Brigitte Bardot, born in Paris on September 28, 1934, was a renowned model, singer, and actress who became just as famous for her iconic style as for her acting roles. At 89, she leads a different life, having retired at the height of her career to become a passionate animal rights activist.
The budding actress, then a brunette, at home in Paris in 1952. (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Almost 70 years after her rise to fame, Bardot’s fashion and beauty choices continue to leave an indelible mark on the world. Let’s revisit her extraordinary journey and how she became one of the most influential style icons of all time.
Bardot, pictured at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953, was once declared "one of the most iconic faces, models, and actors of the 1950s and 1960s". (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Raised in a luxurious Parisian apartment with her younger sister Mijanou, Bardot grew resentful of her parents' strict rules. At the age of 7, she began ballet lessons, and by 14, she was accepted into the Conservatoire de Paris. It was also during this time that she was discovered as a fashion model, and at just 15, she graced the cover of Elle, marking the start of her career in both modeling and acting.
Bardot rocks a bikini - another icon of French fashion - in Cannes in 1953. (Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
Her first acting break came when she met Roger Vadim at an audition. Despite her parents' disapproval, she married Vadim in 1952, shortly after another Elle cover led to her first film role. In 1953, Bardot appeared in a Hollywood film shot in Paris, and her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival that year attracted significant media attention.
The phrase "sex kitten" was inspired by Bardot. (Getty)
Her big break came in 1956 with the film And God Created Woman, which solidified her status as a sex symbol and inspired the term "sex kitten" to describe her allure. Despite her personal life being marked by a series of relationships and marriages, her status as a style icon was unquestionable. Bardot became a muse for renowned French designers like Dior, Balmain, and Pierre Cardin.
The style icon influenced everything from clothing to shoes to hairstyles. (AP)
Thousands, if not millions" of women were inspired to tease their hair after seeing her signature style. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Arch)
Bardot's fashion influence was immense. She popularized off-the-shoulder tops, inspired a pair of ballet flats by shoemaker Repetto, and made gingham dresses iconic—especially after wearing a pink chequered dress for her 1959 wedding. She also had an enduring impact on hair and beauty trends. Her signature beehive and half-up, half-down styles became synonymous with her, while her winged eyeliner and full lips are still celebrated today.
Bardot in a 1956 photo shoot. (Getty)
Bardot’s poses became pop culture phenomena, with her “Bardot Pose” influencing countless imitations. Her style and beauty have inspired generations of women, including celebrities like Claudia Schiffer, Kylie Minogue, and Nicole Kidman, who have cited Bardot as a key influence in their fashion choices.
Bardot in the back of a limousine in London, 1968. By then, she had adopted an edgier but still very French chic style. (Getty)
She was a muse for actors and musicians alike. (Getty)
Though Bardot retired from acting in 1973, she remained a figure of immense cultural impact. After stepping away from the spotlight, she focused on animal rights, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to advocate for animal protection. She married for a fourth time in 1992, continuing to live in Saint-Tropez, the town she helped make famous through her 1956 film.
From her groundbreaking fashion choices to her lasting legacy as a beauty icon, Brigitte Bardot’s influence remains as strong as ever.
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