In the 1960s and ’70s, a figure began to capture the public’s fascination in the world of fetish fashion — Cora Korsett. Standing well over 6 feet tall, this German BDSM dominatrix and body modification fetish model made a name for herself with her striking figure, particularly her astonishingly tiny waist.
Cora was an enigma in many ways. There is scant information available about her personal life, but what she is best known for is her unique and dramatic physical appearance. Her signature look was her incredibly narrow waist, achieved through the use of tight corseting, a practice that dates back to the Victorian era.
Cora’s unique body shape helped make her waist look even smaller than it was. She said that her large breasts and buttocks played a big role in this. Why? Because when you have a fuller upper body (like large breasts) and a fuller lower body (like wide buttocks), they make the middle part (the waist) look extra small in comparison. So, Cora’s already small waist seemed even tinier because her breasts and buttocks were much bigger. This contrast or difference in sizes emphasized her tiny waist and made it stand out more.
Imagine drawing an hourglass. The middle part, or the waist, seems incredibly thin compared to the top and bottom, right? That’s the same principle at play in Cora’s case. By enhancing her breasts and buttocks and reducing her waist size with a corset, she was emphasizing this ‘hourglass’ effect, making her waist seem even smaller than it was.
I have a rather long and narrow upper body in the normal shoulder width and hip width handsome. The distance between my hip bones and the lower ribs is relatively large,
She explained… This anatomical structure, she argued, provided more room for the narrowing of her waist. She also stated that her ribs could be compressed much closer than in a person with a broad chest.
Cora’s extreme body modification and the boldness with which she embraced it made her a symbol of audacity and rebellion against conventional beauty standards. Her choice to modify her body so dramatically was not simply about aesthetics, but also a powerful statement of self-expression and autonomy.
Her unusual appearance and willingness to push her body’s limits caught the attention of fetish magazines in the ’60s and ’70s. This added to her mystique and made her a figure of fascination in the subculture. Her images in these magazines further fueled the public’s interest and fascination with her.
