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1967

Helen Lansdowne: “The First Female Copywriter” Inducted Into The Advertising Hall of Fame

The first female copywriter, Helen Lansdowne, was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 1967, three years after her death. Her 1911 line “A skin you love to touch” for a soap ad is considered to be the first use of sex appeal in advertising.

Lansdowne is also known for her efforts in improving the overall quality of ads; she hired illustrator Norman Rockwell and photographer Edward Steichen for J. Walter Thompson Co. Her efforts to mentor to women at JWT gave the agency a reputation for being a pro-female environment. Lansdowne is also #14 on Advertising Age’s top 100 Advertising People of the 20th Century.