Wrestler Claire Heafford, who performs as the character Rag Doll, puts on her costume before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. By day, Claire Heafford works as a personal trainer but, once every few weeks, she dons a mask and takes on the role of “Rag Doll” to slam and grapple around the ring in an all-female wrestling night in London. Heafford, 36, is one of the performers at EVE, an all-female wrestling show that takes place once or twice a month in London's Bethnal Green. The event features costumed combatants taking part in carefully choreographed contests. While female wrestlers have long featured on the professional circuit in the U.S., their amateur British counterparts have faced challenges before climbing into the ring. “We had numerous venues cancelling us when they realised that the professional wrestling was featuring woman, because they thought that was the equivalent of p*rn”, Dann Read, who along with wife Emily organises EVE, told Reuters. Their cause has been helped in recent months by the advent of U.S. streaming giant Netflix's programme «Glow», a 1980s-set drama chronicling the lives of aspiring female TV wrestlers. Heafford agrees that the programme has helped to broaden British female wrestling's appeal. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





A wrestler displays her muscles as she performs at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers prepare their make up before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers rehearse before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers rehearse before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers wait before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers prepare before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers rehearse before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





A wrestler performs at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers rehearse before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers perform at an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestlers rehearse before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestler Amy Samardzija who performs as the character Candy Floss dresses before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





A wrestler prepares her make up before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestler Sabrina Casiraghi, who performs as the character Jokey, poses for a portrait before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





A wrestler puts her make up on before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





Wrestler Vicky Owen, who performs as the character Jetta, poses for a portrait before an all female wrestling event in London. England on August 17, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)