X-ray, plumb and weights: how to choose "Miss correct posture" in the 50s

What are the only beauty pageants were not conducted in the US in the last century! Every small brand, made it though the sausage, though mattresses, felt the need to collect local beauties, so they competed and find out who is more beautiful. Because pretty girls — this is a great marketing tool.

It all started with an all-American Congress of women in 1956. Then experts from across the country gathered in Chicago, where he passed the first competition of "Miss correct posture".

In those days, the women were in the American healthcare exotic newcomers: this specialisation, only began to emerge in the US in the 50s they even worked without a license. So this contest was a good PR move and a way to acquaint the public with a new kind of professionals.

In the first contest, the winner was 18-year-old Lois Conway. Second place went to 16-year-old Marianne Kaba, and the third 26-year-old Ruth Swenson.

Contestants were selected not only from the perspective of the overall appeal and charisma — a necessary condition was completely healthy spine.

To determine how evenly distributed weight, the girls were weighed on two scales.

Not without an x-ray. In those days no one was afraid of radiation.

Such beauty contests were popular in the 50s and 60s. But when the women got the recognition of official medicine, the number of such events gradually disappeared. The last large-scale contest "Miss correct posture" was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1969.