The Back. Vikki Dougan for LIFE Magazine, 1957 Dougan was a model, actress, and IT girl that became famous for her daring, extreme low-cut backless dresses. Though she never achieved the lasting fame of Marilyn Monroe and other icons, she had her moment in the spotlight. In the 1950s, Dougan scandalised conservative Hollywood with revealing backless dresses, deliberately contrasting the era's preference for busty stars like Jayne Mansfield. In 1953, publicist Milton Weiss promoted the look to distinguish her from stars like Monroe, dubbing her "The Back." Dougan had actually been modelling and acting for years before her back became the centre of attention. The dresses became her signature, and in 1957 she made headlines at the Golden Globes in a daring backless gown. That same year, LIFE photographer Ralph Crane captured her in Los Angeles, with some images of her walking through Hollywood as men turned to look, cementing her nickname, "The Back."