30 Stunning Photos of American Supermodel Dovima in the Early 1950s

Born 1927 as Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba in Queens, New York, American supermodel Dovima was discovered on a sidewalk in New York by an editor at Vogue, and had a photo shoot with Irving Penn the following day.

Dovima in the early 1950s

Dovima was reputed to be the highest-paid model of her time, demanding $60 per hour when most of the top models were receiving only around $25 per hour. She became known as the “Dollar-a-Minute Girl.”

Dovima had a minor role as Marion in the film Funny Face. The character was an aristocratic-looking but empty-headed fashion model with a Jackson Heights whine. Throughout the 1960s, she first tried acting then attempted working as an agent but found little success. Eventually, by the 1970s, she had moved in with her parents in Florida, and was working as a hostess at The Two Guys Pizza Parlor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by the 1980s.

Dovima died of liver cancer in 1990, at the age of 62. Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of a young supermodel Dovima in the 1950s.

Dovima in an at-home costume of Celanese duo-tone panne satin by Jane Derby, Vogue, December 1, 1950

Dovima in Dior's ball gown of tulle and velvet embroidered with sparkling flowers, the velvet overskirt hooks on and off, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, December 1950

Dovima in gala evening gown of shapely bodice in brilliant red taffeta over irregular clouds of tulle by Ceil Chapman, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 15, 1950

Dovima in gray embroidered tulle sheath with pink faille sash that falls in wide panel by Balenciaga, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's bazaar, November 1950

Dovima in Pacific Craft Fabric woolen suit trimmed in velvet, hat by Lilly Daché, and brooch by Verdura, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, August 1, 1950

Dovima is wearing Balenciaga's gown of embroidered champagne satin and pale pink tulle, photo by Richard Avedon for Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1950

Dovima is wearing brow-shading bonnet of pale straw with a side blaze of poppies, photo by Clifford Coffin, 1950

Dovima in bouffant silk taffeta skirt with separate square-cut taffeta top by Mollie Parnis, Coro earrings, Hattie Carnegie fan, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, February 1951

Dovima in jersey coat lined incolorful stripes matches the silk surah dress undernetah, bothy by Sportwhirl, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, February 1951

Dovima in linen-rayon cover-up with lace neckline over bathing suit not shown by Carolyn Schnurer, photo by Richard Avedon at the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Thebes, Egypt, Harper's Bazaar, June 1951

Dovima in reversible theatre coat of gunmetal gray and purple Cohama silk shantung by Goldberg-Weissman, satin sandals by Saks Fifth Avenue, Coro jewelry, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, February 1951

Dovima in suit of elasticized wool jersey by Claire McCardell, photo by Richard Avedon at the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Thebes, Egypt, Harper's Bazaar, June 1951

Dovima in a Spring coat of sky-blue, loopy, lacy mixture of wool and rabbit's hair, by Seymour Fox, Panama straw hat by Mr. John, bag by Koret, jewelry by Schlumberger, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, February 1, 1952

Dovima in high-waisted coat in slightly silvered brushed grape wool, the collar is big and set away from the neck, by Ben Zuckerman, hat by John Frederics, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, August 1, 1952

Dovima in rayon-crêpe dress with stand-away turtleneck and fluid bias skirt by Adele Simpson, Monet earrings, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, July 1952

Dovima in spencer jacket of pink grosgrain bands worn over a pink dotted organdy dress puffed over organdy petticoat by Tina Leser, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, April 15, 1952

Dovima in after-five Celanese rayon brocade dress by Carolyn Schnurer, Vogue October 1, 1953

Dovima in confetti print skirt with off-shoulder sweater by Nelly de Grab, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, June 1, 1953

Dovima in perennial favorite, the classic two-button suit in navy Palm Beach cloth by Sacony, orange chiffon head scarf by Mr. John, jewelry by Cartier, Vogue, February 1, 1953

Dovima in red knit halter with cotton skirt by Nelly de Grab, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, June 1, 1953

Dovima in red velvet dress with white rough silk collar and cuffs by Harvey Berin, diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels, lipstick is the new "Red Riding Hood" shade by Max Factor, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1953

Dovima in redingote of Celanese acetate and silk by Pierre Balmain, Vogue, February 1, 1953

Dovima in silk chiffon bare-back dress with diamanté straps by Traina-Norell, coil bracelets by Coro, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, August 1953

Dovima wearing a taupe wool and velvet suit by Ben Zuckerman with a red hat by Jacques Fath, photo by Horst P. Horst used for cover of Vogue, 1953

Dovima, Vogue, September 15, 1953

Dovima in abstract print shirtwaist dress of Celanese surah by Kane-Weill, Vogue, March 1, 1954

Dovima in cotton-silk dress by Adele Simpson, hat by Emme, pearl jewelry by David Webb, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, April 1, 1954

Dovima in wool ensemble and hat by Tatiana du Plessix for Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 15, 1954

Dovima wearing a pink satin shirt with ruby velvet skirt and green belt, photo by Horst P. Horst, September 1954

Dovima wearing white Irish linen blouse banded with lace and batiste, a matching shawl, and a gypsy apron of silk surah, lifted up on one side to expose the linen, lace, and batiste taffeta slip underneath by Traina-Norell, 1954