In October 1951, renowned LIFE magazine photographer Lisa Larsen captured a famous series of portraits of a 20-year-old Anita Ekberg. Freshly crowned Miss Sweden, Ekberg had arrived in the United States to compete in the Miss America event as a guest of honor and to further her modeling career. The resulting LIFE magazine feature, headline-styled “Beautiful Maid of Malmo,” introduced the future cinematic icon to American audiences long before her legendary role in La Dolce Vita.
Larsen captured Ekberg playfully making animated faces and expressive pouts for the camera, highlighting her lively personality alongside her classic blonde features. Several of the iconic images show Ekberg trying on dramatic fashions of the era, including a heavy, dark-veiled hat designed by Mr. John.
At the urging of her mother, 19-year-old Ekberg entered and won the Miss Sweden competition in 1950. In 1951, she traveled to the United States to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Although she did not win the crown, she placed as one of the six finalists. Her striking blonde, statuesque physique, and natural charisma immediately caught the eye of Hollywood talent scouts and high-profile figures like Howard Hughes.
Following the pageant, she signed a contract with Universal Studios. Because she spoke very little English at the time, the studio system placed her into intensive training. She received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horseback riding, and fencing. Ekberg famously admitted later in life that she was spoiled by the system and preferred playing over working. She skipped many of her drama lessons to go horseback riding in the Hollywood Hills, leading Universal to drop her contract after six months.
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