The name 'bikini' is derived from the Bikini Atoll Island, a testing site for nuclear weapon, and an obvious reference to its explosive potential.
Swimsuit photography is a major component of glamour photography courtesy magazines like Sports Illustrated.
In the 18th century swimwear for women consisted of voluminous layered dresses tied down by weights so that the hemlines weren't pulled up when wet. The swimwear looked more like a dinner gown.
Murals from the ruins of Pompeii show woman clad in two-piece swimsuits. And you thought bikini was a recent development.
