'50s icon Bettie Page dies, aged 85

Former Playboy model and '50s pin-up Bettie Page has died at the age of 85.

Her agent Mark Roesler confirmed that she passed away from pneumonia yesterday in Los Angeles. Page was admitted to an LA hospital in early December and fell into a coma after suffering a heart attack.

Page rose to stardom after appearing as Playboy's Miss January 1955. Described as one of the world's most photographed women, her image later appeared on playing cards, record albums and bedroom posters.

She vanished into obscurity in the '60s after turning to religion, but experienced a resurgence in popularity in the '80s thanks to the publication of several books including her photographs.

In an interview with Playboy last year, Page said: "Most of the money I've got is because I posed in the nude. So I'm not ashamed of it now, but I still don't understand it."