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In 1968, one of France’s most iconic figures, Serge Gainsbourg, astonished his audience with a new album titled Les Initiales B.B.. The album, which would later be named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best rock albums in French history, was entirely dedicated to his former lover and muse: the famous Brigitte Bardot, the French goddess of beauty, with whom he had just broken up.
One of the most renowned sex symbols of the 1950s and 60s, a ballerina, model, and successful actress, Brigitte Bardot seduced the world so completely that her name became synonymous with charm itself.
In 1969, thanks to her wild spirit, she was chosen to embody Marianne, the supreme symbol of France's liberty. She posed draped in the French flag at a time when such a gesture required the bold breaking of societal barriers. She attended an official meeting with Charles de Gaulle, the President of France, dressed as a hussar from Napoleon’s army, even though the Élysée Palace protocol forbade women from wearing trousers to evening events. Beyond her stunning beauty, her attitude also inspired the intellectual world, with Bardot becoming the subject of an essay by Simone de Beauvoir titled The Lolita Syndrome.
She was considered one of the most libertine women in post-war France and, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful women in history. The film that brought her unprecedented fame, And God Created Woman (1959), directed by Roger Vadim, revolutionized cinema with its controversy, presenting a Bardot who exuded seduction from every pore. The famous scene in which her character, the orphan Juliette, gives in to the intensity of the moment, dancing barefoot, her skin glistening with sweat, and releasing an unimaginable sexual energy, scandalized America, which banned the film for debauchery and incitement to indecent acts. As a result, the scene became a reference in film history, symbolizing absolute freedom.
But Bardot’s freedom wasn’t limited to her acting career. In her personal life, she followed the same principles of absolute authenticity, acting without constraints and only in the directions she felt true to herself. With an extremely complex personality, Bardot not only rejected society’s rules, but more importantly, she imposed and lived by her own rules, unlike many other Hollywood divas. For men, she was a dream; for women, a role model, being the first woman to publicly display her sexual freedom and turn it into an aspiration. Sociologists say that before Bardot, women like her were called salopes (sluts). After Bardot, they were simply seen as free and courageous.
Few people know that the famous hit Je t’aime... moi non plus was composed in a single night, especially for Bardot, who had asked Serge Gainsbourg to write the most beautiful love song ever created. It was 1967, and the song was recorded as a duet in a Paris studio, but this first version was withdrawn from the market due to the jealousy of Gunter Sachs, Bardot's husband at the time. Although Gainsbourg later recorded the single with Jane Birkin, the version that is most known today, the song was originally written for Bardot.
However, her life was far from as easy as one might think, judging solely by her fame and success. On the contrary, we could say it was quite the opposite.
The relentless scrutiny of the press, which followed her every move, harassing, exhausting, and even attacking her, often caused her undeserved suffering. The love affairs she fully committed to, including four marriages, were always in search of peace and fulfillment, something she never truly found—not even through motherhood, which never suited her. Betrayals from friends and people she loved were not uncommon either. Gradually, she decided to give up her wealth and dedicate her life to the only beings she felt had loved her unconditionally: animals, becoming their indisputable protector.
Today, Bardot is approaching the venerable age of 90, yet her beauty remains timeless. Her grace, charm, and elegance seem untouched. Her blonde-gray curls frame a face marked by wrinkles, yet femininity shines through each one. The delicacy of her gestures, her voice, her posture, and even her movements, slowed by age, prove that what is authentic and genuine never ages. For many, Brigitte Bardot will forever remain a true icon and the epitome of femininity.
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