Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues
Miss Riviera
Why would this lovely Mademoiselle, perhaps hailing from Cannes or Nice and crowned "Miss Riviera," be posing in what looks like a furniture showroom, instead of at the beach or casino?Because she is Miss Riviera Manufacturing of 1956.
"Mrs. Grace Boeckmann is fast acquiring beauty titles. She is Miss Riviera (chosen by the Riviera Manufacturing Co.), Miss Sun Valley and Miss San Fernando Valley. She now is representing the Valley as a contestant in the California finals of the Miss Universe competition."
Source.
"A huge expansion sale is under way at both of the Valley locations of the Riviera Manufacturing Co., maker of sofa beds. Shown above is the North Hollywood location at 11015 Magnolia Blvd., where a new annex is being constructed. The other location is in Reseda."
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 11, 2022 -
Comments (2)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, Domestic, 1950s
Rejuvenique Facial Toning Mask
Still being made and sold! Get yours via the Amazon link below!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jan 04, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Body Modifications, Inventions, Technology, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century
Miss Lovely Eyes
"Contestants in the Miss Lovely Eyes beauty pageant in Florida wearing masks to obscure the rest of their faces, circa 1930."
Posted By: Paul - Wed Dec 01, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, 1930s, Face and Facial Expressions
The Golden Mermaid Beauty Trophy
I wish the contest had continued with the mermaid theme.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 27, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Cryptozoology, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, 1920s
Virta Warrens, From Miss Portland 1930 to the Racetrack
Somewhat in our line of Weird Beauty Queens: her title as a queen wasn't weird, but maybe her subsequent career was--for the times!
Source of article below.
Read a short charming memoir written by Virta's daughter here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 24, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, 1930s, Cars
Skin whitening by intestine shortening
Back in the 1970s, some women in Japan reportedly tried to whiten their skin by having surgery to remove a section of their intestines:Up to 50 inches of the large intestine have to be removed according to Dr. Tadao Yagi, director of a private hospital that specializes in the operation.
I can't imagine why this would work. Perhaps the women grew paler because of malnutrition?
San Francisco Examiner - Mar 26, 1975
I believe these may be photos of the operation being performed, from an article by Tadao Yagi in the Japanese Journal of Medical Instrumentation.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Nov 18, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, Surgery, 1970s
Do you have auto legs?
Beauty advice from The Pittsburgh Press (Feb 20, 1938):
Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 17, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, 1930s, Legs, Cars
Pageant Planet
I just stumbled across this website, which curates all the ongoing beauty pageants everywhere. It ties in of course with our WU quest for odd beauty contests. But it's almost too rich, like shooting fish in a barrel. Of course, it doesn't cover great historical items, like best housewife or Miss Atomic Bomb. Nonetheless, you might like to wander its pages.Miss Gamecock.
Miss Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo Beauty Contest
Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 09, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Contests, Races and Other Competitions, World
Booth Babes vs. the Teamsters
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 19, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Business, Conventions, Tradesmen, Manual Laborers, and Skilled Workers, 1970s
Miss Albinism of Kenya, 2018
BBC coverage here.
I cannot find any evidence that the contest continued in subsequent years.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 10, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Human Marvels, Africa
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |