Beauty Contest Collection

Miss UK contestants at the sauna baths, Kensington High Street. 13th July 1971

Miss Great Britain 1965, Diane Westbury, 21 year old model from Bowden, Cheshire, 25th August 1965. Judges, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. 2nd Place, Carole Fletcher, 3rd Place, Sheila Forrest

Miss Betting Shop winner, Miss Jessica J. Gooch (aged 20), from Kenton, near Harrow, whose measurements are 35 - 23 - 36 with her trophies

Knebworth Beauty Farm. Model Rosemary Stewart practising on the Bongo Board. October 1959 P012653

1969 Miss UK contestants. 18th August 1972

The Judgment of Paris, c1635-1638, (1912). Artist: Peter Paul Rubens
Judgment of Paris, c1635-1638, (1912). A colour print of Rubens painting, from Famous Paintings with an introduction by Gilbert Chesterton, (Cassell and Company, London, New York, Toronto, 1912)

Miss UK runner up and Penthouse pet Helen Caunt, aged 20. 15th July 1971

The winner Miss Australia, Belinda Green. December 1972 72-11295-005

Miss World at Utopia Nightclub, Reading, Berkshire. 12th August 1994

Katrina Duck (left) and Michelle Howley, two of the girls who are entering a beauty contest at the Madison nightclub, to mark the four day visit of Middlesbroughs adopted ship, HMS Jupiter

These girls have taken their first steps in a bid to become Miss Madison 1987. The trio, from the first heat held in Newcastle, go forward to the area final next month

Miss UK, Della Dolan, aged 20 from Grimsby, prepares for next months MIss World contest at a Marbella hideaway. 25th October 1982

Miss United Kingdom 1982 Della Dolan. 25th August 1982

The Miss England 1978, featuring Patricia Morgan (front row 10th from left) line up takes place at The Lyceum Ballroom, 4th April 1978

Bathing Beauty Competition, Daily Mirror Blackpool Week 1963, judged by singer Matt Monroe & Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, August 1963

Variety Club Star Gala at Battersea Park Festival Gardens, 12th April 1971. A beauty competition for Miss Variety Club Great Britain was held at the Festival Gardens

Gina Tolleson of the United States, who won the Miss World beauty contest in 1990. 12th November 1990

Lisa Hanna, Miss Jamaica, celebrates after being named Miss World 1993 following the beauty contest held at the Sun City Entertainment Centre in South Africa. 27th November 1993

British singer and actor Gary Miller with beauty queens left to right: Gail Sheridan. winner June Cooper and Doreen Nicholson after the competition at Clacton On Sea. 26th June 1958

Miss UK and World 1974, Helen Morgan poses in the studio. 24th November 1974

Miss World 1972 winner Miss Australia Belinda Green

Miss UK 1969. Sheena Drummond from Scotland with her mum 22nd October 1969
Miss UK 1969. Sheena Drummond from Scotland with her mum.. 22nd October 1969

Marilyn Ward, Miss UK 1971, pictured on Blackpools Golden Mile. 22nd August 1971

Newly crowned Miss United Kingdom, 21 year old Yvonne Ormes of Cheshire, poses for a Daily Mirror fashion shoot. She will represent the United Kingdom in the Miss World competition. 23rd August 1970

The finals of the Miss Littlewood contest - a charm and beauty competition for its thousands of girl employees - held at the Liverpool Stadium. November 1969 Z11881-001

Miss Marina 1950
Sheila Simpson, winner of 1950s Miss Marina contest at Ramsgate, Kent, poses in her swimsuit

Only Lovely Eyes
Contestants in the Miss Lovely Eyes beauty pageant in Florida wearing masks to obscure the rest of their faces, circa 1930. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Constance Furman, Virginia Wynn, Irene Jones, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Constance Furman, Virginia Wynn, Irene Jones, between c1915 and c1920. Here are the prettiest feet and ankles in New York City. Hundreds of girls entered the contest held in Grand Central Palace

Venus Victorious, 1914. Creator: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Venus Victorious, 1914

The baby contest. Mother showing their naked child in front of the Jury rue du Cloitre
XEE4191284 The baby contest. Mother showing their naked child in front of the Jury rue du Cloitre Notre Dame (Cloitre-Notre-Dame) in Paris for the election of the most beautiful baby

