Dovima appeared in the famous 1955 photograph Dovima with Elephants.
Richard Avedon photographed Dovima in an evening dress by Christian Dior between two elephants at the Cirque d’Hiver in Paris. The contrast between the model’s elegant pose, the sweeping black gown and the enormous animals made the image one of the best-known fashion photographs of the twentieth century.
Dovima was a leading model of the 1950s and worked with major photographers and couture houses. Her professional name was formed from the first two letters of each of her three given names: Dorothy Virginia Margaret.
The photograph is sometimes remembered as simply “Dovima with Elephants,” but its full title identifies both the model and the subject. It is especially associated with Avedon’s theatrical approach to fashion photography.