When she insured her legs for $1,250,000 in 1937, this movie star became known as "the Girl with the Million Dollar Legs." Who was she?

The movie star famously known as "the Girl with the Million Dollar Legs" was Betty Grable. Her studio, 20th Century Fox, took out an insurance policy on her famed limbs for $1 million, a truly extraordinary sum for the era, which solidified her iconic nickname. This savvy publicity stunt highlighted the immense value placed on her physical appeal, particularly her shapely legs, which were considered perfectly proportioned by hosiery specialists of the time.

Grable's dazzling looks and effervescent personality made her one of Hollywood's biggest stars throughout the 1940s. She became the number-one box-office draw in 1943 and was consistently ranked among the top stars for a decade. Her most enduring image, a pin-up poster from 1943 showing her in a bathing suit looking over her shoulder, became a symbol of hope and home for millions of American servicemen during World War II. This photograph was the most requested pin-up of the war, surpassing other popular actresses.

Her films, often Technicolor musicals, offered much-needed escapism during wartime and showcased her talents as a singer and dancer. Betty Grable's "million dollar legs" were not just a marketing gimmick; they were central to her appeal and a significant part of her legacy as a beloved pin-up queen and a major figure in Hollywood's Golden Age. She once quipped, "I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them."