There has been a steady trend among celebrities to show skin at functions in the West.

Statistics show that celebrities are now exposing 59 percent of their bodies. In the next six years, if the current graph continues, it is expected to go up to 75 percent.

It is a far cry from an earlier era when classic beauties like Ava Gardner, Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot ruled the roost, according to the Australian, a local daily.

Even in the free-spirited 1970s, celebrities exposed as little as seven percent of their flesh. That rose to 13 percent by 1980.

The change came during the 1990s when Liz Hurley arrived for the premier of the "Four Weddings And A Funeral" premiere in London accompanied by its star Hugh Grant in an Versace gown held together by "designer" safety pins.

Others followed over the years.

"The formal black tie dress which then dominated the red carpet has gradually been replaced with attire which is much more experimental and often more risque," said Chris Hilton, manager of the Odeon Leicester Square, London's host to the bulk of movie premieres.

He regrets that current premiere dress is almost unrecognisable from the traditional glamour of the 1950s.

The experts calculated the amount of flesh being exposed by selecting 10 photographs from each period and putting the images together on a template.

Modern day stars such as Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera and even Kylie Minogue have occasionally "bared enough flesh to make us blush", the Australian said.

--Indo-Asian News Service