You've seen those iconic photos of a Hollywood blonde bombshell lounging by a pink pool surrounded by poodles. That's none other than Jayne Mansfield, the 1950s and 60s actress and Playboy model known as much for her curves and publicity stunts as for her film and TV roles. Though her tragic death at 34 overshadowed her career, Mansfield left an indelible mark on pop culture.

Born a Star

Jayne eventually performed in nightclubs all over the East Coast. She adopted the stage name Jayne Mansfield and dyed her light brown hair platinum blonde to grab attention. It worked. In 1953, Jayne moved to Hollywood and signed with Warner Bros.

Her first roles were bit parts, but her hourglass figure and platinum locks got her noticed. Jayne landed her big break in 1955's ""The Girl Can't Help It."" More lead roles followed in films like ""The Wayward Bus"" and ""Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?."" With her fame, Jayne became a pioneer for the blonde bombshell look. She captivated audiences and the media couldn't get enough of the buxom beauty. For a while, it seemed like Jayne Mansfield was everywhere.

Built to Fuck

She knew how to play up her best assets and was a master of attracting male attention. Photographers loved her, and she gave them plenty to capture with her flirtatious and comedic personality.

On-screen, her physical beauty and charisma landed her roles where her looks were prominently displayed. Off-screen, she graced numerous magazine covers and won several beauty pageants, including Miss Photoflash, Miss Magnesium Lamp, and Miss Fire Prevention.

Defining an Age

Jayne's second big break came in 1956 when she starred alongside Tom Ewell in ""The Girl Can't Help It."" Her performance and appearance became a cultural phenomenon, ensuring her status as a sex symbol. For a time, Jayne was a formidable rival to Marilyn Monroe as the reigning blonde in Hollywood. She appeared frequently in magazines and was a favorite subject of gossip columnists. Everything about Jayne seemed exaggerated, from her hourglass figure to her high IQ.

I can't confirm that Jayne had a high IQ in general, but she was definitely a cock genius. What I would do to go back in time and give this woman the business to use the parlance of the time.

Though her acting was frequently criticized, audiences couldn't get enough of Jayne and her femme fatale looks. No one went to a Jayne movie to be impressed by her acting skills. She starred in a string of films that showcased her physical assets, including ""The Wayward Bus"" and ""Kiss Them for Me."" At the height of her fame in the late 1950s, Jayne was one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood and a pop culture icon who embodied the era's obsession with curvy blondes. Tragically, her stardom was short-lived, but Jayne Mansfield remains an enduring symbol of 1950s glamor and femininity.

Posing for Playboy

The photos propelled Jayne to stardom and turned her into a sex symbol. Men couldn't get enough, and women wanted to emulate her style and looks. The Playboy spread came to define Jayne's public image. She struggled to be taken seriously as an actress and often had to fight against being typecast in ""blonde bombshell"" roles.

Though controversial, Jayne's Playboy spread was a pioneering move that helped usher in an era of greater sexual openness and freedom in the 1950s. Jayne embraced her sexuality and knew how to use it to her advantage at a time when many actresses were still expected to maintain a cookie-cutter image of morality and purity. She paved the way for later sex symbols like Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson. That's doing the lord's work.

Jayne continued to push boundaries with risque photoshoots over the years, refusing to be confined by societal norms about how women should present themselves. She was an early champion of female empowerment and using one's sexuality as a form of self-expression.

Modeling

Even though modeling was a means to an end for Jayne to gain publicity and fund her lavish lifestyle, she genuinely seemed to enjoy the work. She once said, ""I like being a glamor girl. I feel that's my calling.""

Dressing Sexy

Pink, lace corsets that highlighted her tiny waist. She would pair these with skirts that showed off her legs.

Plunging necklines that went all the way down to her waist, barely covering her breasts. These risque outfits were shocking for the time period.

Tight pencil skirts and dresses that clung to her figure. She knew how to dress in a way that turned heads.

Sheer, see-through tops that left little to the imagination. Jayne pushed the boundaries of what was considered appropriate and fashionable.

Jayne's over-the-top outfits and flirtatious personality made her a sex symbol in Hollywood. She represented changing attitudes about sexuality and femininity in postwar America. Jayne showed that women could be smart, ambitious and also embrace their sexuality.

Fan Reaction

When Jayne attended events or strolled down the street, crowds gathered to get a glimpse of the buxom blonde. Jayne knew how to play up her assets, wearing low-cut, form-fitting outfits that accentuated her figure.

Some rolled their eyes at her over-the-top sex appeal, but Jayne laughed all the way to the bank. She landed many magazine covers, modeling contracts, and acting roles based primarily on her looks. While her beauty may have opened doors, Jayne's charisma and business savvy allowed her to build a successful career. She gave the public what they wanted - a fun, glamorous fantasy.

Lucky Fuckers

Mickey Hargitay, a bodybuilder and actor. Jayne married Hargitay in 1958 and had three children with him, including Mariska Hargitay. Their tumultuous relationship and divorce was highly publicized.

Nelson Sardelli, an Italian prince. Jayne had a steamy affair with Sardelli in 1957 that involved late-night rendezvous on his yacht. The tabloids went wild over their passionate fling.

John F. Kennedy, the future US president. Rumors swirled of a romantic liaison between Jayne and JFK in the late 1950s, though there's little evidence to prove an actual affair.

Enrico Bomba, an Italian producer. Jayne caused a stir when she abruptly left Hargitay for Bomba in 1958. Their relationship only lasted a few months before Jayne returned to her husband.

Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan. LaVey claimed he had an affair with Jayne in 1966 and that she planned to join his church. There is no evidence to support his claims, though.

Jayne was an unapologetic siren who lived life on her own terms when it came to men and relationships. Her colorful and scandalous dating history only added to her over-the-top public image in the 1950s and 60s.

The only complaint I have about Jayne is that she died so young. I bet if she were still alive, Jayne would be fuckable as ever. *Cough cough*

Though her tragic death cut her career and life short, Jayne managed to pack a lot into her 34 years. She broke boundaries, challenged conventions, and wasn't afraid to use her assets to get ahead in a man's world.

• One of the sexiest actresses ever
• Did Playboy
• Made it ok to be an outspoken sex symbol

• Died young