Betty Brosmer was the embodiment of the iconic “hourglass figure,” a term that could’ve been coined with her in mind.
Celebrated as the highest-paid pin-up model of the 1950s, she also holds her place in history as one of the world’s first true supermodels.
Her striking image appeared in major publications including LIFE, Time, Fortune, and Look.
In a pioneering move for the modeling industry, she became the first model to retain ownership of many of her photos and negatives—setting a powerful precedent for future generations.
Note: Prints of these pictures can be purchased via Betty’s official site: bettybrosmer.com.
Yet, despite her remarkable career, one feature consistently stole the spotlight: her astonishingly tiny waist—earning her the nickname, “The Girl with the Impossible Waist.”
Her waistline defied logic, appearing more like a sculptor’s fantasy than a natural figure.
With measurements that pushed the boundaries of human proportion, her surreal silhouette became a subject of endless fascination and debate.
Betty Chloe Brosmer was born on August 2, 1935, in Pasadena, California, and grew up something of a tomboy.
Encouraged by her father, she played sports and developed an early passion for bodybuilding—well before most girls her age gave it a thought.
By 13, Betty was already modeling for Sears & Roebuck, catching the attention of legendary pin-up artists like Alberto Vargas and Earl Moran. Just two years later, at age 15, she moved to New York to pursue modeling full-time.
The Big Apple brought fast fame—and forced maturity. “At 15, I looked like I was 25,” Betty once said of those whirlwind years.
Soon, her image was everywhere: on billboards, book covers, milk cartons, and the pages of countless magazines across America.
Eventually, she returned to California, balancing her modeling career with psychology studies at UCLA.
In 1993, she teamed up with Joyce Vedral to create a multi-generational women’s fitness program, which they published as Better and Better.
Betty worked with renowned photographer Keith Bernard, whose lens had also captured legends like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.
Though Playboy invited her to pose, she stood her ground and declined to go nude—proving early on that she knew her value. Betty retained ownership of her photographs and earned royalties every time they were published, a rare move in that era.
In the late 1950s, she crossed paths with Joe Weider, a prominent bodybuilder and magazine mogul. Captivated by Betty, Weider frequently featured her in his publications, and the two married in 1961.
That partnership sparked a new passion for Betty: fitness. She began writing columns on health and bodybuilding, advocating for strong, healthy representations of women on magazine covers.
Together, the couple co-authored two influential fitness books—The Weider Book of Bodybuilding for Women (1981) and The Weider Body Book (1984).