Babette March (born 1941), pronounced Marx, born Barbara Marchlowitz, formerly Babette Russell, or simply Babette,[1] who is now known by the name Babette Beatty,[2] was the first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issuecover model.[3][4][5] She was on the swimsuit issue cover of the January 20, 1964, issue.[6] This has been credited with making the bikini a legitimate piece of clothing.[7]
She started modelling in early 1962, beginning with a shoot for Weekend Magazine.[citation needed] By 1963 she was working for leading fashion magazines.[citation needed] She moved to a Park AvenueNew York City apartment; eventually, she and her boyfriend settled in New York City.[9][10]
According to a Sports Illustrated retrospective and other corroborating sources,[specify] in her prime, she was the "highest-paid model of her day" while working for Ford Models.[1][failed verification][9] In the mid-1960s, she was earning $85,000 a year.[10]Eileen Ford describes March as the first elite photographic model that she recalls with gapped teeth.[11] She was known for living the high life and for partying with the likes of Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol.[2][12]
After modelling
In 1976, she retired from modelling, then moved to a 54-acre (22 ha) farm outside Montreal where she raised pedigreed cattle, 40 sheep, 80 chickens and ducks, three horses, 14 dogs, and 18 cats.[1][12] She then married Dale Beatty, an architect, and settled in Halfway, Oregon, where she and her husband opened a bakery, restaurant, and art gallery.[12] She has become a highly regarded chef, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.[13] Her renovation, restoration and rejuvenation of the landmark bed & breakfast, art centre, bakery and restaurant was featured on a 30-minute Home & Garden Television channel show.[14] Her art work has been featured on the label of a line of wines.[15]
^Hoover, Elizabeth D. (2006-07-05). "60 Years of Bikinis". American Heritage Inc. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
