Mudflap girl

Mudflap Girl is a silhouette of a woman with an hourglass body shape, sitting, leaning back on her hands, with her hair being blown in the wind. The image was created in the 1970s and is found on mudflaps, clothing, and other items associated with trucking in the United States.

The image is also referred to as trucker girl or seated lady. Over the decades there have been many variations upon the original image including women portrayed with different and more diverse body types.

Creation
This image was originally believed to be modeled on Leta Laroe, a famous exotic dancer at the time. However, it is more likely that the design is based on Rachel Ann Allen. The design was created by Bill Zinda of Wiz Enterprises in Long Beach, California, to help his friend Stewart Allen in promoting his line of truck and auto accessories.

Popular culture
The image of Mudflap Girl appears in many forms of media. Sometimes it is simply a nostalgic image and other times it is a critical commentary. For example, in the 2023 production Mudflap Girl by Sya Sen, the image is seen through the eyes of people who have lived in different decades since the inception of the character.

Variations
There are numerous variations on the original image.


 * Chicken – Mudflap Girl as a chicken was used in the Wacky Package "Perdude Chicken", parodying Perdue Farms.
 * Elita One – In issue #4 of the Dreamwave Productions comic Transformers: The War Within, Optimus Prime is portrayed as having a mudflap with the silhouette of Elita One.
 * Flipping Off – The feminist blog Feministing used as its logo an ironic version of Mudflap Girl holding up her middle finger.
 * Megaphone – The "Feministas" protest group in Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder has a similar logo in pink that has Mudflap Girl using a megaphone.
 * Reading – Wyoming Libraries use Mudflap Girl holding a book, in an effort to attract readers.
 * Trucker – Silhouette stickers of a chubby male with a beer belly are also available.

Trademark
Mudflap Girl received a trademark in January of 2010 from registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The trademark for the image's use on clothing is owned by Ed Allen, the son of Rachel Ann Allen.