CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHT: ESTHER WILLIAMS – HOLLYWOOD’S MERMAID QUEEN STILL MAKES WAVES IN PALM SPRINGS
- Gladys Goldbach
- Aug 9
- 4 min read
By Gladys Goldbach | August 8, 2025
Happy Birthday to the ultimate poolside icon, the original Hot Girl Summer, and the undisputed Queen of Synchronized Sass – Esther Williams! Born on August 8, 1921, Esther would have turned 104 today, and trust us, she’d still be doing underwater twirls with perfect red lipstick if she could.
While many know her as the sparkling star of MGM’s famous “aqua musicals,” what Squad readers might not know is that Esther Williams wasn’t just a Hollywood legend — she was a desert diva too.
Let’s take a little splash down memory lane…
Esther & Palm Springs: A Match Made in Poolside Heaven
Esther wasn’t just Palm Springs-adjacent — she was poolside royalty in the Coachella Valley. In September 1955, she graced the cover of Palm Springs Villager magazine, lounging poolside at the legendary Chi Chi nightclub. And get this — the pool she was lounging by? It was designed by her own company: Esther Williams Swimming Pools. Yes, she sold pools. Yes, she was THAT girl.
In the feature, she modeled a swimsuit she co-designed with Cole of California, showing off a blend of Hollywood glam and functional chic long before pool-to-party wear was a thing.
A Career That Was All Wet (In the Best Way)
Esther wasn’t just a beauty — she was the backbone of a whole film genre. Known as the “Million Dollar Mermaid” (also the title of her 1952 biopic), she turned pool choreography into box office gold.
Some of her splashiest hits?
"Bathing Beauty" (1944) – her breakout role and MGM’s first full Technicolor musical. She literally swam her way to stardom.
"Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952) – an iconic, glitter-soaked biopic where she played Australian swimming champ Annette Kellerman.
"Dangerous When Wet" (1953) – because who else could co-star in a musical with animated Tom & Jerry and make it look chic?
Her underwater scenes were cinematic poetry — often filmed without stunt doubles. She was doing underwater ballet in heels before TikTok could even dream of it.
From Mermaids to Mayors
Esther’s desert legacy goes beyond stylish splashes. In 1940, she performed alongside fellow swim icon Johnny Weissmuller at the El Mirador Hotel Swimming and Diving Meet. That performance catapulted her into the Hollywood spotlight and started a lifelong connection with the California desert.
By 1948, the town of Twentynine Palms made her its Honorary Mayor (seriously, iconic behavior). She frequently visited the area, bonding with locals, soaking up the scenery, and even learning to ride horses for a film role. She was literally everywhere — the pools, the
desert trails, the pages of every glossy magazine.
Legacy in Motion: Enter the Aqua Lilies
Esther’s impact lives on not just in film reels, but in synchronized flesh. Inspired by her glamorous water ballets, The Aqua Lilies — a modern synchronized swimming troupe — continue her legacy with retro flair. Known for performing at chic soirées and private events, they often make a splash (pun absolutely intended) during Modernism Week in Palm Springs.
These gals don vintage-style swimsuits, bold red lips, and Esther-level elegance as they perform choreographed routines in iconic pools across the city — turning every cocktail party into a live MGM musical.
If you catch them mid-backflip at a midcentury modern bash, just know: Esther would approve.
A Star That Should Shine in Palm Springs
Though she passed in 2013, Palm Springs Life Magazine published a beautiful tribute to the mermaid goddess. And while Esther has a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she surprisingly does not have one in Palm Springs — yet.
We’re just gonna say it: someone get the Walk of Stars committee on the phone. This queen designed pools, shot fashion editorials, and brought global attention to desert glamour. She deserves a star on Palm Canyon Drive like… yesterday.
Final Splash
Esther Williams wasn’t just a movie star — she was a movement. She brought grace to swimming, power to femininity, and glamour to Palm Springs in a way that still lingers like chlorine in the air on a hot August afternoon.
So today, on 8/8, the same day the Lions Gate Portal opens (cosmic? we think YES), raise your glass, your waterproof mascara, and your pool floatie to Esther Williams — the woman who made water look like a red carpet.
#EstherWilliams #PalmSpringsLegend #HotGirlHistory #SplashQueen #AquaLilies #GiveHerAStar #SquadApproved
About the Author
Meet Gladys Goldbach, the funky grandma who brings her love for writing about pop culture to life while passionately playing bingo! With a colorful personality and a knack for spotting trends, she dives into everything from celebrity news to nostalgic moments. Gladys proves that staying stylish and in-the-know is ageless, all while shouting “Bingo!” with a smile!
Comments