Britain's female wrestlers grapple with acceptance

Wrestlers rehearse before an all female wrestling event in London. REUTERS/Neil Hall

LONDON (Reuters) - 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.