Betty Page, one of the most famous pin-up stars in the 1950, passed away on December 11 from pneumonia. She died in Los Angeles, at the age of 85.

Page became famous when she posed for Playboy as Miss January 1955. Her pin-up photos and fetish modeling brought her a huge success, since her image was printed on playing cards. Hugh Hefner himself told the Associated Press that “she was a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society.”

In1957, the former Playboy playmate renounced at her modeling career and turned to religion. Betty reconverted to Christianity and served as a Baptist missionary in Angola. But she was never forgotten; her fame never faded, although for about 20 years she was no longer in the public eye. In the 1980s, she experienced a renaissance regarding her popularity, thus her look was once more considered iconic.

A week ago, the sex symbol of the fifties was hospitalized in intensive care. She was critical condition after experiencing a heart attack and was in coma, a family friend said.

The personal charm of Peggy, who has a 27-year-old secretary when she was discovered, made her capture “the imagination of a generation of men and women with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality,” said her long-time friend and agent, Mark Roesler.

The bondage model even inspired movie directors, so that in February 2004 “Bettie Page: Dark Angel” premiered at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival. One year later, “The Notorious Bettie Page” also made its debut.