Farrah Fawcett chose the red one-piece swimsuit from her closet, instead of a two-piece bikini, to conceal a scar on her stomach (from a childhood incident). Fawcett also did her own hair and makeup, and the shoot was done in the backyard of the home she shared with her then-husband, Lee Majors.
The iconic swimsuit is on display at the Smithsonian. It also served as the inspiration for the red swimsuits worn by the cast of Baywatch.