Now it’s quite easy to find out who the most beautiful woman is: just hold a large-scale vote or contest. Another thing is to appreciate the beauty of women from other eras, including ancient. This is not an easy task, but we still tried to establish what these women were. The rating is subjective and does not pretend to any reliability, but it turned out interesting.
We bring to your attention the 10 most beautiful women in the world in the history of mankind: a list of beautiful girls of all time - photos and names of pretty ladies.
10. Isadora Duncan
An American dancer (also had Soviet and French citizenship) at the beginning of the 20th century made a real revolution in dancing, creating her own style.
Isadora Duncan's dance philosophy moved away from rigid ballet technique to the fact that she perceived everything as a natural movement: "I spent long days and nights in the studio looking for this dance, which could be an expression of the human spirit through body movements. ”.
She believed that the dance was to encompass everything that life could offer - joy and sadness. Feeling uncomfortable in her native America, Isadora first left for London, where she opened her first studio, and then, when she had already achieved some fame, to France.
She also visited Russia several times, where in 1921 she met Sergei Yesenin, who became her husband, although he was 18 years younger. The marriage was short-lived: already in 1923 the couple broke up, and after 2 years Yesenin committed suicide.
Isadora survived the poet for 2 years: in 1927 she died by accident and rather stupidly when her scarf was wound on the wheels of her own car (the design of a car of those years contributed to this).
In life, she was considered a written beauty, especially when she started dancing. In addition, she was a rebel: bisexuality, atheism, sympathy with communism - at that time they preferred to remain silent about this, and Duncan was not afraid to speak openly.
9. Virginia Aldoini
Virginia Elizabeth Louise Carlotta Antonietta Teresa Maria Aldoini Born March 22, 1837 in Florence, and from her youth was unusually beautiful. At 16, she married the count, and later became the mistress of Emperor Napoleon III. This scandalous affair forced her husband to divorce her, which Virginia Aldoini herself did not regret very much.
Wishing to preserve her beauty for posterity, she turned to Pierre-Louis Pearson with a request to help her create 700 different photographs of herself beloved. She spent most of her personal fortune and even went into debt to complete this project.
Most of the pictures depict the countess in her theatrical costumes, and some depict her in poses risky for that era - in particular, her bare legs and feet, which at that time was considered indecent.
Although she was not the first photo model, she definitely made a huge contribution to the development of this industry.
When her beauty faded in the 1880s, she locked herself in the house, hanging all the mirrors so as not to see her reflection.
8. Mata Hari
If you might not know the names of previous women, then the name Mats Hari known to everyone thanks to movies, books and even music.
In art, her image is extremely popular, as she was a truly extraordinary personality. She became famous as a performer of oriental dances and a courtesan, traveling throughout Europe.
Even before the First World War, the Germans recruited her, making her a spy, which in the context of time made her image even more romantic. Alas, this ruined her: in 1917, the French shot her for espionage in favor of the enemy.
7. Yang Yuhuan
Yang Yuhuan was the wife of one of the sons of the emperor Xuanzong, but over time she managed to charm the emperor himself and he made her his wife.
She is considered one of the main beauties of ancient China, although her fate cannot be called happy: during the An-Lushan uprising, when the emperor and his motorcade fled from the capital Chang'an to Chengdu, the emperor’s guards demanded that he kill Yang Yuhuan because her cousin and several more family members supported the rebels.
The emperor capitulated and reluctantly ordered his assistant Gao Lishi to strangle Yang.
6. Zinaida Yusupova
Zinaida YusupovaBorn in 1861, was rightfully considered one of the most beautiful women in tsarist Russia, and besides, she was the most enviable bride.
She was the last representative of the noble family of the Yusupovs and the only heiress to a huge fortune, therefore, all bachelors dreamed of marrying her, and not only in Russia.
She was smart, educated, erudite, rich and beautiful - an ideal couple, anyway. She refused many men until she said yes to Count Felix Sumarokov-Elston, who was also rich.
Their son called the marriage of the parents happy, although they did not fit each other in character: Sumarokov did not differ in great intelligence and did not like secular society, being in this respect the complete opposite of Zinaida.
5. Lina Cavalieri
Born in 1874, Lina Cavalieri recognized by contemporaries as the most beautiful woman of her generation, as well as the most successful fashion model.
It was thanks to her beauty that she managed to become famous on the opera stage, since her vocal abilities were mediocre and with a not-so-chic appearance she would never have become an opera star.
Her life formed the basis of the film "The most beautiful woman in the world"1955, in which the role of Lina was played by Gene Lollobrigida.
4. Cleo de Merod
Cleo de Merod Born in Paris on September 27, 1875. She was the illegitimate daughter of the Austrian baroness Vincentia de Merod and from childhood she loved to dance. At the age of eight, Cleo was sent to study dance and made her debut at eleven.
When she grew up, she became famous for her glamor even more than for dance numbers, and her image began to be printed on playing cards and postcards.
There was no end to the men: for example, she is credited with an affair with the Belgian king Leopold III, who was 40 years older. This greatly spoiled her reputation, but did not prevent her from becoming famous all over the world.
3. Theodora
Theodora She was born around the year 500 and very early began performing in the circus with her sisters, since her father worked there. Unlike the sisters, Theodora did not have talent, but she was wildly beautiful and knew how to captivate men.
Starting as a courtesan, she later became the wife of Emperor Justinian I and ruled Byzantium on a par with her husband. Over the years, she began to get involved in religion and lead a righteous life, so she was even canonized.
A beautiful woman of easy virtue, who became an empress and a saint, is a truly unique case.
2. Phryne
This ancient Greek geter (courtesan) was born about 390 BC and became famous thanks to its beauty. She let Frine become the muse of many sculptors and make a fortune.
The only man who could not succumb to her female charms was the philosopher Xenocrates. Phryne wanted to seduce him into an argument, but lost the bet.
1. Aspasia
Another ancient Greek geter, which was also a poet, philosopher and writer.
It is authentically known that a frequent guest in her house was Socrates, and some sources claim that between them was not only friendship. Perhaps it is Aspasia inspired him to create his philosophical treatises.