The Judgment of Paris, ca. 1550-60. Creator: Giulio Bonasone
The Judgment of Paris, ca. 1550-60

Jean Rogers (23) of Liverpool, won the first heat in the Miss Blackpool £; 1000 bathing beauty contest in an old swimsuit after hitch-hiking from Liverpool. 14th June 1956

Liverpool footballer Kevin Keegan, wearing a didimans hat, as he judges the New Brighton beauty contest finals with comedian Ken Dodd. 9th August 1972

The All Star Gala at Battersea Fun Fair. Katherine Lee from London who is the winner of the Miss Variety Club contest. 13th May 1967

The winner of the Miss Jaguar beauty contest 1959. Circa August 1959

Delyse Humpries (22), a typist from Sheffield won the 5th heat of the Blackpool bathing beauty competition. Dawn Read (24) a model from Derby was second, and Gill Desmond (24) a London hairdresser

The News of the World Star Gala. Ron Moody, left, and Roger Moore are pictured. 10th May 1969

The News of the World Star Gala. 10th May 1969

The News of the World Star Gala. Ron Moody. 10th May 1969

The Coronation Ball held at the Cafe De Paris following the Miss World beauty ceremony at the Lyceum in London. Pictured is Miss Ghana Star Annan (left). 10th November 1959

Jessica Alexander, an 18 year old student from Darlington, became the new Miss HMS Jupiter at a contest in Middlesbroughs Madison nightclub, and met officers and men on a tour of the ship

18-year-old Marita Lindahl of Finland is awarded the title of MIss World 1957 at the Lyceum Ballroom. 14th October 1957

Miss World contestants go for a swim at the Butlins Hotel, Margate. The girls are relaxing before the final tomorrow. 13th October 1957

Miss United Kingdom beauty contest at Blackpool. The judges consisting of Felicity Green of the Daily Mirror, Kit van Tullace of Queen magazine, Ron Hill

Kirk Douglas selects 21-year-old Marilyn Davies as the winner of the Viking Beauty Contest, run by the Sunday Pictorial. 7th July 1958

Lonnie Donegan carries Miss Shirley Knowles, Mrs Jersey Battle of Flowers 1967 in her float. Jersey Battle of Flowers. 3rd August 1967

Reita Faria, Miss India, is crowned Miss World 1966. 17th November 1966

Rachel Meritt is a real tonic for patients at the Gosforth Health centre, where she works - and her appreciative audience is growing. For 17-year-old Rachel

Daily Mirror Beach Beauty contest at Blackpool. The participants line up on the beach before the competition, Lancashire. 29th August 1963

Beauty contest girls playing on the beach at Torquay, Devon. 7th September 1960

Miss United Kingdom 1982 Della Dolan with Miss Belfast Alison Smith and Miss Chichester Anne Jackson. 25th August 1982

Miss Blackpool 1963 Beauty Competition won by Cheryl Driscoll 18, and judged by Albert Modley & Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, Thursday 29th August 1963

The Miss Tyne Tees Television beauty contest at Tynemouth Open Air Swimming Pool 24 July 1971 - Winner Lynne Charlton, is crowned by Roderick Griffiths of Tyne Tees Television

The Byrds at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, South London, 18th August 1965. Astri Hansen (left) and Jenny Harrison meet The Byrds, (l-r) Gene Clark. Michael Clarke. Chris Hillman

Sixteen year old Katie Kirke jumps over the gate on her way to school, the day after winning the annual beauty competition at the Burnham carnival. 27th August 1968

Miss Brighton beauty queen semi-finals Holiday Princess 1974

Daily Mirror Beach Beauty contest at Blackpool. Winner of the competition Carol Redhead of Poulton La Fylde with her sash and rosebowl after the presentation. 29th August 1963

Participants in the Miss Margate National Bathing Beauty Contest stand in front of the judges during the competition held at Margates Winter Gardens

Miss World, 1972: Belinda Green: 20 year old Belinda Green, a blonde haired, blue eyed, model from Australia, won the Miss World Contest. Belindas favourite hobby is cooking

Waltraud Lucas, Miss Austria, parades on the catwalk during the Miss World beauty contest at the Royal Albert Hall in London. 10th November 1971

Gina Tolleson of the United States celebrates after being named Miss World 1990 following the beauty contest held at the London Palladium. 8th November 1990

