I just learned about Audrey Munson, a artist’s model of the early 20th century and sometimes called “America’s First Supermodel.” She was the model for more then a dozen statues in New York City and many more in other cities worldwide, many still around today.
She moved on to film, where she became possibly the first actress to appear nude in a non-pornographic film. Inspiration, from 1915, where she portrayed an artist’s model. Because she didn’t move when undressed, the movie was considered art and passed the censors, though not without controversy. Another actress did the acting, but all the nude scenes were all Munson.
She became enmeshed in scandal in 1919 when a man fell in love with her and murdered his wife to be free. Munson denied any romantic relationship but her modelling career ended about this time, though she still was in the public eye writing newspaper columns.
Sadly, Munson tried to commit suicide in 1922 and was committed to a mental asylum. She was in various asylums until her death in 1996 at age 104.