So I was wandering through the aisles of my local big box electronics store tonight when something caught my eye: the winsome Rebekah Sturkie flexing her pipes while hoisting a set of The Firm: Cardio Sculpting Balls.

Several thoughts passed through my head almost at once. In order:

1. "Firm Balls!? The 'special' kids are driving the short bus!"
2. "Seriously, FIRM BALLS?! WTF!?"
3. "Damn, Rebekah Sturkie is hawt."

This video is a montage of classic promotional materials for circus and vaudeville strongwomen. A lot of my favorites are in there, including Kate Roberts, aka "Vulcana".

Who could forget Harry S. Monesson's timeless coming of age classic about a beautiful, young hyper-muscular giantess who comes to Earth in search of love?

Charmion, Giantess of Divine Providence, is about a teenage girl of superhuman strength, compassion and beauty, who travels to Earth from a distant planet to meet a schoolboy her own age. She quickly discovers that dimensions of everything on Earth are much smaller than they are on the huge planet she has come from. The schoolboy's initial shock in having met the giantess blossoms into love, inspiring her to set new standards for Earthlings as the Superwoman Extraordinary.

I actually haven't read this, but I think in this case the cover probably says it all.

[Charmion: Giantess of Divine Providence - Amazon.com]

Here's US swimmer Tara Kirk looking deliciously buff and fashionable after a makeover.