Monday, March 29, 2021

For Every Kind of Woman

a closeup of Shelley from a 1979 Charlie perfume ad pic

Shelley Hack was one of most successful models represented by Ford Models, Inc. and was one of the Supermodels of the 1970s. She rose from being a part-time model in the 1960s during her schooling (Ford would would send out cards to clients that said, "Shelley Hack will be back June 1.") to becoming one of the top models in the early '70s. In 1976, she jumped to Supermodel status via a Revlon commercial for Charlie Perfume. She was one of first batch of models  who were able to negotiate previously unheard of, lucrative and exclusive deals with giant cosmetics companies. Shelley was THE Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982 and her image and influence was/is iconic.

Shelley in a sporty mood for Charlie perfume ad pic

The popularity of her ads was worldwide and Charlie perfume ads portrayed women in the most positive light. The working woman, the sassy woman, the liberated woman, the party girl, the sporty woman - all of them she portrayed as sexy, confident, independent and fabulous. Her long-legged stride was somewhat a symbol of the strides taken by the women's liberation movement. And her confident smile symbolized the idea that women can fend for themselves, thrive and be happy about it.