Barbara Mullen the American model

Barbara Mullen, Le Pavillon, New York, for Harper’s Bazaar. photo by Lillian Bassman, 1950

Profile

Born in the 1920s, Barbara Mullen has been one of the greatest models of the 40s-60s, her image has been captured by almost all of the greatest fashion photographers of the 20th century. And yet, little is known about her, not even a birth date, and a label of "The replacement girl" given by photographer Lilian Bassman who has best captured her mysterious quality, is forever sticked to her. Her name appears only like a footnote in the story of other models of her time from Barbara Goalen to Twiggy.

After retiring from model career, Barbara Mullen moved to Switzerland, where she has had her own boutique, written for fashion magazine, and lived a quiet and undisturbed life, what Switzerland is famous for.

Barbara Mullen for Vogue, 1952

Barbara Mullen in silk organdie evening dress, photo by Lillian Bassman, 1956

Barbara Mullen in dress by Claire Mccardelle, photo by Horst. P. Horst

Barbara Mullen, photo for Vogue by Norman Parkinson, India, 1956

Barbara Mullen, Vogue April 1, 1957

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Further interest

​Articles

Where is she now? Barbara Mullen, the misfit model of the 1950s

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The Story of The Replacement Girl: John-Michael O'Sullivan Speaks About Model Barbara Mullen

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Celebrating one of the greatest models of the 20th century: the Barbara Mullen biography

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Book

The Replacement Girl: A Life in 24 Frames
By John-Michael O'Sullivan

​A biography of Barbara Mullen, one of the twentieth century's great fashion models