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Iola and Anna: 1922
Submitted by Dave on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 3:06pm.
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June 17, 1922. Iola Swinnerton and Anna Neibel, winners of a beauty contest at Washington's Tidal Bathing Beach. Miss Swinnerton resides at 3125 Mount Pleasant Street NW. View full size. National Photo Company Collection.
Under the swimsuit
Submitted by Mr Mel on Sun, 09/26/2010 - 10:11am.
Believe me, there's no Twiggy hiding there.
Not the most flattering of Iola
Submitted by noelani on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 2:40pm.
Anyone who doesn't see Iola as beautiful in this picture should look at the others of her in this gallery. This one doesn't do her justice, because she was absolutely gorgeous! I don't know how anyone can comment on her figure when it is covered up by that horrible bathing suit. She could have had a 24 inch waist under it, for all we know! I will concede that she wasn't Twiggy, but she wasn't obese, either. I think Anna probably outweighed Iola by 15-20 pounds.
Beautiful
Submitted by Stephanie on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 1:19pm.
Wow, I actually feel really sad for those of you that are seriously looking down your noses at these girls. This is real beauty. Woman do not look like what society considers beautiful today. I would so much rather have had these women as role-models then the anorexic girls in magazines growing up.
Flap Away Gals
Submitted by Heather Rose on Thu, 06/26/2008 - 1:15pm.
I'm completely overwhelmed with excitement! The 20's amaze me. They were a Tim Burton dream/nightmare. The photos are always so rich, dark and full of mystery. Even something like a beauty contest. Your imagination can run as wild as Iola and Anna. GLORIOUS!
Yes!
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Sat, 05/31/2008 - 5:54am.
I thought the exact same thing as soon as I saw the picture full size. These girls are great. So much character in their faces. I really like the girl on the left.
The Benighted '20s
Submitted by C. Palmer on Mon, 03/10/2008 - 1:44pm.
Tragically, in those days they didn’t realize that emaciated heroin addicts with chemically-paralyzed faces were the epitome of female beauty.
No Paris & Nicole
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Mon, 03/10/2008 - 12:33am.
You're right on the mark there, Mr. Mel. Those girls are huge. Guess they hadn't invented eating disorders yet back then, huh? I, for one, am relieved that our standards of beauty have risen so drastically in the last hundred years.
Iola and Anna
Submitted by Philip on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 11:18pm.
My father was born the day after this picture was taken. He is 85 and living happily with his new girlfriend in the SF Bay Area. My how times fly.
Iola
Submitted by Another Anonymous Tipster on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 8:54pm.
Mike, I totally agree. Drew Barrymore was my first thought.
They listed her address?
Submitted by Pondering Pig on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 7:01pm.
Can you imagine a photo caption today giving out a pretty girl's home address? Didn't they have creeps back then?
Iola
Submitted by Mike on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 2:10am.
When I look at Iola, the girl on the right, I see Drew Barrymore. Do you?
Winners
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Tue, 01/22/2008 - 12:13pm.
If these are the winners, can't imagine how awful looking the losers were.
Woman on the Left
Submitted by Mr Mel on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 10:09pm.
I guess they weren't into abs at the time. She looks a little chunky or maybe even pregnant.
[That would be Iola, a Shorpy favorite. - Dave]
1922
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 8:51pm.
According to my Grandmother, for that time period the woman on the right would be considered "fast"--her hair is "bobbed" and she's showing way too much leg.
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