The rear has been the focus of fashion since the 19th century when the highly fashionable bustle highlighted and exaggerated the form of female bottom. But it was the 1940's and 50's before the rear really came into its own,thanks to Betty Grable, Marylyn Monroe and Jane Russel- and a full, rounded rear view.

It was all change in the 1960's with a smaller, neater rear popularized by 'Twiggy' and Jean 'The Shrimp' Shrimpton.The 1970's and 80's brought with them a gradual increase in the size of fashionable rears until the 1990's when health and fitness became a major fashion influence-slimmer and trimmer being the key ambitions of the fashion conscious.

Last year the fitness theme was still apparent and Javine Hylton danced her way to the peak of rear supremacy. For 2007, the 25th Anniversary of the Rear of the Year, bottoms are slightly more rounded although they remain pert and well defined.