Actress and model Vikki Dougan earned her nickname “The Back” due to her penchant for wearing strikingly low-backed dresses that accentuated her figure during the 1950s and 1960s. These distinctive outfits even inspired folk music group The Limelighters to pen a song about her, playfully imploring Dougan to “turn her back” on them.
Dougan’s journey into the spotlight began at age eleven when she started modeling in 1940. By 1948, at the age of nineteen, she had adopted the stage name “Vikki Stappers Dougan” and won the title of New York Skate Queen. This victory propelled her into a unique fashion show hosted by the Roller Skating Institute of America (RISA), featuring cutting-edge roller rink styles.
Dougan’s career soared as she landed roles in various films and appeared in major magazines, including a notable photo feature in LIFE magazine by Ralph Crane. She also modeled in advertisements for lingerie and participated in tasteful photo shoots for Playboy. Her personal life, filled with connections to some of Hollywood’s elite like Frank Sinatra, added to her allure and public fascination.
