What did the first female bodybuilders of the early XX century look like

Meet the formidable, but charming female bodybuilders of the early XX century. It was they who stepped over social norms and trampled on traditional ideas about female beauty. They were both strong and brilliant at the same time. Judging by their prominent musculature, it is unlikely that they were inferior to men in strength.

"Strong women" first appeared in the XIX century. They took part in sports events and competitions. However, most often they were treated only as another circus curiosity. Unfortunately, it was considered very strange and simply wild for a woman to have a well-developed body. That is why many of these women were perceived as a spectacle for entertainment.

For example, Katie Brumbach was one of the most famous "superwomen" of the early XX century. She was born in a circus family and followed in the footsteps of her parents. Her father was a "giant", and her mother was also a "strong woman".

Brumbach got a job with the Ringling Brothers and the Barnum & Bailey Circus as a weightlifter, bent iron rods with her bare hands and lifted her husband over her head with only one hand.

Although at one time these women were perceived as an anomaly, they courageously paved the way for modern women to become professional bodybuilders and wrestlers. If these strong men were still alive, they would have given a head start to many sports young ladies.