Annette Kellerman, Australian Mermaid

Born into a daring, musical family in 1886, Annette Kellerman was a force of nature and made for the stage – her first love – and encouraged to defy social norms from a young age. But after she was diagnosed with rickets as a child she took up swimming for therapy, and soon she became an Australian champion, beating boys, breaking records and astonishing huge crowds by diving from great heights. By 1905, Kellerman was 18 and on her way to England in an attempt to swim the Channel and challenge endurance records in the Thames.

Kellerman thrilled audiences in London with a vaudeville act, and her underwater ballet routines, combined with her beauty and athleticism, helped her become known on both sides of the Atlantic as 'The Perfect Woman'. Hollywood embraced her and she became the first great sex symbol of silent films, with her risque and provocative costumes – and sometimes no costume at all. But despite all her fame Kellerman always saw the promotion of health, fitness and independence for women as her biggest and most lasting achievement, and her influence and spirit changed the lives of millions.