We just learned about the passing of legendary sex symbol Brigitte Bardot. She was one of the iconic figures of the 20th century and she had a huge impact on popular culture in the post-war era. Not least of which was her impact on the popularity of the bikini, making her one of the most notable figures in the history of the bikini.
The bikini was invented in 1946 by Louis Réard and initially met with resistance in that conservative era. It was banned in several countries, condemned by the Vatican, and restricted on U.S. screens. But then came Brigitte Bardot, who played a pivotal role in popularizing the bikini in the early 1950s, transforming it from a scandalous novelty into a mainstream symbol of youthful freedom and sensuality.
