Mahalo! Madonna Does Hawaii

Over the last 28 years, she's been so many women that it's difficult to put them all together. But here, Madonna's Hussy Sex Bomb incarnation was superbly photographed by Herb Ritts in Hawaii ~ at the height of Like a Virgin's success.

Living in pop culture's Madonna Aftermath - it's hard to remember the furor she caused just wearing her innate sex. The Gloria Steinem feminists were horrified, saying she was setting women back 25 years. Seems tame now - throes of ecstasy, nipples and all - but you can still feel it.

Two of these shots were featured in Rolling Stone's Summer Style section in May 1985.

Sex Kitten

^ this photo was sold at The Virgin Tour as a huge poster.

^And, of course, the one they used for the inaugural Spin Magazine's May 1985 issue where they left the black sand on her face is my preferred one.

Madonna + Beach = Sex.

Bask in the Beauty

That hair, that crucifix, that face. Perfect.

Angel

In disguise, I can see it in your eyes!!!

I love Angel, the 3rd single from the Like a Virgin album. There was supposed to be a video for it but MTV said they couldn't add another Madonna video to their playlist. There were too many already! They were playing Virgin, Material Girl, Into the Groove, Crazy For You and Gambler and others from the first album. Of course, it would have been fabulous to have a video of Angel, but in some ways I'm glad there isn't. The song isn't tainted by a visual, it stands on it's own. And, it's brilliant.

The Boys of Summer - Rolling Stone - May 9, 1985

One of my all-time favorite photo shoots of Madonna by Herb Ritts.

The Blue Madonna

Giving Whore Face in Hawaii (1985)

Bella Donna

All We Want For Xmas is Our Leopard Print, Our Leopard Print, See Our Leopard Print.

That's all we wanted.  On anything.
Madonna in her Norma Kamali bathing suit, head wrap and Boy Toy Belt Buckle in Hawaii - 1985.

The French Twist

leopard madonna