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Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic and famous sex symbols of all time. Photo: Howard Frank Archives
A sex symbol is a famous and/or notable person, male or female, who is found sexually attractive by the general audience.
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The film industry played an important part in the rise of sex symbols. It disseminated images of beautiful people around the world, especially[citation needed] during film\'s silent era, when there were no language barriers.
The first sex symbols were Victorian actress and singer Lillian Russell, Danish silent-film actress Asta Nielsen (nicknamed \'The Silent Muse\') and \'It Girl\' Clara Bow in the 1910s and 1920s. Although not seen as a real sex symbol, Lillian Gish (\'The First Lady of the Silent Screen\') became the most popular actress of the era. Theda Bara and Pola Negri, famed for their vamp roles, were also early female sex symbols.
Film\'s Golden Age sex symbols include 1930s stars Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow (the \'Platinum Blonde\'), Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Mae West and Clark Gable. 40s and 50s icons Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Kim Novak, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Mamie Van Doren, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Rock Hudson, Robert Mitchum,Gregory Peck and Cary Grant.
Important 60s and 70s sex symbols included Brigitte Bardot, Ursula Andress, Ann-Margret, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Bouchet, Jane Fonda, Pam Grier, Sophia Loren, Ali MacGraw, Helen Mirren ABC News: Senior Sex Symbols steal the screen, Meryl Streep , Sharon Tate, Raquel Welch, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro and John Travolta.
As TV\'s influence grew during the last three decades there was a slight shift to TV stars becoming more famous, Pamela AndersonThe Sun: Pammi is telly\'s sexiest star, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Carmen Electra, Farrah Fawcett, Valerie Bertinelli, Jennifer Garner, Halle Berry"FHM Readers Name Scarlett Johansson World\'s Sexiest Woman; Actress Tops Voting in FHM\'s 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006 Readers\' Poll", Business Wire, 2006-03-27. Retrieved on 2008-01-01. and Don Johnson, all became sex symbols through TV. Many might argue that within the past few decades, the glamor of modern "sex symbols" has faded since the once elite Hollywood has become more and more accessible to the audience and perhaps stars have become more overtly sexual, as opposed to the classy sex appeal of Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn.[citation needed]
More recent silver screen icons are Angelina Jolie Channel 4 Top 100 Sex Symbols internet poll, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Romijn, Keira Knightley, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Farrell Company Magazine\'s 100 Sexiest Men of 2003. Obtained 6th position. Retrieved on February 28, 2008. , Jake_Gyllenhaal Listed on People Magazine, "50 Most Beautiful People", April 28 2006."Hottest Bachelors of 2006.", People magazine, (November 10 2005), "Ten Things to Love about Jake". Retrieved September 19 2006.Position #1 on Jenson, Michael. (July 23 2007), "The AfterElton.com Hot 100 List", AfterElton. Polling of thousands of gay and bisexual men. Retrieved July 24 2007.People Magazine\'s Top 50 Sexiest Man Alive of 2007 Ranked #8,Matthew McConaughey, Heath Ledger and Jude LawSo just who was it for you last night? Independent, published August 10, 2007 .
1930\'s cartoon character Betty Boop is known as the first and one of the most famous sex symbol on animated screen.Betty Boop - Boop Oop a Doop (1986) from Rotten TomatoesVideo World Is Smitten by a Gun-Toting, Tomb-Raiding Sex Symbol from The New York Times After Betty Boop, Jessica Rabbit, who was voiced by Kathleen Turner, is widely considered as the next biggest animated sex symbol.THE LAST MOVIE STAR from Entertainment Weekly.
Blues musicians were some of the first artists to become sex symbols. Rock n\' roll and pop would follow later on. Some classic example of former or older sex symbols are Madonna, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, Jon Bon JoviJackson, Laura: "Jon Bon Jovi", page 73. Citadel Press, 2004Awarded Sexiest Rock Star by People magazine on 2000, 2002 and 2003 , Prince, Sting, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones, Cher, Grace Slick, Bruce Springsteen, and Rod Stewart set the stage for contemporary examples, such as Kylie Minogue, Nicole S. the star of the Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, RihannaPopsugar: Victoria\'s Secret Thinks Rihanna Is Sexy and Justin Timberlake.
Many models and supermodels are widely known enough to be considered sex symbols. Some of today\'s sex symbols who have become famous as models include Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Gisele BündchenPalmBeachPost.com: Victoria\'s secret Angels Across America Tour[1], Christy Turlington, Ana Beatriz Barros, Laetitia Casta, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Kate Moss Daily Star Sunday: Sexiest womenKate drops out of 100 sexiest. Male models: Chad White Chad White biography in hola.com.
Depending on how wide the term \'general audience\' extends, pornographic film stars might well be included as sex symbols. Jenna Jameson would be an example of one candidate.
Video games have had a few characters that are considered sex symbols, although their fame often does not extend into the mainstream. The most well-known example of this category would be Lara Croft "Boom Raider" Telegraph retrieved 5 March 2008, which has had several appearances in mainstream media. The first Lara Croft model, Nell McAndrew, appeared on Playboy on August of 1999, although the magazine was prevented legally from displaying the name "Lara Croft" next to the model. Lara saved from Playboy.
Other sex symbols with less notoriety in the mainstream include:
Sometimes sex symbols can be people who are not portrayed as beautiful or handsome, but possess other qualities that make them sexually attractive. These people are often highly articulate, inviting, and alluring; they usually have extraordinary communication skills as well. An example is Henry Kissinger during his service in the presidency of Richard Nixon.
Many teen idols are also sex symbols. In particular, boy bands are frequently regarded as sex symbols by adoring fans. The Jonas Brothers are an excellent example of this. Fans frequently focus their attention on a single member of the group, but the entire group is seen as a sex symbol by association. There is often a discrepancy between teen idols and sex symbols. However, where teen idols are sex symbols to the youth audience, "real" sex symbols also appeal to adults, and sometimes appeal to the teenage audience as well.
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