American Girl in Italy: The story behind the iconic photo episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 19, 2026 · 15 MIN

American Girl in Italy: The story behind the iconic photo

from Q with Tom Power

For 75 years, American Girl in Italy has been one of the world's most famous photographs. The image of a young woman walking through a crowd of men has been interpreted as everything from street harassment to female empowerment. To mark the anniversary, photographer Ruth Orkin's family is releasing a never-before-seen frame captured moments before the iconic shot. Ruth’s daughter, Mary Engel, joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to share the story behind the image, the photo’s surprising Canadian connection, and why her mother was one of the most influential photographers you’ve probably never heard of. 

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 19, 2026

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American Girl in Italy: The story behind the iconic photo

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