Stunning Portrait Photos of Tedi Thurman as a Model in the 1940s

Born 1923 in Midville, Georgia, Tedi Thurman originally planned to become a painter, studying at the Corcoran Institute in Washington, D. C. Her career plans changed, and she went to New York for modeling. Her first shoot wound up as a Vogue cover, bringing with it many other modeling jobs and some work on television soap operas.

Thurman had film offers, but only one role, in the z-grade 1954 Ed Wood movie, Jail Bait. In 1954, Leopold Stokowski needed an accomplished jew’s harpist for a performance of Charles Ives’ symphony, New England Holidays. Thurman was one of the 22 who auditioned, but she lost the gig to two professional musicians.

Thuram found fame in the 1950s as Miss Monitor on NBC’s Monitor, a 40-hour weekend radio show developed by Pat Weaver. She died in 2012, in her sleep at age 89 in Palm Springs, California. Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of a young Tedi Thurman as a model in the 1940s.

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, August 1, 1945

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, New York, 1945

Tedi Thurman in sweeping dinner dress in a rich illuminated green of Ducharne rayon damask from Henri Bendel, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, September 1, 1946

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, New York, 1946

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, New York, 1946

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, New York, 1946

Tedi Thurman, Tabu the "forbidden" perfume by Dana, Vogue, November 1, 1946

Tedi Thurman in an Avisco rayon weatherproof raincoat with a snug fitting hood by Aquatog, Vogue, October 1, 1947

Tedi Thurman in henna-bright, Stroock's tweed, town-and-country coat with a wide scarf to wear as a hood, sleeves with turned-back cuffs at Bergdorf Goodman, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, November 1, 1947

Tedi Thurman in make-up and hat by John Frederics, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, American Vogue, March 15, 1947

Tedi Thurman in make-up and hat by John Frederics, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, American Vogue, March 15, 1947

Tedi Thurman in romantic dress with full-blown skirt of Celanese synthetic fabric, Harper's Bazaar, February 1947

Tedi Thurman is wearing a white felt bicorne, wide at the sides, banded with a long twist of white chiffon by Antonio Castillo for Elizabeth Arden Fashion Floor, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, January 15, 1947

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, April 15, 1947

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, circa 1947

Tedi Thurman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue US, 1947

Tedi Thurman is wearing a shoulder deep, blue straw hat that leaves the far side close by Madame Paulette, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, March 15, 1949

Tedi Thurman, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, March 15, 1949