Most Expensive Legs in the World
While her movies made her famous, it was one photograph that made her immortal. Taken by studio photographer Frank Powolny in 1943, the image of Betty in a one-piece swimsuit, glancing coyly over her shoulder, became the most circulated pin-up of World War II.
That image was more than glamour — it became a symbol of home, normalcy, and beauty for millions of American soldiers fighting overseas.
Grable’s smile carried comfort to the trenches, and her popularity soared. She was voted the number one pin-up girl of the war, an honor she accepted with humility and pride. By the mid-1940s, Betty Grable was the highest-paid woman in America. She earned more than $300,000 a year — an extraordinary figure for the time — and her films consistently topped the box-office charts. She was also among the few stars who maintained a wholesome image while radiating undeniable glamour.
