Her Brigitte Bardot Foundation, established in 1986, became her new stage — one where compassion replaced glamour. The foundation fights against cruelty to animals worldwide, from banning bullfighting and fur trading to rescuing abused and abandoned animals. Bardot even sold many of her personal possessions, including jewelry and artwork, to fund her mission. Her activism is passionate and sometimes controversial — Bardot is known for her blunt honesty and strong opinions. Yet even her critics acknowledge that she has brought global attention to animal welfare long before it became a mainstream cause.
Brigitte Bardot’s influence reaches far beyond the silver screen. She redefined femininity in the post-war era — not as something fragile or submissive, but as bold, free, and self-possessed. Her signature look — bare feet, natural hair, smoky eyes, and effortless sensuality — continues to inspire designers and celebrities from Kate Moss to Claudia Schiffer. Artists from Andy Warhol to Bob Dylan have celebrated her beauty and mystique. The term “Bardot-esque” has entered fashion vocabulary to describe a look that is both innocent and provocative.