Diana Hayden, Miss India and winner of the Miss World beauty contest in 1997. Pictured in September 1998

Gina Tolleson of the United States celebrates after being named Miss World 1990 following the beauty contest held at the London Palladium. 8th November 1990

Beauty contest girls playing tug of war on the beach at Weston-Super-Mare. 7th September 1960

Beauty Queen dancing with Ken Dodd at Blackpool 5th August 1958

Beach beauty girls sitting on a boat in Whitley Bay. 28th July 1960

Miss United Kingdom Jennifer McAdam in Oxford Street, London. August 1972 P035462

Miss TV Europe 1973 Beauty Contest, Sylvia Kristel from Holland, aged 20 years old, winner of the Miss TV Europe competition, pictured at television studios, Thursday 4th January 1973

Lynda Carter 1972 Miss World Contestants 1972 wearing swim-suits in London

Lynda Carter, Nov 1972 Miss World Contestants 1972

Miss UK and World 1974, Helen Morgan poses in the studio. 24th November 1974

Miss UK 1966. Jennifer Lowe with runners up Joan and Valerie. 9th August 1966

1969 Miss UK contestants. Jacqui McCann and Jenny McAdam. 18th August 1972

Miss UK 1966. Jennifer Lewis with runners up Jennifer Gurley and Nina Scott. 9th September 1965

Miss UK and baby of the year 1967. Jennifer Lewis and other contestants. 21st August 1967

Scots girls competing in the 1972 Miss UK competition. l-r Margeret Stewart, Liz Stevely, Dorothy Yannette and Caroline Meade. 17th August 1972

1969 Miss UK contestants. Miss Belfast. 18th August 1972

Miss UK contest 1964, Blackpools Open Air Bath 3rd September 1964
Miss UK contest 1964, Blackpools Open Air Bath.. 3rd September 1964

The winner Miss Australia Belinda Green with miss Israel (left) and miss Norway (right). December 1972 72-11295-006

Miss World, 1972: Belinda Green: 20 year old Belinda Green, a blonde haired, blue eyed, model from Australia, won the Miss World Contest. Belindas favourite hobby is cooking

Miss United Kingdom beauty contest at Blackpool. The contestants pose for the cameras on the Blackpool seafront before the competition

W. P. C. Julie Hartshorn (Britains Lovliest Feet winner). December 1982 P005395
W.P.C. Julie Hartshorn (Britains Lovliest Feet winner). December 1982 P005395

Blackpool Bathing Beauty competition today. Albert Modley who judged hear with the first three Angela Ryder of Sheffield (left) who was 3rd

Beauty contest girls playing on the beach at Ramsgate. 31st August 1960

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Captivating Beauty: A Glimpse into the World of Beauty Contests" Step back in time to the 13th of July, 1971, where the sauna baths on Kensington High Street witnessed a spectacle like no other. The radiant Miss UK contestants gathered here, their elegance and grace filling the air with an undeniable allure. Among them stood Miss Jessica J. Gooch, a stunning twenty-year-old from Kenton near Harrow. Crowned as the Miss Betting Shop winner, her beauty captivated all who laid eyes upon her. Fast forward to August 18th, 1972 - another year filled with anticipation and excitement for the Miss UK pageant. The stage was set once again to witness these remarkable women vying for glory and recognition. Yet beauty contests have long been celebrated throughout history. In Peter Paul Rubens' masterpiece "The Judgment of Paris, " painted between 1635-1638, we see how even centuries ago, society reveled in appreciating feminine charm and allure. Not far away lies Europe's finest bathing pool - Hastings and St Leonard Bathing Pool - where countless beauties have graced its waters over time. Its reputation as a haven for elegance remains unmatched. Intriguingly enough, not all beauty queens are confined solely to their titles; some transcend boundaries effortlessly. Helen Caunt stands tall as both Miss UK runner-up and Penthouse Pet at just twenty years old - a testament to her captivating presence. Meanwhile, let us not forget past winners such as Miss Marina in 1950 or those who mesmerized audiences with their lovely eyes alone – true testaments that beauty comes in many forms. Aspiring stars take their first steps towards stardom too; these girls ambitiously embark on their journey towards becoming Miss Madison 1987 – dreams taking shape before our very eyes. Della Dolan from Grimsby prepares diligently for next month's Miss World contest, representing the beauty and grace of the United Kingdom.