Jayne Mansfield–Sophia Loren photo  

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The Jayne Mansfield-Sophia Loren photo' (ca.1957/58) [1] is a photo of Sophia Loren eyeing Jayne Mansfield's breasts. The photo was taken by Joe Shere. The photo is part of a series. One of the photos of the series was used on the cover of Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon.

Background

American actress Jayne Mansfield was known for her publicity stunts, including what are now called wardrobe malfunctions. One of the major incidents involved Sophia Loren.

In April 1957, Manfield's breasts were the focus of a notorious publicity stunt intended to deflect media attention from Sophia Loren during a dinner party in the Italian star's honor at the Romanoff restaurant. Photographs of the encounter were published around the world. The best-known photo showed Loren's gaze falling on the cleavage of the American actress (who was seated between Loren and her dinner companion, Clifton Webb) when Mansfield leaned over the table, allowing her breasts to spill over her low neckline and exposing one nipple. The photograph inspired a number of later photographers. The photograph of that episode was a UPI sensation, appearing in newspapers and magazines with the word "censored" hiding the actress's exposed bosom.

The American photographer Joe Shere passed by their table and took the most famous shot of the pair. In the photo, Mansfield smiles up at the camera while Sophia Loren is immortalized staring at Mansfield's décolleté with obvious disdain.

More photos of this occasion

• [2]

Publicity

Fearful of public outrage, most Italian newspapers refused to print the wirephotos; Il Giorno and Gazzetta del Popolo printed them after retouching to cover much of Mansfield's bosom, and only Il Giornale d'Italia printed them uncensored. The photo inspired a number of later photographers.

Re-creations

In 1993, Daniela Federici created an homage with Anna Nicole Smith as Mansfield and New York City DJ Sky Nellor as Loren for a Guess Jeans campaign. Later, Mark Seliger took a picture named Heidi Klum at Romanoff's with Heidi Klum in a reproduction of the restaurant set.This photo was also sent up in the 2014 Modern Family episode "iSpy" with Julie Bowen in Loren's place staring down the chest of Sofia Vergara, who took Mansfield's spot.