Painted Pin-Ups Pose For Calendar To Support Vets

cbs ^ | Jun 5, 2008 6:06 pm US/Pacific | Erik Oginski

[BenLurkin]

SLIDESHOW: Look Inside Camouflage Pin-Up 2008 Reporting

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Twelve beautiful women, dressed only in paint brushed on by a world-renowned artist, posed for a 2008 pin-up calendar with the mission to raise awareness and money for wounded veterans and their families.

Model Manuela Mezzadri launched Operation Calendar -- now in its third year -- after visiting with wounded veterans. Mezzadri, moved by what she saw, decided to act.

"Each year Manuela brings a bunch of beautiful women together and she has them body-painted and puts together a beautiful calendar to help support our wounded veterans," said former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant and cover model Michelle Manhart.

For this year's calendar, Camouflage Pin-Up 2008, Mezzadri called upon the services of body painter Filippo ioco and Manhart to produce an artistic swimwear theme.

Honored by the invitation, ioco brought his brushes and paint to the front lines.

"I lend a lot of my artwork to charities, like breast cancer and children with AIDS, so I thought this was something that my artwork could do some good for," ioco said.

He put his skills to work, dressing the models with his unique style of artwork.

"We came up with different ideas for every month; we did bathing suits, corsets, there is a boxer, an evening gown and it is all body-painted with strings, fabric and rhinestones glued on," ioco explained.

Manhart, who appears in the calendar as a retro pin-up girl wearing a painted pink polka dot bikini (and yes, it is teenie weenie), believes the message behind the calendar is important.

"We have a lot of knowledge out there that, unfortunately, we're losing people in our current war," Manhart said. "But people aren't aware that we have so many troops that have returned wounded and that is the goal of the calendar -- to get information out there and to support their financial needs."

Manhart, who retired from the Air Force after a controversial appearance in Playboy magazine, continues to show support for troops.

"About once a month I go see the troops who are on their way to Iraq and just spend the day with them, hanging out, drinking, signing calendars and magazines. Manhart said. "I go to hospitals and visit the wounded veterans there."

Camouflage Pin-Up 2008 can be purchased at operationcalendar.org for $12.99. A portion of the proceeds will go to various charities that support wounded veterans.

For a sneak peak at the calendar, check out the slideshow adjoining this report.

You can also watch my unedited interviews with model Michelle Manhart and artist Filippo ioco on the video player to the right.

If you would like to sponsor the production of the next calendar, you can contact Operation Calendar at info@operationcalendar.org.

[Stoat]

Here kitty kitty.

She appears to be in need of a warm lap to jump up onto  :-)

[Artem55]

Yecch! I find tattoos in general disgusting and those like the ones pictured seem particularly vile.

Not trying to be sexist or misogynistic here, but I have always been very surprised at women choosing to be inked. It seems out of character for most females to apply something so permanent to their skin. Most have many pairs of shoes, handbags, necklaces, earrings, etc. so that they may constantly change the way they look. It would seem the permanence of the tattoo would be off-putting to them from the very start.

On a lighter note, I remember Orson Bean remarking that his wife had considered getting a rose tattooed on her chest. He discouraged her from doing so saying that he could't bear the thought of it become a "long-stemmed rose over the years!"

[mmichaels1970]

BOOKMARKED!....err...I mean...bookmarked

[NavyCanDo]

Very nice, but I prefer the pin ups of the 1940’s and 1950’s.

[peggybac]

I agree. I’ve never cared for tats on women.

[Stoat]

Very nice, but I prefer the pin ups of the 1940’s and 1950’s.

 

 

Lauren Bacall

 

 

Rita Hayworth

 

 

Rita Hayworth

 

 

 

 

 

Betty Grable

[Slings and Arrows]

*drool*

[SolidWood]

You will be indicted for crimes against Humanity and Aesthetics.

[EQAndyBuzz]

It is right about this time someone gives us a picture of Helen Thomas and ruins it for all of us.

[SShultz460]

This is a thread I can get behind

[wideminded]

Lauren Bacall and Harry Truman

[Stoat]

A wonderful picture, thank you for posting :-)

I love the way that the ladies could look so stunning, captivating, sultry, seductive and just maddeningly sexy without taking off their clothes.

[BerryDingle]

And the WW-II classic Betty Grable

On a million wall-lockers and walls

[grjr21]

Mezzadri called upon the services of body painter Filippo ioco

I sure picked the wrong line of work

[Daffynition]

Reminds me of the painted cats ..."M-E-O-O-O-W-S-E-R-S"...............

[cyborg]

I feel sorry for the military wives. Their husbands are being tempted left and right.

[cyborg]

I agree. At least Betty Grable had a swimsuit on!!!

[cyborg]

good grief

[BenLurkin]

You know, I never thought of it that.

Hopefully the single guys are pushed to the front of the crowd for these types of events.

[cyborg]

I hope so too. I go to school with an army wife who hasn’t seen her husband in months. I wish there was a medal for military wives.