Mudflap Girl is a silhouette of a woman with an hourglass body shape, sitting, leaning back on her hands, with her hair being blown in the wind. The image was created in the 1970s and was popularized on mudflaps. Subsequently, it went on to new featured on other trucking in the United States accessories as well as on clothing, jewellery, and personal accessories.

Creation

This image was originally believed to be modeled on Leta Laroe, a famous exotic dancer at the time. However, it is more likely that the design is based on Rachel Ann Allen, created by Bill Zinda in Long Beach, California, for his friend Stewart Allen.

Popular culture

The image of Mudflap Girl appears in many forms of media. Sometimes it is simply a nostalgic image on clothing or in jewellery and other times variations of the image are used for fun or a critical commentary. Heather Joseph-Witham, a folklorist who teaches at Otis College of Art and Design and who has also debunked urban legends for Mythbusters Asked "Regardless of the precise truth of the narrative, the important issue here is: Why is this image so ubiquitous?". To her, the Mudflap Girl is quintessentially American. "Why do so many people feel the need to display it? What does it say about us?" It can also be seen in popular media. In the 2023 stage production Mudflap Girl by Sya Sen, the image is seen through the eyes of people who have lived in different decades since the inception of the character. This includes a 1970s trucker, a 1980s homemaker, a 1990s feminist, a 2000s pragmatist, a 2010s cynic, and a 2020s optimist. The show also features the character of Mudflap Girl herself.

Variations

The image is also referred to as trucker girl or seated lady. Over the decades there have been many variations upon the original image including women portrayed with different and more diverse body types. There are numerous variations on the original image including:

History

The image is Rachel Ann Allen, mother of Ed Allen, whose father popularized the image. Mudflap Girl received a trademark in January 2010 from registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The image commonly appears on clothing and jewelry as well as stickers and decals.