Irene and Rose Maretta
A sibling group like none other, the sisters Irene and Maretta Rose were an astonishing acrobatic act. They performed as a duo in theaters before joining the circus, rising in popularity in the early 1900s. After joining the circus, they faced problems in certain states, authorities trying to stop them from performing under the assumption it was too dangerous and difficult for women to do. The circus staff simply let Rose and Irene speak for themselves on whether or not they wanted to perform, saying they could, “do as they please with their own bodies,” leaving the decision to them. And make their own decisions they did, performing their stunts anyway, to the delight of the newspapers.