Eleanor Kay Kinner Curtis,
a Utah Deaf Model
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2019
Updated in 2024
Published in 2019
Updated in 2024
Author's Note
Eleanor Kay Kinner Curtis, affectionately known as "Kay," is my aunt-in-law through marriage. She was the first Deaf model in Utah and the United States, a groundbreaking and courageous achievement. Standing at 5'10" and slender, she embodied her unique fashion sense and creativity. Her outfits were not only stunning but also a testament to her keen eye for fashion. Kay's daughter, Rebecca Curtis Larsen, a Child of Deaf Adults, believes that her mother's potential in the modeling and fashion industries would have been boundless if she could hear.
Kay's love for posing for photographs was not just about showcasing her beauty but also a reflection of her passion and joy for modeling. During her senior year at the Utah School for the Deaf, Kay posed for Auerbach's department store, one of Ogden, Utah's most significant clothing stores. She also posed for many photos at Collins/Morris Photography while showcasing various outfits. In April 1953, the Utah School for the Deaf published the Utah Eagle magazine, which featured Kay on its front cover, as shown below.
Rebecca shared that discrimination, especially in pressuring Deaf people to choose 'unlikely' jobs, was widespread during the 1940s and 1950s. Being a woman in Utah would have been an additional challenge. If Kay were a graduating senior today, Rebecca believes she would have had more opportunities to pursue a career in modeling (Rebecca Curtis Larsen, personal communication, March 11, 2019). Despite these obstacles, Kay's resilience and talent are evident in the photos of her wearing 1940s and 1950s attire, demonstrating her ability to overcome challenges and thrive in the face of adversity.
Kay had a Deaf twin brother, Kenneth L. Kinner, as shown in the pictures below. He was as attractive as Kay. I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures as much as I do. Thank you for taking an interest in this topic.
Enjoy!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Kay's love for posing for photographs was not just about showcasing her beauty but also a reflection of her passion and joy for modeling. During her senior year at the Utah School for the Deaf, Kay posed for Auerbach's department store, one of Ogden, Utah's most significant clothing stores. She also posed for many photos at Collins/Morris Photography while showcasing various outfits. In April 1953, the Utah School for the Deaf published the Utah Eagle magazine, which featured Kay on its front cover, as shown below.
Rebecca shared that discrimination, especially in pressuring Deaf people to choose 'unlikely' jobs, was widespread during the 1940s and 1950s. Being a woman in Utah would have been an additional challenge. If Kay were a graduating senior today, Rebecca believes she would have had more opportunities to pursue a career in modeling (Rebecca Curtis Larsen, personal communication, March 11, 2019). Despite these obstacles, Kay's resilience and talent are evident in the photos of her wearing 1940s and 1950s attire, demonstrating her ability to overcome challenges and thrive in the face of adversity.
Kay had a Deaf twin brother, Kenneth L. Kinner, as shown in the pictures below. He was as attractive as Kay. I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures as much as I do. Thank you for taking an interest in this topic.
Enjoy!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Eleanor Kay Kinner poses
for pictures at the Utah School
for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah
for pictures at the Utah School
for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah
Eleanor Kay Kinner poses for
clothing catalogs as a model
clothing catalogs as a model
Note
Rebecca Curtis Larsen, personal communication, March 11, 2019.