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Micheline Bernardini modeling the bikini

Micheline Bernardini (born c. 1927) was a nude dancer at the Casino de Paris before being chosen by Louis Réard to model the first modern-day bikini on July 5, 1946 at Piscine Molitor in Paris.

Réard could not find a model who would dare to wear his design. He ended up hiring Bernardini, a 19 year old nude dancer from the Casino de Paris as his model.^[1] That bikini, a string bikini with a g-string back made out of 30 square inches (194 cm²) of cloth with newspaper type printed across, was "officially" introduced at a fashion event at Piscine Molitor, a popular public pool in Paris. The bikini was a hit, especially among men, and Bernardini received over 50,000 fan letters.^[2]

References

1. ^ Rosebush, Judson. "Michele Bernadini: The First Bikini". Bikini Science. http://www.bikiniscience.com/chronology/1945-1950_SS/LR4601_S/LR4601.html. Retrieved 2008-09-17.  
2. ^ "Bikini Introduced". A&E Television Networks. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=VideoArticle&id=6949. Retrieved 2008-09-17.