Jessica Rabbit is a famous character from the 1988 movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit. She is the wife of Roger Rabbit, a cartoon rabbit who is framed for a crime he did not commit. Jessica Rabbit is a glamorous and attractive woman who has a red dress, red lips, and red hair.
Many people are fascinated by Jessica Rabbit and her appearance. But did you know that she is based on a real woman who lived in the 1950s? Her name was Vikki Dougan and she was an actress and a model who had a unique style.
Who was Vikki Dougan?
Vikki Dougan was born in 1929 in Brooklyn, New York. She started her career as a model when she was 15 years old. She appeared on several magazine covers and advertisements. She also tried to become an actress and had some minor roles in movies and TV shows.
Vikki Dougan had a distinctive feature that made her stand out from other models and actresses. She wore dresses that had very low backlines that exposed her entire back. She was nicknamed “The Back” by the media and the public.
How did Vikki Dougan become “The Back”?
According to a 1957 article, Vikki Dougan’s publicist Milton Weiss came up with the idea of creating “The Back” persona for her. He wanted to draw attention to her and make her more famous. He hired a designer to make three custom-made dresses for her that had no backs. He also gave her the nickname “The Back” and told her to wear the dresses to events and parties.
Vikki Dougan followed his advice and wore the backless dresses on various occasions. She caused a sensation among the photographers and the reporters who saw her. They took pictures of her and wrote articles about her. Some of the headlines were: “Vikki Dougan has the best outings in town.”
Vikki Dougan’s style was very daring and provocative for the 1950s. Some people admired her for being bold and confident. Others criticized her for being vulgar and inappropriate. Some movie studios banned her from attending their premieres because they thought she was too distracting.
Vikki Dougan did not seem to mind the controversy. She even posed for Playboy magazine in 1957. She said that she liked wearing backless dresses because they made her feel comfortable and free.
However, Vikki Dougan’s style did not help her achieve success as an actress. She did not get any major roles or offers from Hollywood. By 1959, she faded away from the spotlight and stopped working as an actress and a model.
Vikki Dougan may have been forgotten by many people, but not by the creators of Jessica Rabbit. They used her as a reference for designing the character’s appearance and personality.
Jessica Rabbit has a similar red dress, red hair, and red lips as Vikki Dougan. She also has a low backline that shows her back. She is a glamorous and attractive woman who attracts many men with her looks.
Jessica Rabbit also has a famous line in the movie where she says: “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way.” This could be a nod to Vikki Dougan’s situation where she was “designed” by her publicist to be a “dangerous” and “forbidden” type of woman who aroused the curiosity and desire of men.
Jessica Rabbit is one of the most iconic characters in animation history. She is based on a real woman named Vikki Dougan who lived in the 1950s. Vikki Dougan was an actress and a model who wore backless dresses that made her famous as “The Back”. She inspired the creators of Jessica Rabbit to design a character that was glamorous, attractive, and controversial.
