This advertisement features an endorsement from famous diver Mildred O’Donnell, winner of the Metropolitan Senior Championship, the New York State Swimming and Diving Championship, and the National Swimming and Diving Championship. She was known for being both a talented athlete and a blonde beauty. She flies through the air, a vision of health and athleticism, and is shown smoking Camels on land, tying the two together. With this ad, Camel targets young women who look up to O’Donnell as a role model and young men who find her attractive. Additionally, the ad references the “wartime shortage” on cigarettes, which O’Donnell remembers to be “no fun.” The ad claims that “millions” of people realized how wonderful Camels were when they had to take whatever cigarettes they could get during the shortage. This statement normalizes smoking, making it appear as if everyone smokes.
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