Carmen Electra

I wouldn’t say that Carmen Electra is the most established solo star in Bikini History, but she certainly belongs in the conversation. The two-time Playmate of the Year has been appearing in bikinis since the 1960s and became well known for her curvy figure and sunny attitude. In fact, she was one of the first to adopt the tiny swimsuit trend that eventually became mainstream. She is also famous for her high pitched scream — dubbed the “Electra shriek”— that she used as her signature laugh and cry and has even been used as the signature word of a popular children’s book. In addition to her impressive solo career, Carmen Electra has also had the good fortune to appear alongside legends such as Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner and in films such as What’s New Pussycat? and How to Stuff a Wild Animal.

The Beginnings

It all started in the early 1960s when she was contacted by the Ford Modeling Agency about representing the company’s products. She initially declined, but quickly changed her mind when they told her it was a paid position. That was the beginning of her modeling career and in 1964 she signed with the prestigious Ford agency. The next year, she participated in the historic “Ms. World” contest, but fell short of becoming a finalist. However, throughout the decade, she continued to appear in numerous magazine ads and on magazine covers. Most notably, in 1966 she was featured on the cover of Esquire and in the magazine’s 10 most beautiful women segment. That same year, she starred in her first film, I’d Love to Kiss You Out Loud, alongside future Playboy model Jill St. John. Although the movie is obscure today, it garnered quite the following at the time.

Carmen Electra Meets The Sixties

In the mid-sixties, Carmen Electra met the famous movie producer Irwin Winkler and soon after signed a talent agency contract with his company. It was during this time that she started to appear in popular movies. The first of these was a British import called Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. The movie was a classic World War II tale about aerial battles between the British and Germans. It was a big hit in its day and is considered by many to be one of the best aviation movies of all time. It was also the first of several films that she would appear in with “pancaked” or tight-fitting clothing. While the outfit was extremely risqué at the time, it would become synonymous with Carmen Electra for the entire decade. The movie earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Carmen Electra Meets The Seventies

The seventies were a time of great change for Carmen Electra. She transitioned from a supporting role in movies to the starring one, with hits like What’s New Pussycat? and How to Stuff a Wild Animal. The former is considered one of the greatest sex comedies ever made and is also renowned for its frank discussion of sexual politics. It was released in the United States as Does a Tiger Eat Chickens? In the latter movie, she plays an extremely liberated woman who dares to bare all in front of a camera.

Carmen Electra’s Iconic Screech

One of the most iconic images of Carmen Electra is her unforgettable scream. The moment you hear it, you’ll know exactly who is screaming, even if you don’t watch her show. It wasn’t always like that, though. Her first attempt at a scream didn’t come until she was eleven years old and she had to learn how to do it properly. In the early days of her career, she would often imitate famous actresses, trying to capture their screams. It wasn’t until she was signed to a modeling agency that she started developing her own unique screams. By the time she was 19 years old, she had mastered the art and used it to good effect in her performances. She would go on to use the scream in dozens of films and for television appearances. In almost every case, it was a crucial part of the storytelling, enabling her to convey emotion or act out pivotal scenes. The most iconic moment that she performed with the scream was in those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. When she used it at the end of the movie to trick the Germans into thinking the British were still in the air, it was so perfect that it became immortalized in film history. In the forty years since its original release, the famous “Electra shriek” has been used in hundreds of films and television shows, both here and abroad. It has become such an integral part of her identity that she has started to use it as an advertising gimmick, using it in promotional material and on social media. The image of Electra shrieking into the distance is a symbol of the sixties and has encouraged fans to follow suit, even in their digital lives.

The Eighties: Behind The Curtain

When you think about 1980s popular culture, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the decade’s distinctive fashion and music. However, there was also an aspect of celebrity that was unique to this era. It wasn’t just about following the trends, but about being a part of a new era that would eventually define modern culture. Many stars from that time remain as prominent today as they were 30 years ago, which in some cases, is more than can be said for those who came before them.

One of the most prominent faces from the eighties is undoubtedly that of Tom Cruise. The decade was his, in more ways than one. Not only did he become one of the world’s best-known and most-loved movie stars, he also rose to international fame as a pop culture icon. His status as one of the most recognizable faces in the world was cemented when he appeared on the cover of the Guinness Book of World Records in 1980, for being the most covered celebrity in history. It’s not exactly a record that he holds alone. The actor has appeared on the covers of countless magazines and newspapers around the world and has been the subject of countless documentaries and fan clubs. When he dies in divorce proceedings from Katie Holmes in 2018, it will be one of the greatest tiffs in the history of showbiz. The eighties were also the peak of Elizabeth Taylor’s career, with her starring in numerous successful movies and earning numerous accolades. She continued to appear in films right up until the end, when she was 81 years old. In fact, despite her age, she was still working as late as 2017. The iconic actress has been celebrated for her talent and beauty her entire life, but it wasn’t until the eighties that she found true fame and recognition as a storyteller. She continued to work right up until her death in 2010 at the age of 85.