She was known as the Charleston Queen, and while she didn’t invent the dance (some believe the dance originated from an African-American dance called the Juba), she was one of the dance’s most prominent advocates. Blonde and vivacious, Bee Jackson had the world in the palm of her hand. At fifteen years old, she was a chorus dancer in the Zeigfield Follies.  Eventually, she toured Europe, had royalty chasing after her, and was a member of high society. A celebrity of the highest degree, Jackson’s legs were insured for $100,000, almost 25 years before Betty Grable did it.

Some say the expression, “Bee’s Knees” are a reference to her, the first white woman to dance the Charleston in public, but others dispute this since the term was in use before Jackson came along. There is no disputing that her legs could fly:

Bee Jackson was in rehearsals for a new show at the Paramount Club in Chicago in the summer of 1933 when she suffered an attack of appendicitis. As a result of complications from the appendectomy, Bee died on July 18th when she was only 24.

Bee Jackson is mentioned here because she was a Chihuahua exhibitor, her best dog thought to be La Rex Snow Flake. The link takes you to an impossibly small photograph, but the full size photo may be found in Susan Payne’s book, The Chihuahua.

We can’t conclude without mentioning Ksenia Parkhatskaya who, with respect to Bee Jackson, does an amazing Charleston:

Photo of Bee Jackson found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information