As time goes on, beauty pageants are slowly going away, or at least being seen for what they are; misogynistic and shallow competitions. 

But in the early 1900s, when things were a little bit more prude all around, they had a different, and more objective way of judging women against each other; just use ankles. 

The competitions, primarily held around England, were designed to increase female participation since identities had to be concealed. 

“Older ladies need not feel timid about entering the contest," one newspaper wrote in 1927. "They have as much chance as their daughters.”

The competitions were often promoted by companies making socks or stockings, and the winner received a free pair. 

Fortunately, (or tragically), these competitions were largely extinct by the 1960s thanks to changes in women's fashion trends.