Esther Williams, the legendary synchronized swimmer died in her sleep at age 91 on June 6.
She was best know for her stylized "aqua-musicals" in the 1940s and 1950s - a style that was invented just for Williams.
By age 16 Williams had already won three major swimming championships. She planned to swim in the 1940 Olympics but they were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.
Williams was discovered by an MGM scout in 1941 and went on to sign a contract with the studio and to make 30 films with them - most of which featured extensive synchronized swim scenes.
Williams was perhaps best know for her 1952 film, "Million Dollar Mermaid". Million Dollar Mermaid became her nickname and was was the title of her 1999 autobiography.
When Williams first started making "aqua-musicals" the MGM studio costume department had very little experience making bathing suits. Stretchy lycra fabrics had not been invented yet and oftentimes wool was used in making the suits. They were so heavy that once Williams put on one of the studio designed suits and quickly sank to the bottom of the pool. Williams began to collaborate in designing the bathing suits with the MGM costume department. In 1948 Cole of California asked if Williams would endorse one of their new bathing suits that was made out if a revolutionary fabric called lastex. This new fabric made it so that zippers were no longer needed, it had a better fit, and was easier to navigate in water. Williams had to fight with MGM but was eventually allowed to endorse Cole's suit. At the time celebrity endorsements were unheard of and she became one of the first celebrities to endorse a brand.
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