The Howard Hawks woman
Nikki, in this film is another example of the beautiful, stylish, take no nonsense Hawks woman, found in so many of his films. Her hair, makeup and clothes resemble the looks of Hawk's wife Slim. She married Hawks in 1941 and is the one that spotted Lauren Bacall in a fashion magazine and suggested he give her a screen test.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Hawks