"LENA THE HYENA" -I OWE MY BEAUTY TO GMO'S
THE STORY BEHIND THE SHIRT
REMEMBERING BASIL WOLVERTON...
In 1946, Al Capp, in his Lil Abner syndicated cartoon strip, ran a series about the World's Ugliest Woman. So ugly, he could not draw her. The reason was because those that gazed upon "Lena the Hyena" went instantly insane. The response was tremendous. But the public demanded to know what she looked like. A contest was held, judged by Salvador Dali, Boris Karloff and Frank Sinatra. A small prize of $525 ($8,015.30 in 2023) would be awarded to the winner. There were over 500,000 entries. The winner was Basil Wolverton (he entered seven versions). It was first published in the October 28, 1946 issue of Life Magazine, instantly catapulting Wolverton from an obscure cartoonist to national fame. Lena the Hyena, faded from the scene, but was not forgotten. Her image has turned up from time to time, even today, over 70 years later. The original drawing was in pen and ink. Some may remember her appearance in Mad Magazine back in the 1950's. This is a color version created in Photoshop from R Will Young's pen and ink rendition of Basil Wolverton's work. Created in honor of the memory of Basil Wolverton (1909-1978), the inspiration for many artists worldwide.
• 50% pre-shrunk cotton, 50% polyester
• Fabric weight: 8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)
• Air-jet spun yarn with a soft feel and reduced pilling
• Double-lined hood with matching drawcord
• Quarter-turned body to avoid crease down the middle
• 1 × 1 athletic rib-knit cuffs and waistband with spandex
• Front pouch pocket
• Double-needle stitched collar, shoulders, armholes, cuffs, and hem
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Mexico, or Nicaragua
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
