The dictionary defines Bombshell as a “strikingly sexy woman,” and although the origin of the phrase is unknown, it dates at least as far back as the 1933 Jean Harlow film, The Blonde Bombshell. But perhaps no era was as stacked with bombshells as the good ol’ 1970s. These are the women that turned many of us into men. Whether they were posters on a dorm room wall, beaming into our living rooms on the TV, or splashed across the silver screen, these were the girls of our dreams.

Today we’re looking back at the top ten bombshells from the bombshelliest decade of them all, the 1970s! Which one of these talented women was your favorite? Let us know if we missed any! Alright, let’s revisit some bombshells.

1. Lynda Carter

In knee-high red boots, a skimpy leotard, and golden crown, Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman was one of the most recognizable stars of the late 1970s. Winner of the 1972 Miss World USA title, it was no surprise that Carter, with her piercing blue eyes and an almost Amazonian physique, was chosen to portray America’s foremost female superhero. By crushing supervillains, saving the world, and looking fantastic every week, Carter lassoed the hearts and minds of men all over America. After Wonder Woman ended in 1979, Carter’s career was more uneven, mainly consisting of guest appearances and musical specials.

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In the early 2000s, she had a resurgence with roles in the cult-classic Super Troopers, and along with ample video game voice work, she doesn’t stray too far from superheroes. She’s made appearances in Smallville and Supergirl on the CW. Be sure to look out for the film, The Cleaner that’s in post-production which stars Carter and Cheers star, Shelley Long. But no matter the ups and downs, the world will always remember her for one role. Whether it was flying an invisible jet or blocking bullets with her wrists, Lynda Carter was certainly an amazing ’70s bombshell.

2. Stevie Nicks

While Stevie Nicks might not be the first name to pop into your head when thinking about ’70s bombshells, she more than deserves to make this list! Nicks joined the band, Fleetwood Mac, in 1975, soon helping to propel them to the top of the charts with songs like “Rhiannon” and “Dreams.” 

Her self-described “gypsy bohemian” style, doe-like eyes and bewitching good looks, combined with her songwriting prowess and vocal talents, were central components in her success fronting one of the best selling rock bands of all time. In fact, Nicks was so alluring that the band almost broke up when, while dating guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, she had an affair with drummer Mick Fleetwood.  Nicks went on to have a fantastic solo career as well, and in 2019 became the only woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice! Gorgeous and talented, what a bombshell!

3. Farrah Fawcett

No list of ’70s bombshells could ever be complete without the incomparable Farrah Fawcett. A model and commercial actor in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, Fawcett’s life was changed when she did a photoshoot for Pro Arts in a red one-piece swimsuit. The resulting poster, with Fawcett’s impeccable blonde, feathered hair, and an almost impossibly huge smile, was an instant smash, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. This success led to Fawcett receiving her most memorable role, as Jill Munroe in TV’s Charlie’s Angels.

Although she left the show after only one season, her impact on popular culture was secure, with the “Farrah Flip” hairstyle remaining popular throughout the next decade. Fawcett continued to act, and never lost her fabulous good looks, even appearing in Playboy in 1997 at the age of 50! Sadly, Fawcett died from cancer in 2009 at the age of 62, but her bombshell legacy will always be remembered, with her iconic red swimsuit even being enshrined in the Smithsonian in 2011.

4. Christie Brinkley

Our next bombshell is Christie Brinkley, one of the most famous supermodels of all time. With wavy, sun-drenched blonde hair, riveting blue eyes, and an infectious smile, Brinkley was the epitome of a Southern California surfer girl.

Looking born to wear a swimsuit certainly worked out for her, as in the late ’70s she was on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition an unprecedented 3 times in a row! Brinkley also dabbled in acting, appearing in the ’80s as the iconic ‘girl in a red Ferrari’ in National Lampoon’s Vacation and in music videos made by her one-time love interest Billy Joel. Later, she had a role as the inexplicably attractive wife of doofus Jerry Gergich on the TV show Parks and Recreation.

Brinkley’s intoxicating good looks never faded, and she once again re-graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2017 at the age of 63, and she continues to stun till this day. This woman seriously does not age. 

5. Pam Grier

Bombshell doesn’t even begin to describe this next lovely lady on our list. A more apt description for Pam Grier might be the atom bomb because she would explode onto the screen with incredible force! Grier was the star of mid-’70s blaxploitation hits as Coffy and Foxy Brown. In these films she would kick butts, bust perps, take names, and look ravishing the entire time. Roger Ebert described her as having an incredibly “beautiful face, and astonishing form.” When you’re able to blow one the country’s most respected film critics out of the water, you know your status as a bombshell is secure!

After her run of ’70s hits, Grier continued to act. Who could forget her in Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece Jackie Brown, in 1997, acting alongside other screen legends, Robert De Niro, and Samuel L. Jackson? She also completed six seasons of the Showtime show, The ‘L’ Word. And, most recently, you could check Pam out in the TV series, Bless This Mess, where she shows off her comedic chops. We’ll always remember the bold ’70s, Pam Grier, in our hearts though!

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The post 1970s Bombshells, Then And Now appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Jane Kenney