"Vargas Girls" refers to the iconic pin-up art created by Peruvian-American artist Alberto Vargas, particularly his work for Esquire magazine during the 1940s. These paintings are instantly recognizable for their idealized depictions of women and became a popular part of American culture, even inspiring nose art on American aircraft during World War II. After leaving Esquire, Vargas continued his career with Playboy magazine, creating 152 pieces of art for the magazine over the 1960s and 1970s.