Movie mermaid Esther Williams says she did some of her famous swimming scenes in lingerie.

Well, lingerie fabric, at least. The material was used because the rubber to make stretchable thread was needed for the World War II military effort.

"I begged them to please make me something that wouldn't ride up my, well, you know. And they all told me that they used all the rubber for the tanks," the 78-year-old Williams said last week during a "Tribute to Hollywood Icons of the Silver Screen" fashion show at downtown's Biltmore.

Williams said she and her costume designer finally persuaded a textiles firm to use latex with fabric.

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The result was a hot-pink satin latex suit she used in 1944's "Bathing Beauty."

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