How Model Vikki 'The Back' Dougan Inspired An Iconic Animated Character

Richard Williams, the animator behind the groundbreaking 1988 movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" has, per The New York Times, said that his inspirations for the sexy, sultry lounge singer Jessica Rabbit, "the ultimate male fantasy, drawn by a cartoonist," were a variety of classic Hollywood actresses: "I tried to make her like Rita Hayworth; we took her hair from Veronica Lake, and [director Robert Zemeckis] kept saying, 'What about the look Lauren Bacall had?'" While Williams hasn't mentioned Vikki Dougan as an inspiration for Jessica Rabbit, once you know about Dougan and her wardrobe of backless dresses, it's hard not to think about her when considering Jessica Rabbit (above) and her signature red dress with an exceedingly low back.

As noted on the Messy Nessy Chic blog, Jessica Rabbit's habit of wearing that low-backed dress even just to run around Toontown can't help but bring to mind all the photos of Dougan running around Los Angeles in her signature low-backed frocks. Messy Nessy Chic writer Vanessa further notes that Jessica Rabbit's signature phrase, "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way," could also apply to Vikki Dougan, whose persona as "The Back" was drawn up for her by a publicist and, per Dougan herself, "wasn't really me. I was playing a part."

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