One of the World’s First Supermodels: Stunning Photos of Bettina Graziani in the Early 1950s

Born 1925 as Simone Micheline Bodin, French fashion model Bettina Graziani was invited by Christian Dior to join his fashion house which she refused, choosing instead to work for Jacques Fath.

Bettina Graziani in the early 1950s

Bettina became one of the century’s first supermodels, rivalled in the 1940s only by Barbara Goalen. She was associated with Lucien Lelong and Jacques Fath, but most importantly with Hubert de Givenchy, for whom she worked as a model and press agent. Givenchy named his first collection, which debuted in 1952, after her. One of his designs, the Byronesque “Bettina blouse”, became a fashion icon in the early 1950s and inspired the bottle for the best-selling Givenchy perfume Amarige.

Bettina retired from modeling in 1955 after meeting Prince Aly Khan. In 1960, Bettina, then pregnant with their child, survived the car accident that took the life of the prince; the shock of the accident later resulted in a miscarriage. After Khan’s death, Bettina wrote the autobiography Bettina par Bettina. She died at age 89 in 2015.

Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of a young Bettina Graziani in the early 1950s.

Bettina in Pierre Balmain design, photo by Henry Clarke, Album de Figaro, 1950

Bettina in Fath's organdy evening dress with fern embroidery by Lesage, photo by Willy Maywald, spring 1950

Bettina in brick-red wool jacket lined in purple, worn over black hooded sweater and black gabardine pants, by Manguin, photo by Pottier, 1950

Bettina in a Jacques Fath ball gown fit for a queen, 1950

Bettina in day dress by Jacques Fath, photo by Willy Maywald, Place des Vosges, Paris, 1950

Bettina in dress from Dior's 'Diabolo' line, photo by Irving Penn, American Vogue, September 1, 1950

Bettina in gorgeous organdy dress embroidered with delicate traceries of ferns and sequins by Jacques Fath, photo by Norman Parkinson at the home of Jacques Fath, Vogue, April 1, 1950

Bettina in graceful black silk evening gown, the tunic is decorated with band of roses, by Grès, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

Bettina in gray lace dress, skirt is wound round with frilly lace ruffles, by Robert Piguet, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950

Bettina in plaid wool worsted sheath under a big black velveteen coat inter-lined and braid-bound, both by H. & D., earrings by Kramer, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 15, 1950

Bettina in rust box-cardigan jacket of brushed wool edged with black braid lined in black rayon jersey and completely reversible, skirt is banker's gray flannel, both at Bonwit Teller, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 15, 1950

Bettina in strapless belted dress of tucked silk crepe by Dior with bretelle gloves buttoning at the back, photo by Irving Penn, 1950

Bettina in the "Red Shoes" evening gown by Jacques Fath, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, September 1950

Bettina is wearing coat designed by Balenciaga, photo by Henry Clarke, 1950

Bettina modeling a Jacques Fath dress, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1950

Bettina wearing one-shoulder dress by Jacques Fath, photo by Gordon Parks, 1950

Bettina with her haircut 'a la Zizi Jeanmaire' is wearing satin evening gown with apron effect by Jacques Fath, photo by Seeberger Bros., 1950

Bettina in dress of black matte wool bodice over black taffeta skirt and shawl, black cap with red rose completes the look by Christian Dior, photo by Pottier, 1951

Bettina in violet wool suit, jacket is fitted with boldy notched lapel, skirt is bell shaped, blouse in tortoise shell silk by Paquin, photo by Pottier, 1951

Bettina in wool mohair jacket by Jacques Fath, photo by Henry Clarke, spring 1951

Bettina, wearing her own clothes, poses for photographer Roger Prigent during a trip to the United States, 1951

Bettina Graziani, Health & Beauty editorial, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1952

Bettina in an astrakhan jacket and beret by Revillon, photo by Emile Savitry, 1952

Bettina in coat and "lantern" scarf by Givenchy, photo by Nat Farbman, Paris, February 1952

Bettina in Dior's simple but elegant dinner dress, photo by Frances McLaughlin, 1952

Bettina in furry wool redingote with cape-like shawl clasped over shoulders, fastened with whimsical half buttons, by Jean Dessès, photo by Pottier, 1952

Bettina in Givenchy's cotton blouse with black embroidered ruffles called "Blanchisseuse" (washerwoman) tucked into a slim gabardine skirt, photo by Nat Farbman, February 1952

Bettina in Givenchy's smock-style off-shoulder dress, photo by Nat Farbman, Paris, February 1952

Bettina in sequined and beaded gown with white capelet by Givenchy, photo by Milton Greene for American Vogue, Weston, Connecticut, 1952

Bettina in silk gown and stole of white organza framed by wide satin ribbon from Givenchy's first collection, photo by Henry Clarke, 1952

Bettina is wearing a hat designed by Gilbert Orcel, photo by Henry Clarke, 1952

Bettina is wearing headscarf covered with paillettes by Givenchy, photo by Nat Farbman, February 1952

Bettina wearing Givenchy, photo by Willy Rizzo, Paris, April 1952

Bettina wearing Jacques Fath design, photo by Willy Maywald, 1952

Bettina, photo by Milton Greene, 1952

Bettina, photo by Milton Greene, 1952

Bettina, photo by Milton Greene, 1952

Bettina, photo by Milton Greene, Paris, 1952

Bettina in dress with two lives; by day broderie Anglaise over sky-blue taffeta; at night the overdress is removed to reveal the lining as a short décolleté evening dress by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

Bettina in a suit by Givenchy, photo by Georges Dambier, Elle, March 2, 1953

Bettina in a suit by Madeleine de Rauch, photo by Georges Dambier, Elle, March 2, 1953

Bettina in mink coat by Maurice Kotler, jewelry by Chaumet, photo by Georges Saad, 1953

Bettina in suit by Christian Dior, photo by Georges Dambier, Elle, March 1953

Bettina is wearing a geranium-pink jersey velours self-lined stole by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1953

Bettina is wearing an alpaca vest under a plaid piqué suit by Manguin, photo by Georges Dambier, Elle, March 2, 1953

Bettina wearing a pink strapless gown and embellished organdy coat from Dior, photo by Henry Clarke, Paris, May 1953

Bettina wearing velvet veiled hat by Paulette, photo by Georges Dambier, Arachnée, November 1953

Bettina, the "Rive Droite beauty," posing for Jacques Fath perfumes, wearing hat covered with ostrich feathers, photo by Guy Arsac, Vogue France, April 1953

Bettina Graziani, photo by Lionel Kazan, variant used for cover of Elle, July 1954

Bettina Graziani, photo by Lionel Kazan, quai de Béthune, Paris, Elle, July 1954