French singer and dancer Caroline Otero: biography, family and interesting facts

Carolina Otero sparkled brighter than diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, which she wore daily in a beautiful era, called La Belle Époque. This time in Europe is marked as the golden age of the appearance of cars and airplanes, photography and cinema, the fashion of bathing at sea resorts, disputes about the "women's issue", the appearance of suffragettes. This was the edge of two centuries, XIX and XX.

Fashionable woman of the time

The main symbol of the Art Nouveau style, which determined the key aesthetic trend of that era, was considered a snow-white lily. The woman had to serve her as an avatar: airy, inviting to kisses. A charming person should be pampered, adored to insanity, admire and admire, because she is very mysterious and subtle. These ideals corresponded perfectly with the luxurious Caroline Otero.

The men, as if slack, fell to her charming legs, which she did not hide, but seductively opened.

Start

Caroline Otero was born in complete poverty. The biography and family of the future star, the conquerors of men from all over the world, were at first unfavorable. Even disgusting. The single mother had five children, for whom she did not think to look. At ten years old on a village holiday, the girl was raped by the shoemaker Venasto Romero, and she hated the men forever. At the age of 12, she escaped from a house in Pontevedra, Spain, in Galicia. It was there that Caroline lived since birth (since November 4, 1868).

The girl was eager to Lisbon with her dancing partner and concurrent lover Paco. First he taught her to dance flamenco, then sent it to the panel. Then the couple moved to the capital of Portugal to sing and dance on stage. Caroline became pregnant with Paco. She had an abortion, after which it became known that the girl would never have children.

Caroline did not notice for a long time. Being quite energetic, a young señorita, who had nothing to lose, and she had to get out of poverty somehow, in 1888 she found a banker in Barcelona who taught her good manners and moved with her to Marseilles to start a dance career in France.

Paris

Completely unprincipled, she quickly abandoned her lover, and in 1889, at twenty-one, was admitted to the Follies Bergere. Mademoiselle was old for her age, but there Spanish dances were required, for which Caroline Otero was an excellent craftsman who honed her skills in the streets, in hotels and small taverns in Portugal and Spain. Yes, and her parameters were excellent: height 170 cm, 97-53-92 with a weight of 51 kg. In the second season in Follies, Otero created her own number, which brought her fame, fame and nickname Le Belle - "beautiful", entrenched behind the charming Spaniard for life.

American tour

In 1890, impresario Ernest Jagerson came to Paris from overseas to find new talents. Advertising in America has successfully worked: a new biography has been created. Caroline Otero became an Andalusian countess. Her secret relationship with King Alfonso XII was extensively advertised. He, after reading such news in the yellow press, apparently was much surprised by the vicissitudes of his private life. Sensual dances, Spanish songs, pleasant voice, rabid temperament and beauty of the performer captivated spectators and critics.

Premiere in New York

Dressed in Spanish costumes, 8 dancers, 5 musicians with mandolins and 5 with guitars appeared on the stage. Their luxurious outfits were embroidered with gold and green threads. And then there was Caroline Otero - a French singer and dancer in a white satin dress bordered by the ostrich's feathers. On the sides of the dress were cuts, so that all could see the beautiful legs. Carefully selected black hair opened a high forehead and a pale face of incredible Spanish beauty. First she sang. The voice fascinated many.

The next exit was in a peasant black-and-red dress with a velvet cape, black stockings and flowers in his hair. She danced hot, with incredible speed fingering. At the same time, the body rocked slowly, showing the most seductive curves of the thighs, neck and bust.

To conquer New York to the end, the actress arranged a dinner in the "Delmonico". She arrived in a black dress that opened a gentle neck. Flowers were pinned to their hair, a bouquet of scarlet roses, tied with a yellow ribbon, was in their hands. Carolina sang in French and Spanish, and at the end she climbed to the table, collected flowers from the banquet table, decorated her figure and, resembling a nymph, performed a Spanish dance. After that, the doors of the New York salons opened before her. Everyone wanted to see this diamond next to him.

Senorita in high society

She meets William Vanderbilt - a powerful tycoon, a famous jouyer and a life-fitter. Vanderbilt was subdued. He gave a beautiful yacht, a villa and arranged a dinner, on which oysters were served. In each autopsy, Caroline found a pearl. With triumph, she spent two years overseas, and then returned to Paris.

Enamored Impresario

Jagerson accompanied his temptress everywhere, but she ceased to be interested in him. He created her image, and enough. The man was carried away in earnest and, realizing the hopelessness of his position, brought to an end his life. Trying to suppress the scandal, the press assured that there was an accidental poisoning with gas.

But in general it is believed that because of Carolina six people committed suicide, and there were two dueling. The dancer was nicknamed the "siren of suicides".

Conquest of all men

Lovers courtesan chooses with great parsimony. She needs only those who can give homes, villas, yachts and jewelry. And do not just give. Caroline accustoms everyone to make her wonderful gifts. Caroline Otero collects an insanely expensive collection of jewelry. It includes the necklace of Queen Marie Antoinette and Empress Eugenia and a whole bolero of diamonds. One of the Russian princes pleaded with her: "Razori, but do not abandon me" and gave her a fortune.

The first who fell at the feet of Le Belle after returning from America, became the King of Monaco. It was in his bed that she realized the difference between a dirty whore and a favorite. She was credited with relations with the last German Emperor Wilhelm II, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich, kings Edward VII, Leopold II, Alfonso XIII. Almost all of them at the same time she managed to gather for her birthday on November 4, 1898 in the restaurant "Maxim". After such a dinner, the Queen of Paris was added to her name. French Prime Minister Aristide Brian also did not remain indifferent to her charms. Their relationship lasted 10 years. Carolina was fond of the intellectual Gabriele D'Annuzio.

After visiting Russia

Caroline Otero could not know about the gentle and pure love that she awoke in Petersburg. This is reminiscent of the story of the Garnet Bracelet. A young nobleman named Victor from Nikolaev was at a concert of the "Queen of Diamonds" in St. Petersburg. An irresponsible passion flared in my heart. At home, he ordered a portrait of a beauty and hung it in his office. Victor's bride presented a demand: "Either I or this portrait." The portrait remained in its place, and the wedding was upset. Victor grew old alone, without having a family.

The joyless end

Interesting Facts:

• Her portraits were written by Renoir, Vrubel, Sem and Karan d'Ash.
• The shape of the breast of Caroline Otero inspired the architect to create the dome of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.
• She lost at the casino to seven hundred thousand francs per night.
• Caroline spoke French with a terrible Spanish accent.

Otero Carolina aged, left the stage in 1914, bought a villa in Nice for $ 15 million, lost it and all her fortune in a casino and lived in a boarding house for the poor for welfare. She died in 1965 at the age of 96 years.