Model, fashion icon, actress, dancer. Born in Jamaica in 1928, Tessa Prendergast (Welborn) gained notoriety by designing swimwear for the James Bond series in the 1962 movie. "Dr. No.". Tessa created a daring two-piece ivory bikini for actress, Ursula Andress. Unbeknownst to Tessa, her design revolutionized the fashion industry and became of one of Hollywood's most iconic costumes ever. She went on to re-marry and manage an exclusive supper club, Little House Club, until her death in 2001. The Swimsuit design reappeared in another jAMES bOND mOVIE, "Die Another Day" in 2002, cO-starring Halle Barry. A year after tESSA'S DEATH.
ACTRESS, URSULA ANDRESS in "dR. nO" (1962).
Halle Berry in "Die Another Day" (2002), a year after Tessa's death.
tESSA pRENDERGAST IN "hIS mAJESTY o'kEEFE" (1954).