Chili Williams

Marian Uhlman She also posed for photographs, one of which was seen by New York glamor artist Earl Moran.

In issues that followed, Life published letters from soldiers asking for copies of the photograph. Finally, Life published a full-page copy of the famous photograph in its November 22, 1943, issue. The magazine noted that, since the photograph first appeared in the September 27 issue, Williams "has become the No. 1 pin-up girl of the U. S. armed forces."

Syndicated newspaper columnist Earl Wilson wrote in December 1943 that "the picture that caused all this rumpus" showed Williams "popping prominently out of a pair of polka dot bathing pants and a form-fitting polka dot bra." Wilson noted that, while others had been described as the No. 1 Pin-Up Girl, Williams was "the No 1 No. 1 Pin-Up Girl." Among the letters was an official communication from the crew of the submarine USS Trigger asking her to accept the title of "Trigger Girl".

During the height of her popularity in late 1943, Williams was seen dining regularly with South American playboy and billionaire Jorge Guinle. The pair were regulars at the Stork Club, El Morocco, and the swing clubs of 52nd Street. The Army stated in an official release that, by using images of Williams, "vital principles are impressed in the minds of camouflage students in a most effective manner."

In 1948, Williams was the grand marshal of a parade in San Mateo, California, while riding on a polka-dotted horse.

In 1969, The Baltimore Sun wrote:

Undoubtedly, the two most famous pin-up pictures of the war (the war) were the one of Betty Grable looking back over her shoulder at the camera, and the one of Chili Williams in a two-piece polka dot bathing suit. By today's standards the pictures were puritanical. But though unrevealing, they were sexy in a way that today's Playboy type pinup will never be. The fold-out bunnies were objects and Betty and Chili were people.

Acting career In 1944 Williams had a role in the film Having Wonderful Crime, which the Los Angeles Times noted was her first film. While she acted in multiple films, she was not known for her work in movies.

Family and later years Williams's first marriage ended in divorce. She then married John Uhlman, a corporate public-relations representative, in 1954. They operated a dress shop in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the 1950s. She had a daughter, Amy, and a son, Cary. Williams and her husband later moved to Garden Grove, California. Interviewed in 1977 for a "where are they now?" story, she said:

My life is much happier and fulfilled now. The glamor life was fun, but I was never very happy in that business. Otherwise, I haven't changed much.

I still wear the same size – 10 or 12 – and I have a few character lines on my face. I wear a bikini at the beach sometimes. I'm always going to the ocean; it's in my blood. I still feel I am the same person in that picture.

Williams died in California in 2003. 1944 Office worker uncredited Girl Rush 1944 Girl uncredited The Falcon in Hollywood 1944 Beautiful blonde uncredited Having Wonderful Crime 1945 Blonde in polka dots 1945 Goldwyn girl 1945 Showgirl uncredited Johnny Angel 1945 Redhead uncredited Copacabana 1947 Copa girl with Sobel uncredited Raw Deal 1948 Marcy uncredited Where the Sidewalk Ends 1950 Teddy uncredited Frenchie 1950 Dealer 1952 Guest uncredited A Girl in Every Port 1952 Car hop uncredited The Lusty Men 1952 Bit part uncredited Captive Women 1952 Second captive