exuberant" "Inspiring" "Captivating"". Babette Beatty. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  9. ^ a b Klyn, Doyle (1965-10-15). "Three Girls On The Go". Ottawa Citizen. p. 16. Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  10. ^ a b Anita, Epstein (1967-03-18). "The Joys of Being Flat-chested". The Montreal Gazette. p. 48. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  11. ^ Ford, Eileen (1970-09-29). "That Impish Look". Chicago Tribune. p. A2. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  12. ^ a b c Young, Amalie (5 March 2000). "Former fashion model plunges wholeheartedly into Halfway". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  13. ^ "Episode 324: Thursday March 28, 2002". Oregon Art Beat. Oregon Public Broadcasting. 2002-03-28. Archived from the original on 6 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  14. ^ Nicholas, Jonathan (1998-06-17). "Sexiest Woman In America Goes Half, Not All, The Way". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  15. ^ "Divas - of Treasure Valley winemaking". The Idaho Statesman. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
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