Hilda By Duane Bryers: The Iconic Pin-Up Girl From The 50s

After I read your comment I went back and looked at all the pictures again. I only saw one clumsy picture. There is one where the diving board breaks, which I think is awful, but that isn't the same as clumsy. There are a lot of pics of her running and jumping though, but they are not clumsy. Maybe you are interpreting them wrong.

Agreed, incredibly stereotypical. But I'm afraid that it was a big thing back then and it needs some more time for that "plus size = clumsy" to vanish in modern days.

Everyone is clumsy sometimes, just some have huge complex admitting it.

So, "plus-size" is a 1980s term, still used today. Hilda was created in the 1950s. Originally, she was called "chubby", but the drawings aren't about her size as much as her sexy, sweet, everyday, farm gal vibe. Hilda in real-life would be average-sized American woman.

I noticed at the top it described her comic as 'clumsy.' I never got that impression. Her hobbies always seem to be in flux, she likes to try new things, she's fearless. Always trying new things means (if you're human) that you're going to screw it up once in a while in your eagerness to get in there and try it out. I never saw it as an insult; never saw it as clumsy. I'm a huge fan of Hilda and all the things I'd read - this was the first time I heard her described like this.

I remember Hilda from her publications days and she's always been a favorite. I never saw her a clumsy, that comes from the mind of this author. On the contrary, if Hilda is somewhat accident-prone, it's seems to be mostly based upon her tendency to daydream. A lot of the time she's frolicking in somewhat dangerous places, often barefoot, and nearly always dressed in something ill-fitting and precarious. Her humanity comes from those paintings where her plans didn't work out the way she wanted, and that's the beauty of the character, she's never afraid to be herself wherever she is and whatever she's doing

I don't see her as clumsy at all! I see her as free and totally happy with herself, not afraid to appear unglamorous or posed. So happy with who she is! She is the most delightful character. Curious, active, creative, joyful, unselfconscious, busy, happy, living a full and happy life. And she is so lusciously sexy and womanly to boot! I want to be like her! I'm slim, but she looks so gorgeous, I'd happily pack on a few kilos to live her life!

Actually if you look there's plenty of "clumsy" skinny girl pins ups too. I can't remember the name of the artist, but there's this one dude who always drew his pin ups with a bunch of celery somewhere in the picture - in a grocery bag, on the counter, etc - and they were constantly getting into situations where their panties would show due to their clumsiness.

If you look at pinups in general you'll see about half of them are 'clumsy' moments. A women with her dress caught on a fence post, another lifting her skirt away from her spilled ink. It was part of the genre - the accidental reveal - not something exclusive to the fact that this subject is larger.

shes more active/adventurous than other pin ups

I have always noticed that very round women & men move very gracefully and dance really well. Always

You're the only one association her weight with clumsy. Should we associate Lucy Ricardo's red hair to her being clumsy? Should we associate Mr. Bean being British with him being clumsy?

Bridgette: it's simply what is written in the introduction ;)