Famous Flappers
The women below were superstars during the 1920's. Some of them are the hottest actresses in Hollywood, while others were famous for other reasons. They all shared one thing though; they severed as role models and inspiration across the county for young women who wanted to be a flapper. Through their appearance and lifestyle they showed the public what it was like to be a flapper, and helped to create the image of the stereotypical flapper.
Clara Bow
- Born in Brooklyn, she grew up poor
- Was discovered by Hollywood agents when she won a beauty pageant
- Was known as the "It Girl" of the 1920's
- Was the most famous flapper of the 1920's
- From beauty to charm, she had the "It Factor"
Louise Brooks
- Born November 14, 1906
- Began her career as a dancer
- The Screen of Forgotten Men, was her first screen role
- She is most known for her role in Pandora's Box
Zelda Fitzgerald
- Born in Montgomery, Alabama on July 24, 1900
- She began dancing ballet in 1917
- Was the muse of the Jazz Age
- Married to F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Was Scott's personal inspiration
- She had been diagnosed with schizophrenia
- Could no longer dance so she turned to writing
Colleen Moore
- Born August 19, 1899
- Her real name is Kathleen Morrison
- Her first real acting job was in the silent film, The Bad Boys which premiered in 1917
- In her acting career she took on many roles portraying flappers in the 1920's
- Became known as the "Flapper Queen" in Hollywood
- To read an article that she shared her feelings about flappers and her lifestyle visit our section about articles published about flappers under Flapper Literature.
Joan Crawford
- Born March 23, 1905
- Began her career as a traveling dancer
- Signed with Broadway to be a chorus girl
- Played roles dealing with "Rags to Riches" titles
- F. Scott Fitzgerald commented, "Joan Crawford is doubtless the best example of the flapper, the girl you see at smart night clubs, gowned to the apex of sophistication, toying iced glasses with a remote, faintly bitter expression, dancing deliciously, laughing a great deal, with wide hurt eyes. Young things with a talent for living.”