Bathing beauties bring Twenties-style bikinis back to life with Marcel waves and floral swimming caps for retro-inspired pageant

PUBLISHED: 09:40 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 10:50 EST, 20 May 2013

The beauty pageant that started what we know of today as Miss Universe, kicked-off summer over the weekend with 40 contestants taking a trip down memory lane; bringing Twenties-style bathing suits back to life.

Texas' Galveston Bathing Beauties pageant began in the summer of 1920 and continued to mark the beginning of tourist season each year until 1932, when it closed, in part, due to the Great Depression.

Nicknamed the 'International Pageant of Pulchritude,' it eventually morphed into Miss Universe, but the original Galveston Island event was resurrected five years ago and has since been a source of retro excitement and vintage inspiration - for both men and women.

Bathing beauties: Callie Mulkey of Rockwall, the pageants fifth place winner, shows off for the judges during the Galveston, Texas contest on Saturday

The contestants, who competed for cash prizes, had rip roaring fun as they traveled back in time - saluting the crowd in sailor maillots, or lifting prop weights while wearing vintage-style swim trunks.

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Held at the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, the Saturday event drew hundreds of spectators.

In its heyday during the late Twenties, the Island's population would triple during the weekend of live music, festive food and fantastic bathing suits.

Roaring Twenties: Ashley Cargle was one of 40 contestants who showed off their vintage bathing suit during the bathing beauties contest

Fitting accessories: Karin Rodriguez of League City wore a floral swim cap and yellow malliot during the bathing beauties contest, where entrants competed for cash prizes during this crowd favorite event

Fitting accessories: Karin Rodriguez of League City wore a floral swim cap with her yellow maillot during the bathing beauties contest, where entrants competed for cash prizes during this crowd favorite event

Crowd-pleaser: Secelia Garrett-King struck a pose with a large red rose and white fringed bathing suit during the bathing beauties contest on Saturday

And the event, which sees dozens of women get dolled up with red lipstick, cats-eye sunglasses, oversize parasols, and springy curls, also brings in plenty of male contestants.

Scott Moga, who has competed in the revue at least three times, said he loves that there are a few men who join in each year.

'I’ve been trying to convince other guys to get in this thing,' he told The Daily News Galveston County.

Memory lane: Dolled up in a polka dot bathing suit and red lipstick, Christina White winks at the judges during the bathing beauties contest

Memory lane: Dolled up in a Twenties-style polka dot bathing suit and red lipstick, Christina White winks at the judges during the bathing beauties contest

Mighty male: Jason Rives was one of the men who walked the stage during the bathing beauties contest, wearing a retro suit and matching mustache

'To be truthful, I’m here because where else can a guy spend hours inside a tent with 50 gorgeous women wearing bathing suits? How could you pass this up?'

It was unsurprising then, when Mr Moga admitted that the men do not take the event as seriously as the women.

'The women get all serious and are all nervous,' he said. 'The guys, we don’t care. We are just loose and have a good time.'

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That doesn't look 20s... More 40s/50s

- Jenna , Cornwall, 21/5/2013 16:52

Click to rate Rating 1

This happened up the highway from me in Galveston, Texas. Sorry I missed it. It makes me nostalgic for the days when women's swimsuits weren't showing their butts, and men wore suits and hats most of the time. Every town should have a contest like this.

- Big Eyes , Houston, 21/5/2013 15:32

Click to rate Rating 7

nice swimsuits, shame the models are so chunky

- Sweety , Hamburg, Germany, 21/5/2013 14:43

Click to rate Rating 19

So much cuter than the barely there bikinis one sees on the beach these days. Also, none of those belly button piercings that look like an unsightly growth. These women look like they actually made an effort to look attractive on the beach.

- dblake864 , VA_USA, 21/5/2013 14:27

Click to rate Rating 10

I would say more 40s /50s than 20s yet another mixed up article DM they look great though ...

- Beezo051 , Liverpool, 21/5/2013 13:35

Click to rate Rating 11

wish British shops would stock these styles. you can get gorgeous vintage style bikinis and swimsuits from the states, but the postage and import tax is prohibitive

- tyleri , Cardiff, 21/5/2013 13:34

Click to rate Rating 10

Gorgeous but not 20's i'm afraid DM, this is 40's & 50's!

- HP18 , Notts, United Kingdom, 21/5/2013 09:34

Click to rate Rating 32

What incredibly gorgeous models and swimwear.

- UMO spuddy , Nelson, NZ, 21/5/2013 06:56

Click to rate Rating 24

Looks like a fun event. Great photo opportunities with all the colourful outfits.

- Maria , UK, 20/5/2013 23:10

Click to rate Rating 51

Dumplings