The two European countries where bikinis were banned in history

Bikinis are considered universal swimwear in many parts of the world today.  They come in various fashion styles and colours and in different shapes and sizes.

People will wear swimwear that make them feel comfortable in their bodies during the summer to swim either in the pool or at the beach.

But they have not always been accepted everywhere in the world.

Bikinis were at some point deemed as indecent and a sign of moral decline. These swimsuits sparked controversy at some point in the United States and in Brazil, leading to bans.

These bans were driven by cultural, political, and social tensions, with debates over decency and morality shaping public perception.

In the U.S., the bikini sparked controversy when it was introduced in 1946. Conservative values of the 1950s saw it as too revealing, leading to bans on many public beaches and pools. Despite the backlash, celebrity endorsements and its appearance in movies in the late 1950s helped the bikini gain wider acceptance, though it still faced restrictions, such as in beauty pageants like Miss World.

Brazil’s President in the 60s banned bikinis when it was introduced to the country. President Janio Quadros described it as indecent and Western cultural influence and banned it in 1961.

According to the World In Maps, Brazilian icons like Helô Pinheiro and Leila Diniz defied the ban, championing the bikini as a statement of feminine freedom and national identity. Their resistance helped shift the cultural landscape, ultimately leading to the bikini becoming a celebrated aspect of Brazilian beach culture.

Here’s a map that represents this history.