Beauty queens in colour! Vintage pageant photographs are transformed from black and white to stunning effect (and the swimwear round used to look VERY different)

Artist Matt Loughrey, from Ireland has transformed retro photos with colour

The collection of snaps feature beauty pageants in America during the 1920s
Women are photographed wearing thick swimsuits with knee high socks

By Hana Carter For Mailonline

PUBLISHED: 11:18 GMT, 15 January 2018 | UPDATED: 20:25 GMT, 15 January 2018

Snaps of beauty queens of the 1920s have been bought to life in vivid colour for the first time.

The stunning collection of photos show what life was like for the models taking part in early pageants - worlds away from the ones of today.

In the early 1900s, women's swimming costumes were made from heavy woollen material, and could reach almost down to their knees.

Eva Fridell laughs as she collects her trophy on the beach during the Washington Tidal Basin beauty contest in 1922

Mrs. Wallace Ford models a dress that she will wear to the Miss America costume for arts ball on November 20 1927

Miss Universe Ella Van Hueson takes part in a fitness photo shoot in 1928. She displays the classic hair style of the time

The series of colourised images show Eva Fridell dressed in swimwear receiving the winner's cup on the beach in 1922 at the Washington Tidal Basin beauty contest.

Another picture is of Evelyn Lewis, standing proud in her modest bathing suit and knee-high stockings at the Wardman Park Hotel.

Other shots show a smiling Ella Van Hueson sitting in a car and exercising on a static bike back in June 1928.

Ella went on to win the Miss Universe competition that was held in Chicago in the same year.

As the 20th century moved on, necklines lowered and women started exposing their legs, which saw the introduction of codes to regulate the appearance of swimming costumes to preserve modesty.

The black and white photographs were colourised by Irish artist Matt Loughrey, from Westport, of My Colorful Past.

He said: 'People respond well to imagery that generates discussion, I think pageants are deemed as controversial by some and as innocent by others.

Ella Van Hueson, seen at the wheel of a car in 1928, later went on win the Miss Universe crown

Eva Fridelll taking the prize at Washington Tidal Basin Beauty Contest during the summer of 1922

A group of young women pose in what would have been considered 'risque' bathing suits that reveal the knees and legs

These women proudly smile after winning a beauty contest at Washington Bathing Beach in 1922

'All of the while I think the people that took part in these photographs had no idea how pageants would be debated over nearly a century later,' said Matt.

'I think they deserved to be seen in colour as they were. A lot of these photographs were taken in Washington D.C in the early 1920s. It was a time of huge social upheaval as well as an economic shift that saw America morph into a major consumer society.

'They all represent the dawn of the societal shift, maybe Eva Fridell taking the winners' cup from such a reservedly dressed judge is a great visual example of that.

Cara who? Thin, wide spaced eyebrows were all the rage in the 1920s and 30s. Evelyn Cushing, aged 24 pouts after winning Miss Illinois in 1932

Miss Anna Neibel holds her trophy after winning a bathing suit competition on the beach

Margarita Gonzales ran for national title at the Atlantic City beauty contest in 1925 but was eliminated in the first round

Mae Greene, just 18, was chosen as Miss Chicago out of 4,000 rivals at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago

'In these photographs, like so many other visual topics, exists a reflection of society, an opportunity to educate and a moment of respect for the subjects,' added Matt.

'What began on the beachfronts of Washington D.C fast evolved into a worldwide platform. With that it has brought controversy, difference of opinion and massive revenue for organisers.

'Society has too raised the veil on the pageant and its meaning, our values have changed to reflect equality and respect en-masse.

'Colourisation is a portal to enable that, I asked myself during this project how society has shifted in terms of equality and feminism.'

Pageants in America started to grow after 1917 when 'bathing beauty reviews' started to pop up in cities across the United States, they were especially popular in Washington D.C., California and New Jersey.

He said: 'It's always an opportunity for the observer to form an opinion of the past and present. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5270379/Vintage-snaps-beauty-queens-1920s.html#ixzz54Nxv1YWr