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An Amazing Woman
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An Amazing Woman A friend sent me an email with some stunning historical<b> photographs </font></b>on it. The second was a woman posing in a single piece swimsuit. The caption said that it was a photo of Annette Kellerman, and she was arrested for indecency wearing such a swimsuit in Massachusetts in 1907. I was going to write a post commenting how much has changed, at least in the western world, over the last hundred years. But I wondered who was this brave, trail-blazing woman, so I checked her out: 1. Born July 6, 1886 in Sydney, Australia. 2. Beset with infantile paralysis she began swimming as a therapy. 3. Swimming champion of New South Wales, aged 15. 4. In 1905 she took her emerging act to London, attracting huge crowds swimming in the Thames. She attempted to swim the English Channel three times (and failed) but she beat male swimmers in races in Paris and in the Danube. 5. "I can't swim wearing more stuff than you hang on a clothesline," she said. She invented the bathing one-piece by attaching a pair of black stockings to a boy’s short racing swimsuit, as she is forbidden to show any leg. It didn’t stop her getting arrested for indecency though! 6. Her "one piece all-over Black Diving Suit" clung tightly to the body and accentuated every curve, but technically met the modesty requirement of the day. By 1909 it is the costume of cigarette girls as well as Hollywood pinup Mable Norman. It may also have sparked her advocacy for women's rights. 7. She is credited with inventing synchronised swimming, one of her many show business acts. 8. As her showbiz career led her into the movies she pioneered showing more of the female form, first bare legs in the early 1910’s and then full nudity, starring as Anita, in A of the Gods in 1916. She was not the first woman to appear naked on film, but she is the first big-name star to appear nude in a big-time production. It was a box office hit. 9. She promoted physical fitness and the naturalist lifestyle. 10. She wrote two books encouraging women to exercise: How to Swim in 1918 and Physical Beauty and How to Keep It in 1919, as well as an autobiography, and lectured throughout Europe and America. 11. She was a staunch feminist. It is fair to say that she played her part in the transformation of female identity. 12. She died November 5, 1975 in Southport, Australia, aged 89. I like the idea that she was a swimmer, being a keen and regular swimmer myself. Somehow those little connections draw your attention, don’t they? And yes, I would love to have met the wonderful Annette Kellerman, if only to be touched by her phenomenal, larger than life spirit.  |
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She sounds like quite the trailblazer!!! I use to be on a synchronised swimming team as a young teen...I LOVED it! So Im really glad you posted this!  warm xx
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She sounds like quite the trailblazer!!! I use to be on a synchronised swimming team as a young teen...I LOVED it! So Im really glad you posted this!
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Thank you for sharing. Quite an amazing woman... warm xx
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Thank you for sharing. Quite an amazing woman...
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Annette was a real trail blazer! warm xx
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Yes, a remarkable woman. I'm glad this post has struck a chord warm xx
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Wow this is one awesome lady. I have never heard of her before ty for sharing with us hugs V warm xx
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Annette was a real trail blazer! Never ignore those who care for you you will have lost diamonds while you were collecting stones
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Wow this is one awesome lady. I have never heard of her before ty for sharing with us hugs V Become a blog watcher sweet_vm
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As the post says she was a total unknown to me too, dear Sweet lady. But in her day she must have been truly iconic. warm xx
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I have always admired free thinkers...and am grateful for them warm xx
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I have always admired free thinkers...and am grateful for them
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Thank you Passion. I would like to think we could rise to the challenge if we were tested. What I like about Annette is that she actively sought those challenges when they seemed so far beyond possibility. warm xx
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Thanks dear Pearl. Important to remind ourselves that such remarkable people won us every freedom we take for granted. warm xx
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good stuff
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I have always admired those women who fought convention and in their own way gave me the many freedoms which I have today. warm xx
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I have always admired those women who fought convention and in their own way gave me the many freedoms which I have today. ~~Anais Nin~~
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