Marilyn Monroe — Los Angeles, California (1949)
Before becoming a major film star, Marilyn Monroe posed in a nude pinup art photoshoot for photographer Tom Kelley in Los Angeles. The resulting pinup portrait, later known as the “Red Velvet” calendar image, was sold for a small fee and became one of the most famous early pinup girl images ever produced.
The photograph later appeared in calendars and publications, contributing to Monroe’s rise as one of the most recognizable pinup models and film icons in the world.