I only modeled once in my life, but millions of people have seen my picture - I'm proud of it 30 years on

MILLIONS of people have seen the work of an iconic model, even though she only posed for one image during her entire life.

The model’s successful career can be credited to Michael Deas, the New Orleans artist who had a vision and knew, at first sight, that she was the one to make it real.

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The model is Jenny Joseph. And the image is the logo for the film production company Columbia Pictures.

Joseph stands as Columbia herself, the personification of America, dressed in a gown while holding a torch atop a pedestal.

She may be the most widely seen yet unknown model to date.

Joseph was the first image many people have seen at the beginning of some of their favorite movies.

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Deas was looking for the perfect woman to use as his muse for the artwork he was commissioned to paint by Columbia Pictures to create its new logo in 1992, per his interview with WWLTV.

The artist explained he interviewed several models, but no one seemed right – until he met Joseph.

Joseph was 28 years old at the time she modeled for Deas.

Deas was introduced to Joseph through a mutual friend and she was working as a graphic designer at The Times-Picayune when they first met.

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“And he said, 'I have the right person for you, and she works here at the paper.' And I was like OK and then I saw Jenny and thought, 'She's the one,'' Deas explained.

It was love at first sight.

So much so that Deas wanted to start immediately and asked Joseph to help him on her lunch break.

Joseph quite literally grabbed a sheet, wrapped it around herself, then held up a lamp in the office so Deas could get his inspiration right then and there.

“So, we just scooted over there come lunchtime and wrapped a sheet around me and held a regular little desk lamp, a side lamp,” Joseph told WWLTV.

“And just held that up and we did that with a light bulb.”

Joseph was pregnant at the time as well and is proud to say her daughter can claim she was there too.

Although her modeling experience with Deas accounts for the first and last time she ever posed professionally.

After Deas got his outline at the office, he spent two months day and night finishing up the painting to make it look like how everyone recognizes it today.

Columbia Pictures has used Michael Deas' painting for its logo for 20 years.

"You never know how paths cross and what's going to come out of events. I always tell my kids if something comes along, just go for it, you know," Joseph added.

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Some of Columbia pictures’ most iconic movies include films such as Annie, Jumaji, Just Go With It, Click, Grown Ups, and more.

Columbia Pictures is an American film production studio that is part of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group which is one of the Big Five studios.