Fans mourn Farrah

Flowers left by fans at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Flowers left by fans at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Since the news broke yesterday of Farrah Fawcett’s death from cancer, fans have been gathering to place flowers at her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Farrah was one of the most iconic stars of the 1970s, and her red swim suit poster adorned the walls of many childhood bedrooms. The poster sold a staggering 12 million copies, a record not beaten since.

More than a pin-up, Farrah was the ultimate  IT girl and trend setter of the day. Her  hairstyle became the must-have hair do at hair salons across the globe.  I remember looking longingly at the blonde flicked out hairstyle adorning the Jackie magazines of my youth, everyone seemed to have their hair in a Farrah flick. One of the most poignant parts of the documentary, “Farrah’s Story” is when Farrah’s head is shorn of those famous locks. When she finally accepts that her hair is gone she does so with playfulness and determination to move on. “You wouldn’t stop until you got my hair,” she tells her doctor.

Farrah had as many female admirers as male. Indeed it was her famous mane of cascading hair, bubbly personality and winning smile that she will be most remembered for – she was the epitome of the sunshine California girl – a far cry from our world as little girls growing up in 70s Ireland, who dreamed of looking like her. I remember the Charlie’s Angels dolls that were the coveted toy for girls this side of the Atlantic, an ocean away from Hollywood glamour. We never missed an episode of Charlie’s Angels and the debates in the school yard would be on which angel was the most beautiful, Jill Monroe, Sabrina Duncan or Kelly Garrett. It was all so impossibly glamorous in the dull days of our Irish childhood.

Watch ABC7 video of fans tribute at Hollywood Walk of Fame here