Betty Crocker, a figment of imagination and branding.

Betty Crocker wasn’t a real person.  She is a design and public relations creation.

In 1921, after receiving millions of mailed-in questions following a Gold Medal flour promotion,  Washburn Crosby Co.,(General Mills) created the iconic, but fictitious, Betty Crocker.   

Betty, her persona and kitchen expertise were created to answer consumer questions.

 Betty Crocker’s name derived from the last name of retired General Mills director, William Crocker.  The name Betty was chosen because of its friendly sound.

Betty’s signature transpired from a company contest which asked female company employees to submit handwriting samples, from which Betty Crocker’s signature was chosen. 

To place a friendly face on the persona in 1936, Neysa McCein, a prominent New York artist, was commissioned to create the face of Betty Crocker.  Betty’s face was a combination of educated women working for General Mills at the time.

Although Betty’s face has changed eight times since she was created, her distinguished signature remains the same.

But you know what?  Despite Betty Crocker’s popularity, Julian Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cooking, is still the most popular cookbook of all time.