A strongwoman is a woman who performs feats of strength in a show or circus, or a woman who competes in strength athletics. Traditionally, strongwomen have had a special appeal, as women involved in demonstrated feats of strength were exceptions. Traditional strongwomen Traditionally, strongwomen were featured as performers in a circus, or in vaudeville, music halls, or other venues, and engaged in feats of strength such as barbell lifting and human juggling. Some famous traditional strongwomen include: Miss Athléta (Athleta Van Huffelen), (1865 – 1927) born in Belgium. Minerva (Josephine Blatt née Wohlford), (1869 – 1923) born in New Jersey. Vulcana (Miriam Kate Williams aka Kate Roberts), (1874 – 1946) born in Abergavenny, Wales. Miss Apollina (Elise Gillaine Herbigneaux), (1874 – Unknown) born in Belgium. Charmion (Laverie Vallee née Cooper), (1875 – 1949) born in Sacramento, California. Macarte Sisters, a British strongwoman trio act of the late 19th and early 20th-centuries: Julia (1878–1958); Adelaide (1879–1908) and Cecilia (1881–1939) Marina Lurs (Maria Loorberg), (1881 – 1922) born in Estonia. Anette Busch, (1882 – 1969) born in Estonia. Katie Sandwina, (1884 – 1952) born in Vienna, Austria. Marie Ford, (1900 – Unknown) born in New York. Ivy Russell, (1907 – Unknown) born in Croydon, England. Luisita Leers (Martha Luise Krökel), (1909 – 1997) born in Germany. Mildred Burke, (1915 – 1989) born in Coffeyville, Kansas Abbye "Pudgy" Stockton, (1917 – 2006) born in Santa Monica, California. Joan Rhodes, (1920 – 2010) born in London, England. Modern-day strongwomen In recent years, the term strongwoman has come to refer to the women who compete in events such as the annual World's Strongest Woman and Arnold Pro Strongwoman competitions, sanctioned by the International Federation of Strength Athletes (IFSA) and Arnold Sports Festival. Strongwomen compete in the sport of Strongman and the sport has become some popular with female strength athletes over the past decade that there are several state and nationally sanctioned competitions that prepare amateur female athletes for national competitions that allow for the opportunity to compete as professionals. In all these contests, the participants compete in similar types of events that can be found in a Strongman competition. Such events include, but are not limited to: Deadlift with various implements such as a barbell, axle, loaded frame, car, etc., all of varying weights Squat (exercise) – of varying weight, often the barbell or axle is loaded with wagon or truck wheels that are