Dolores Erickson

Dolores Erickson (born September 1, 1935 in Kelso, Washington) is a model and artist. She came to prominence by appearing as a model on a number of album covers, most notably Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965) by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

Early life and modeling

Erickson, the oldest of eight children, was raised first in Port Angeles, Washington, before moving with her family to Seattle, Washington, where she graduated from Cleveland High School in 1954. She started her modeling career at 14 or 15after winning a contest to model for the Seattle department store Frederick & Nelson. In 1954, she won the Miss Maritime beauty pageant, and in 1955 won Miss Greenwood and competed to be Seafair Queen. She was also Miss Longshoreman.

With two fellow Seafair Princesses, future actresses Dorothy Provine and Dyan Cannon, Erickson visted San Francisco, where she found work for Macy's department store, earning $600 weekly at age 19. She left the University of Washington to pursue a modeling career, signing with the Ford Modeling Agency in New York City. Erickson did photo shoots for fashion layouts and for cosmetics companies such as Max Factor, and appeared on 13 or 18 album covers for artists such as The Kingston Trio (Sold Out), Cy Coleman (Piano Witchcraft), Nat King Cole (Wild Love), and The Sandpipers (Guantanamera).