Glamorous Portrait Photos of Jennifer O’Neill as a Model in the 1960s

Born 1948 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian-American author, model and former actress Jennifer O’Neill moved to the United States as an infant, she first came to prominence as a teenage model, as well as for her spokesperson work for CoverGirl cosmetics, which began in 1963 and spanned three decades.

Jennifer O’Neill as a model in the 1960s

O’Neill made her feature film debut in the comedy film For Love of Ivy (1970), followed by a lead role in Howard Hawks’s Western film Rio Lobo (1970). Her breakthrough role came in Robert Mulligan’s period drama Summer of ’42 (1971), in which she portrayed the wife of an army serviceman during World War II, who becomes the subject of a teenage boy’s romantic attraction. The same year, she starred in Otto Preminger’s Such Good Friends.

In the mid-1970s, O’Neill appeared in several Italian films, including Luchino Visconti’s final feature, The Innocent (1976), and Lucio Fulci’s giallo horror film The Psychic (1977). She later starred in David Cronenberg’s cult horror film Scanners (1981), and in the short-lived television series Cover Up (1984–1985).

In 1988, O’Neill became a born-again Christian and, inspired by her feelings of regret over having an abortion at age 22, became active in the anti-abortion movement. She has since authored several books, including a memoir, Surviving Myself (1999), in which she detailed her career, marriages, experiences with anxiety and postpartum depression, and her religious faith. O’Neill founded the Hope & Healing at Hillenglade foundation in Nashville, Tennessee, an equine therapy foundation that specializes in treating war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Since the 1990s, O’Neill has occasionally appeared in film and television, including roles in the independent film Doonby (2013) and the Rachel Scott biopic I’m Not Ashamed (2016). Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of a young Jennifer O’Neill as a model in the 1960s.

Jennifer O'Neill in blazing little sheath of many-colored sequinned squares with tiny jet bead droplets by John Moore, stockings by Beautiful Bryans, coiffure by Enrico Caruso, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, November 1, 1964

Jennifer O'Neill is wearing a sea-blue veil and cap glistening with sequins and beads by Lilly Daché, gem-laden eye make-up by Pablo of Elizabeth Arden, photo by James Moore, Harper's Bazaar, December 1964

Jennifer O'Neill wearing a plunder of jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels and brocade dress dripping with bugle beads by Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, November 1, 1964

Jennifer O'Neill in back-buttoned shirt in broadcloth that glows like silk and color-coordinated stretch pants both by Lady Manhattan, Vogue, December 1, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill in bathing suit by Roxanne, Vogue, January 1, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill in suit by Shannon Rodgers for Jerry Silverman, Vogue, September 1, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill is wearing a silver visor-headband by Halston, necklace by Laguna, make-up by Helena Rubinstein, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, April 1, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill is wearing sleeveless wool shirt with funnel collar by Smartee, her hair is cut and styled by Kenneth, 5-carat diamond earring by Harry Winston, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 1, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill is wearing two bracelets of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds set in gold, both by Erwin Pearl for Veneto, coiffure by Kenneth, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, March 15, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill, coiffure by M. Marc, hair jewels by Vendôme, make-up by Alexandra de Markoff, dress by Sarmi, photo by James Moore, Harper's Bazaar, March 1965

Jennifer O'Neill, is wearing a silk scarf hat by Lilly Daché, "Pink Apricot" lipstick by Estée Lauder, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, February 15, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill, Majorica simulated pearls ad, Vogue, September 1, 1965

Jennifer O'Neill, UltraLucent Make-up by Max Factor, jewelry by David Webb, Harper's Bazaar, November 1965

Jennifer O'Neill in the Fort Knox shirtdress with four flap pockets and a flyfront by Eric, earrings and bracelet by KJL, necklace by Marvella, photo by David Bailey, Vogue, October 1, 1967

Jennifer O'Neill in a pure wool knit dress by Kimberly, Vogue, February 1, 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in beautiful cotton organdy dress by Pat Sandler, Harper's Bazaar, January 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in impeccable, pure wool knit suit by Kimberly, Harper's Bazaar, September 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in knit coat-costume by Kimberly, Vogue, March 1, 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in short cotton voile patio dress that's high in front and drapes and ties lower in back by Tiffeau & Busch, Vogue, May 1, 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in short, pure wool knit dress by Kimberly, Harper's Bazaar, January 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in the gendarme suit in pure wool knit by Kimberly, Harper's Bazaar, March 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in three-piece pure knit wool suit by Kimberly, jewelry by David Webb, Vogue, August 1, 1968

Jennifer O'Neill, photo by William Helburn, 1968

Jennifer O'Neill in cotton suit in rich colorful plaid by Barberini, Vogue, January 1, 1969

Jennifer O'Neill in short-sleeved suit in red-white and navy plaid cotton by Ginala, Vogue, February 1, 1969