Coming across this August 2010 L’Officiel Magazine photo shoot of Lauren Hutton by Sasha Eisenman just now, I was struck by Hutton’s at-ease beauty as a woman approaching 70.

Lauren Hutton Defined Fierce

Checking further one of America’s first top models, the Savannah-born, swamps-in-Florida-raised, original gap-tooth image-maker gave a substantive interview to Oprah on the subject of personal style. Her prescription for how to be true to your own style is consistent throughout her life.

What should we expect from a woman whose indy spirit caused her to break free from a turbulent home life she has described as Faulknerian, join Gloria Steinem working as a bunny at New York’s Playboy Club, retuning south — presumably broke — to work as a big-haired cocktail waitress at Al Hirt’s jazz club in New Orleans, before returning to New York at 21.

Playboy and Prick Power

As a side note, Lauren Hutton says about her three-month gig as a Playboy bunny: It was a good experience because it taught me p—— power.” I assume that TIME blotted out “prick power”. Hutton is known for cussing like a drunken sailor.

When Lauren Hutton arrived in New York, the mannequins of the moment were “European swans—giant, beautiful, perfect girls,” writes Oprah.com.

When Hutton was sent to fabled fashion photographer Richard Avedon, he was dismayed by her inexperience. “He asked me where I came from, what I did. I told him that I ran, played, and jumped in the swamp.” So he got her leaping for the camera. Three months later: 14 pages in Vogue.

The young Hutton, who aspired to be Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, was well on her way to becoming “Jungle Jane of the modeling world, charming a python for Richard Avedon and wrestling, yes, alligators for Helmut Newton”, adds Vogue.com in Voguepedia.

Hers is not your typical girl determined to make it big as a model story. Hutton’s modeling career swung into high gear only after it became clear that her plans to hop a tramp steamer to Africa, as a young woman determined to save endangered elephants would not materialize.

Lauren Hutton’s New York Days

I’m liking this read about Lauren Hutton — who I watched read the total riot act to the folks at Georgio Armani in Milan a few years back — and am struck how the Vogue article in particular captures the spirit of women in New York as the second wave of feminism swept into the spirit of the city.

It was illegal for a single woman to rent a hotel room in Manhattan when Lauren Hutton hit the streets of New York. Reading about her now, I have an idea for AOC readers.