AVERAGE GIRL: Women’s bodies have changed dramatically over the last 60 years

Ladies are constantly under pressure to match up to beauty ideals – but this is what the average body looks like.

A new study has revealed the extraordinary way that women's bodies have changed in the last 60 years by comparing the typical figure in 1957 and 2017.

In 1957, the average-sized British woman was 5ft 2ins tall, weighed 9st 10lbs, had size 3 feet and was a dress size 12.

She had a petite figure, with a slim waist of 28 inches and 34B breasts. Miss Average was expected to live for 73 years and earned just £10 a week.

But flash forward 60 years and the shape of the typical British woman has changed dramatically – most strikingly in her waist and breasts.

The 2017 version of Miss Normal is 5ft 5ins, weighs 11st, wears a dress size 16 and has a shoe size of 6.

Her bust has shot up more than any other part of her anatomy to a more shapely 36DD and her waistline has increased by six inches to 34 inches.

Her life expectancy has shot up too, by 10 years. Nowadays women are expected to live for 83 years and they earn on average £530 a week.

MISS NORMAL: This is how the average female body has changed over time

The graphics showing the difference in today's Miss Average with the 1957 version were put together by the lingerie brand Bluebella, which researched data on changing body shapes from government statistics.

Hollywood beauty Natalie Wood one of the biggest stars of 1957 having just appeared in iconic movies Rebel Without a Cause and The Searchers had the same 34B bust size and body shape of the average woman 60 years ago.

Meanwhile reality TV star Kim Kardashian's surgically enhanced 36DD bust is the same size as the average 2017 woman.

Bluebella chief executive Emily Bendell said that 2017's Miss Average was far more body conscious that her 1957 equivalent.

She said: "She is likely to exercise at least twice a week – consuming 2,300 calories a day compared to 1,800 calories back then.

"She is much healthier than her Fifties counterpart and devotes around 30% more of her income to her wardrobe.

"This is reflected in the size of her lingerie collection which is twice the size of 1950s woman. She now has an average of 12 bras compared to just six in the 1950s."

Emily said the fashion industry has had to adapt fast to the changing shape of Miss Average.

She continued: ”It is extraordinary how much Miss Average has changed over the last 60 years.

"She has changed from being quite petite with what would be considered quite small breasts by today's standards to a much more fuller figured silhouette.

"That has presented real challenges for designers and lingerie brands.

“At Bluebella we are creating lingerie and nightwear collections to reflect this changing body shape from stylishly chic everyday pieces to show-stopping provocative pieces designed to inspire and empower.

"Today's women see lingerie and nightwear as fashion crossover pieces, a trend not seen back in the 1950s."

How we lived in 1957

1. Just 33% of households had a washing machine

2. Only 10% of homes had a telephone

3. Average wage was £10 a week

4. Life expectancy was just 68 years for men and 71 for women

5. Biggest female movie star in the world was Marilyn Monroe

How we live in 2017

1. 78% of us have smartphones

2. Average wage is £530

3. Life expectancy for men is 79 years and 83 years for women

4. Biggest movie star in the world is Jennifer Lawrence

5. 98% of homes have a washing machine