“Queen of Hearts,’ 15” Waist

Cathy’s corset story was told in detail in BODY PLAY Vol. 1, No 3. She started serious training in 1985 to prepare for her first Bal Des Gracieuses. Cathy’s 5’6", 130 pound figure (PP1 about 1.96) had a 26” waist then; it was reduced four inches by the time she and her husband, Bob, attended the ball. In the foilowing years, the look of that first smallish waist enchanted Cathy and Bob so much they decided to start on a serious program to reach the “ultimate waist". At first, their goal was modest: 18". However, shortiy after that goal had been achieved in 1989, a new one was set. Encouraged by all the attention at the ball, plus the inspiration of seeing and meeting other women who had even smaller waists, 16” became new “the uitimate".

By the time I photographed Cathy last fall she was living in corsets almost 24 hours a day. She was able to easiiy lace down to 16” and even 15” with some extra effort. Cathy’s style of corset is mainly the Ice Cream Cone — with a very small conical top section, low waistline and rounded hemisphere snugly cupping her upper hips. The result of this type of corset training has radically re-arranged Cathy’s rib structure and lengthened her spine (readily seen in the X-ray photo shown below). In a recent phone conversation with Cathy and Bob. I asked if they had a new “ultimate". Yes, they replied, we are now GOING FOR 14”!

X Ray of Cathie	Cathie withour het corset

Cathy J's side view. On the left, X-ray clearly shows lengthening of space between spinal rings and midified rib position. Uncorseted photo on right shows outer body modification of her torso.