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At Normanby Island it has been a custom for some men and women to become 'professional beauties.' At the time of Róheim's visit to the island no more
professional men beauties were to be found, but the institution of professional women beauties was still in existence. Tradition and common opinion demands that the 'beauty' be small. She must especially have small breasts, and her teeth, face, vulva and public hair must also be 'small'. Her behavior has to be rather serious and not provocative; but she may never deny intercourse with any man who asks for it. A 'professional beauty' related to Róheim a dream which he believes throws some light on the psychology of the institution of her profession: she is a woman who desires all men but hides this desire behind a mask of passivity.
This high evaluation of 'small breasts' is most unusual among primitives; but infantile trends are generally characteristic for the cultural patterns of this area. It is Róheim's conclusion that the 'professional beauty' tries to deny her feminine rivalry with her mother by her passivity and the emphasis on her infantile appearance.
Two remarks of Róheim seem to lead in another direction. He states that the beauties marry only rich men. The beauty interviewed, remarked that she has been told by her mother that she was to become a professional beauty. It appears that this girl did not choose her profession entirely on her own initiative. With an appearance favorable for the 'job' economic interests would seem to have some connection with the institution.