The word "bombshell" isn't used very often these days but it was very popular years ago when women like Marilyn Monroe were considered modern sex symbols.

It's kind of funny to me, a long term observer of women, for scientific purposes only, to compare what constituted the "sexy" or "hot" women of my youth, to today's brazen hussies.

Years ago a "sex symbol" dressed in a semi-revealing way and acted seductively. Now women who want the world to know that they are sexy advertise the fact by wearing next to nothing and unashamedly reciting a list of their sexual preferences. The line between sexy and slutty has been blurred; much to the delight of the male of the species.

But the notion of a "Bombshell" still persists and actually denotes a particular style of sexy woman.

Typically a, "bombshell", was a, "blonde bombshell", of the platinum blonde variety who sported a full-figured body, a la today's Scarlett Johansson.

The idea was that an exploding bomb usually got one's attention.

Now, however, even brunettes can be considered bombshells, such as Halle Berry, and the voluptuous figure of the past has largely been replaced by the slim, athletic look of a Jessica Alba

Here's a look at who MSN's fashion peeps consider to be today's bombshells.

By the way, I still don't like those so called, "sophisticated", pulled back hair styles such as the one Scarlett Johansson is sporting in the first picture.

Source:www.lifestyle.msn.com