A Brief History of Strong Women

Women have always been strong, but there was a time when women weightlifters and bodybuilders were featured in circus sideshows more often than athletic events. These performers may have been considered odd in their time, but they look much more natural than some chemically-enhanced bodybuilders we see today. Pictured here is Charmion, the stage name of Laverie Vallee, who was a circus strongman and trapeze artist, notable for her suggestive strip tease act which took her from Victorian street clothing down to her trapeze costume, which was filmed in 1901. See more strong women through the ages at Dangerous Minds.