Mudflap girl explained

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 is found on mudflaps, clothing, and other items associated with trucking in the United States.^[1]

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.

Creation

This image was originally believed to be modeled on Leta Laroe, a famous exotic dancer at the time.^{[2] [3]} However, it is more likely that the design is based on Rachel Ann Allen. The design was created by Bill Zinda of Wiz Enterprises in Long Beach, California, to help his friend Stewart Allen in promoting his line of truck and auto accessories.

Popular culture

The image of Mudflap Girl appears in many forms of media. Sometimes it is simply a nostalgic image and other times it is a critical commentary. For example, in the 2023 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.^{[4] [5]}

Variations

There are numerous variations on the original image.

• Chicken – Mudflap Girl as a chicken was used in the Wacky Package "Perdude Chicken", parodying Perdue Farms.^[6]
• Elita One – In issue #4 of the Dreamwave Productions comic , Optimus Prime is portrayed as having a mudflap with the silhouette of Elita One.^[7]
• Flipping Off – The feminist blog Feministing used as its logo an ironic version of Mudflap Girl holding up her middle finger.^[8]
• Megaphone – The "Feministas" protest group in has a similar logo in pink that has Mudflap Girl using a megaphone.^[9]
• Reading – Wyoming Libraries use Mudflap Girl holding a book, in an effort to attract readers.^{[10] [11] [12]}
• Trucker – Silhouette stickers of a chubby male with a beer belly are also available.^[13]

Trademark

Mudflap Girl received a trademark in January of 2010 from registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. ^{[14] [15]} The trademark for the image's use on clothing is owned by Ed Allen, the son of Rachel Ann Allen.

Notes and References

1. Trebay, Guy. "Front Row; Burly Girl Power". The New York Times. 19 August 2003.
2. http://simonroy.blogspot.com/2007/04/mud-flap-girl.html "Mud Flap Girl", simonroy.blogspot.com, April 16, 2007
3. http://www.booshnews.com/2010/03/28/what-i-learned-about-truck-mud-flaps/ What I Learned About Truck Mud Flaps.
4. Web site: Hobson . Louis B. . Hobson's Choice: Religion, showgirls and one-act plays . calgaryherald . Calgary Herald . en-CA.
5. Web site: Calgary Region One-Act Play Festival 2023 . Pumphouse Theatre .
6. Web site: Wacky Packages Topps 6th Series 2007 Sticker: Perdude Chicken – #18 . Wackypackages.org . 2015-12-24.
7. Web site: File:TWW4 ElitaOne.JPG – Transformers Wiki. 2020-11-13. tfwiki.net.
8. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions. Feministing. 27 December 2015.
9. Web site: Feministas – The Infosphere, the Futurama Wiki. 2020-11-13. theinfosphere.org.
10. http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html The Wyoming Libraries Campaign
11. "Library's Mudflap Girl Campaign Turns Heads", by Matt Joyce (AP), Casper Star-Tribune, March 23, 2009.
12. Web site: Wyoming Libraries Mudflap Girl bookmark. https://web.archive.org/web/20101019032631/http://wyominglibraries.org/images/mudflap-girl-bookmark.jpg. dead. October 19, 2010. Wyoming Libraries. August 30, 2010.
13. Web site: Chubby Mudflap Guy Euro Oval – Sexy Mudflap Girl – Window Bumper Locker Sticker. Amazon .
14. Barry . Keith . 2011-04-29 . 'Mudflap Girl' Was This Guy's Mom . en-us . Wired . 2020-11-13 . 1059-1028.
15. Web site: Trademark Registration Number 3742024 . 2020-11-13 . Trademark Status & Document Retrieval (TSDR) . United States Patent and Trademark Office.