Evolving Ladies

How The “Perfect” Female Body Has Changed In 100 Years

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the mainstream idea of the “perfect body shape” for women has shifted almost as often as fashion trends. In some cases, the contrasts between decades are shocking, and speak volumes to public attitudes at the time – which, basically, depended on whether or not people thought it was okay for women to have curves.

Countless diets, pills, and celebrity icons later, we’re still going wrong in 2017 by encouraging women and girls to constantly compare themselves to others, rather than loving themselves in their own right. At the very least, however, we’ve come farther than using cigarettes and Wonder Bread to slim down.
Take a walk back in time with us, and marvel at the varyingly ridiculous expectations placed on women over the years.

Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Camille Clifford

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Alice Joyce

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Jean Harlow

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Elizabeth Taylor

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Twiggy

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Farrah Fawcett

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Elle MacPherson

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Kate Moss

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Image credits: Leo Delauncey

Christina Aguilera

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The Angora Rabbit

What appears to be a giant cotton candy is, in fact, an Angora rabbit, a domestic rabbit breed raised for its long fine wool. Its fur is usually removed by shearing a couple of times a year.

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The Ankole-Watusi

The Ankole-Watusi, often called the Ankole Longhorn, is a variety of cattle mostly known for its enormous antlers. CT Woodie, the record-holder bull, boasts a horn with a circumference of 40.7 inches (103.5 cm).

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The Glaucus Atlanticus

This unique creature is a sea slug that also goes by the name "Blue dragon." It uses its special coloration as camouflage as it floats on the water’s surface.

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The Golden Tortoise Beetle

This shiny, metallic bug feeds on garden plants and changes its color between gold and reddish-brown depending on whether it is mating or feeling threatened.

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The Longnose Batfish

The longnose batfish is characterized by a flat triangular-shaped body and bright orange-red lips.

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The Pangolin

Covered from head to toe with an armored shell, this scaly anteater looks like a walking pine cone.

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The Leptocephalus

Leptocephalus is the larval form of eels. While in this phase, they appear transparent due to their lack of organs and jelly-like substances in their bodies.

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The Piglet Squid

The reason why this orange-sized sea animal looks like it is smiling is because of the pigment spots scattered all over its skin.

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The Japanese Spider Crab

This monstrous marine crab is known to be the largest among all living arthropod species with its leg span exceeding 15 feet (4.5 m).

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The Sea Lamprey

A parasitic fish with a cylindrical body and jawless suckermouth. The adults can reach up to 47 inches (120 cm) in length and 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) in weight.

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The Ocean Sunfish

The ocean sunfish (or Mola mola) has a laterally compressed body and can weigh up to 2,205 lbs (1,000 kg). Sunfish like to spend their day sunbathing near the surface of the water, which is where their name comes from.

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The Umbonia Spinosa

This bizarre so-called treehopper carries a massive horn on its back that can be expanded to help the bug blend into its surroundings.

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The Saki Monkey

While this small monkey’s entire body is black, its head is thickly covered with pale, white fur, giving it an instantly recognizable look.

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