When Annette Kellerman was a young girl in Australia, she had a disease that made it hard for her to walk. She had to use braces on her legs. A doctor recommended that she swim to build the muscles in her legs. At first she was afraid of the water, but eventually she learned to love swimming and she created water ballet. Her father took her to England to perform for an audience but no one accepted a woman who swam until Annette hopped into the English Channel and started to swim. That made some waves. Annette made waves everywhere she went eventually coming to Boston where she was arrested for appearing in public in her bathing suit. The judge let her go and women began adopting the bathing costume or swimsuit that Annette wore so comfortably. Now every woman could swim. Annette became an advocate for swimming and even consulted with President Franklin D. Roosevelt about her "water cure." The Mermaid Queen encouraged everyone to exercise for good health and good self esteem. She called swimming "the best sport in the world for women." Great role model for girls and boys alike. 48 pages