30 Glamorous Photos of American Model Betty Bridgers in the 1940s

American fashion model Betty Bridgers (1923–1993) arrived on New York’s fashion scene in the early Forties (the tail-end of an era when agency bosses like Harry Conover and John Robert Powers regularly rebranded their new discoveries), and was quickly successful — booking regular assignments with Genevieve Naylor and Nina Leen, and being chosen by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Bazaar’s first postwar international trip.

Betty Bridgers in the 1940s

Together with Bobbie Monroe, Bridgers was photographed as Bazaar’s new All-American girl — young sleek, athletic, golden-skinned. Back in Manhattan, she joined the fledgling Ford agency, and was soon earning $25 an hour.

Like Tedi Thurman and Marilyn Ambrose, Bridgers had one of those powerfully-built faces that had matched the mood of the late Forties to perfection — but which never quite seemed at home amidst the arch, increasingly self-aware editorials of the decade that followed.

In the mid-Fifties, Bridgers retired, marrying the son of a wealthy Washington industrialist and moving to a comfortable Long Island afterlife. Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of a young Betty Bridgers as a model in the 1940s.

Betty Bridgers, beauty editorial on face masks, Kodachrome by Leslie Gill, Harper's Bazaar, February 1946

Betty Bridgers in a sky-blue faille evening coat with a flaring peplum and wing-like shoulders with a long tail swishing down the back over slim black dress by Antonia Castillo, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, March 1946

Betty Bridgers in beachwear by Claire McCardell, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, 1946

Betty Bridgers in black wool jersey top pulled down below the hips wrapped in mustard yellow and black Balinese print pants by B.H. Wragge, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, May 1946

Betty Bridgers in black-and-white checked wool coat with buttons and belt in bright red leather by Philip Mangone, white hat by John Frederics, photo by Genevieve Naylor, Harper's Bazaar, March 1946

Betty Bridgers in wool suit by Capri, accented with striped gloves and hat, photo by Genevieve Naylor, New York, 1946

Betty Bridgers in garden party dress of sheer organza with hand-painted nosegays in Dresden-china colors by Rudolf, photo by Harold Halma, Vogue, March 1, 1947

Betty Bridgers in gray soft wool belted dinner dress, photo by Genevieve Naylor, New York, 1947

Betty Bridgers in a dotted satin gown, photo by Kay Bell, 1948

Betty Bridgers in bengaline dinner/theater suit, mink toque by Mr. John, mink muff from Esther Dorothy, photo by Genevieve Naylor, Harper's Bazaar, November 1948

Betty Bridgers in deep brandy colored slip of rayon satin, sheer nylon makes the shirred top, by Colleen, Kodachrome by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, November 1948

Betty Bridgers in diagonally striped two-piece by Nettie Rosenstein, Vogue, November 1, 1948

Betty Bridgers in dramatic evening dress of California Authentic print Enka rayon with overskirt lined in red that may be worn as cape-wrap by Athena, photo taken in Monte Carlo, Harper's Bazaar, March 1948

Betty Bridgers in evening coat trimmed in mink of Juilliard Fabric by Philip Mangone, Harper's Bazaar, October 1948

Betty Bridgers in Heavenly silk lingerie by Fischer, Harper's Bazaar, March 1948

Betty Bridgers in lovely negligee by Heavenly silk lingerie by Fischer, Harper's Bazaar, April 1948

Betty Bridgers in navy blue jersey maillot worn over a cotton wrapped bodice which becomes a sun-band with the maillot straps down, by Brigance, photo by Ted Croner, Vogue, November 15, 1948

Betty Bridgers in rosy-shadowed mauve linen dress from a pattern, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1948

Betty Bridgers is wearing a hat of pink, blonde and green tulle by Braagaard, jewelry by Tiffany, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, June 1948

Betty Bridgers in a striped fine wool suit by Irene, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by John Rawlings in the Detroit Institute of Art, Harper's Bazaar, February 1949

Betty Bridgers in belted suit of Forstmann's men's-wear worsted by Kraus, hat by Mme. Pauline, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, February 15, 1949

Betty Bridgers in elegant Enka rayon chiffon dress by Herbert Sondheim, fur by Fredrica, photo by Genevieve Naylor at the Stork Club, Vogue, March 15, 1949

Betty Bridgers in Enka rayon crêpe dress by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings in his apartment, Harper's Bazaar, May 1949

Betty Bridgers in gray taffeta dress with arabesque tucking by Adele Simpson, photo by Toni Frissell, Harper's Bazaar, April 1949

Betty Bridgers in Juilliard kasha gabardine coat-dress by Pauline Trigere, Harper's Bazaar, March 1949

Betty Bridgers in lovely embroidered white organdy dress with bouquet at the waist from Henri Bendel, photo by George Platt Lynes, Vogue, April 15, 1949

Betty Bridgers in navy blue worsted gabradine suit by Carolyn Modes for Dan Millstein, polka-dot hat by Sally Victor, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, February 15, 1949

Betty Bridgers in satin faille dress woven with Enka Rayon by Christian Dior-New York, photo by john Rawlings at Dior's New York salon, Vogue, October 15, 1949

Betty Bridgers in smart navy and white check Miron wool gabardine suit, winged on the collar and packets in navy blue, by Hnadmacher, sailor hat by Sally Victor, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, February 1, 1949

Betty Bridgers in star-spangled gown by Adrian, photo by Toni Frissell, Vogue, March 15, 1949