Marilyn Monroe

Endlessly idolised, mawkishly mourned (Elton John spoiled it all) blonde bombshell of the black and white era. More likely to inspire gay role models than lookalike women, at least since the 'Fifties ended. Although reportedly a curvy size sixteen (American measurements, actually just over a British twelve), a bewitching screen personality, all wide-eyed innocence and breathy exasperation, did most of the work.

Additional points for a) will now never get any older and, b) carried an air of the tragic ("It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone - so far" - all households should own a copy of In Her Own Words), desperately trying to be accepted as a serious actress. Her perfect role was as Sugar Kane in Some Like It Hot, playing sexy and funny, but with sadness and resignation bubbling under the surface. A winning combination.

Monroe is also rightly famed as the world's most photographed woman (stylish student walls apply the Chanel No 5 advert, though any poster which prints the name of the subject - and one of the world's most instantly recognisable icons, to boot - should be avoided). All the more reason to keep looking. Plus, she went for geeky men; imagine if she'd been born in the Internet age, eh? Now that's a tragedy.