Ankle competitions
Crowning the finest feet in the land
Chris Wild
1930-1953
A policeman judges an ankle competition at Hounslow, London.
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Some of the earliest recorded instances of "pretty ankle contests" appear in the first decade of the 20th century as special shows within women’s “physical culture” pageants. Some pageants also judged prettiest shoulders, arms and legs. Contestants would be concealed behind a curtain, with only their ankles exposed for evaluation.Often, these shows served as promotions for hosiery companies, with winners receiving free stockings from the event sponsors, not to mention fame and adulation.
Men judge women's ankles at a competition in Kent, England.
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There is something captivating about pretty ankles, and it was only natural that some bright mind must think up a competition for them. - Bunbury Herald and Blackwood Express, Dec. 10, 1926
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A "prettiest legs" competition in Paris.
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Older ladies need not feel timid about entering the contest. They have as much chance as their daughters. - Ludington Daily News, Oct. 24, 1927
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Credit: Mashable