Carolina Otero sparkled brighter than diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, which she wore daily in the beautiful era called La Belle Époque. This time in Europe is marked as the golden age of the advent of cars and airplanes, photography and cinema, the fashion of swimming in sea resorts, disputes about the “women's issue”, and the advent of suffragists. It was the verge of two centuries, XIX and XX.
Fashionable woman of that 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 was supposed to serve as her personification: airy, calling for kisses. The lovely lady should be pampered, adored to madness, admired and bowed, because she is the mystery and sophistication itself. Luxurious Carolina Otero was fully consistent with these ideals.
Men, as slanted, fell to her charming legs, which she did not hide, but opened seductively.
Start
In complete poverty Carolina Otero was born. The biography and the family of the future star, the conqueror of men all over the world, developed first at a disadvantage. Even disgusting. The single mother had five children, whom she did not think to watch. At ten years old, on a village holiday, the girl was raped by the shoemaker Venasto Romero, and she hated men forever. At 12, she fled from a house in the city of Pontevedra, in Spanish Galicia. It was there that Carolina lived from birth (from November 4, 1868).
The girl was eager for Lisbon with her dance partner and part-time lover Paco. First, he taught her to dance flamenco, then sent to the panel. Then the couple moved to the capital of Portugal to sing and dance on stage. Carolina became pregnant from Paco. She had an abortion, after which it became known: the girl will never have children.
Carolina was not noticed for a long time. Being energetic enough, the young senorita, who had nothing to lose, but had to somehow get out of poverty, found a banker in Barcelona in 1888, who taught her good manners and moved with her to Marseille so that she could start a dance career in France.
Paris
Completely unprincipled, she quite quickly abandoned her lover, and in 1889, at twenty-one, was admitted to Follies Bergere. Mademoiselle was a little old for this institution by age, but Spanish dances were required there, for which Carolina Otero was an excellent craftswoman, who honed her skills in the streets, in hotels and small taverns of Portugal and Spain. And her parameters were excellent: height 170 cm, 97–53–92 with a weight of 51 kg. In the second season at Follies, Otero created her own number, which brought her fame, fame and the nickname Le Belle - “beautiful”, fixed to the charming Spanish woman for life.
American tour
In 1890, Impresario Ernest Jagerson arrived in Paris from across the ocean to find new talents. Advertising in America worked successfully: a new biography was created. Carolina Otero became Andalusian Countess. Her secret connection with King Alphonse XII was widely publicized. Having read such news in the yellow press, he was apparently amazed at the vicissitudes of his private life. Sensual dances, Spanish songs, a pleasant voice, frenzied temperament and beauty of the performer won the audience and critics.
New York premiere
Dressed in Spanish costumes, 8 dancers, 5 musicians with mandolins and 5 with guitars , entered the stage. Their luxurious outfits were embroidered with gold and green threads. And then Carolina Otero appeared - a French singer and dancer in a white satin dress bordered by ostrich feathers. There were cuts on the sides of the outfit so that everyone could see beautiful legs. Carefully selected black hair revealed a high forehead and a pale face of incredible Spanish beauty. At first she sang. The voice fascinated many.
The next exit was in a peasant black and red outfit with a velvet cape, black stockings and flowers in her hair. She danced khota, fingering with incredible speed. At the same time, the body swayed languidly, showing the most seductive bends of the hips, neck and bust.
To conquer New York to the end, the artist staged a dinner at Delmonico. She arrived in a black dress that revealed a delicate neck. Flowers were pinned to her hair, in her hands a bouquet of red roses tied with a yellow ribbon. Carolina sang in French and Spanish, and at the end she went up to the table, gathered flowers from the banquet table, decorated her figurine and, becoming like a nymph, performed a Spanish dance. After that, the doors of New York salons opened before her. Everyone wanted to see this diamond next to them.
Senorita in high society
She meets with William Vanderbilt - a powerful tycoon, a famous jouir and playboy. Vanderbilt was subdued. He gave the beauty a yacht, a villa and arranged a dinner at which oysters were served. In each, at autopsy, Carolina found a pearl. In triumph, she spent two years overseas, and then returned to Paris.
Impresario in love
Jaggerson accompanied his temptress everywhere, but she ceased to be interested in him. He created her image, and enough. The man was enthusiastic in earnest and, realizing the hopelessness of his situation, he took his own life. Trying to hush up the scandal, the press assured that there was an accidental gas poisoning.
But in general, they believe that because of Carolina, six people committed suicide, and two duels occurred. The dancer received the nickname "suicide siren."
The conquest of all men
The courtesan chooses lovers with great analysis. She needs only those who can give houses, villas, yachts and jewelry. And not just give. Carolina teaches everyone to give her great gifts. Carolina Otero collects an insanely expensive collection of jewelry. It includes a necklace of Queen Marie Antoinette and Empress Eugenia and a whole diamond bolero. One of the Russian princes begged her: "Predator, but do not abandon me" and gave her a fortune.
The first to fall at Le Belle's feet after returning from America was King of Monaco. It was in his bed that she realized the difference between a dirty whore and a favorite. She was credited with ties with the last German Emperor Wilhelm II, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich, Kings Eduard VII, Leopold II, Alfonso XIII. She managed to gather almost all of them at the same time for her birthday on November 4, 1898, in the Maxim restaurant. After such a dinner, the Queen of Paris was added to her name. The Prime Minister of France Aristide Briand also did not remain indifferent to her charms. Their relationship lasted 10 years. Carolina was fond of the intellectual Gabriele DʹAnnucio.
After visiting Russia
Carolina Otero could not know about the tender and pure love that she awakened in St. Petersburg. This is reminiscent of the story of the “Garnet Bracelet”. The young nobleman named Victor from Nikolaev was at a concert of "Queen of Diamonds" in Petersburg. Unrequited passion flashed in my heart. At home, he ordered a portrait of the beauty and hung in his office. The bride of Victor made a demand: "Either I or this portrait." The portrait remained in place, and the wedding was upset. Victor grew old alone, never having a family.
Joyless end
Interesting Facts:
- Her portraits were painted by Renoir, Vrubel, Sem and Caran d'Ache.
- Carolina Otero's breast shape inspired the architect to create the dome of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.
- She lost in the casino up to seven hundred thousand francs per night.
- Carolina spoke French with an eerie Spanish accent.
Otero Carolina got old, left the stage in 1914, bought a villa in Nice for $ 15 million, lost her and all her fortune to a casino, and lived in a poor guesthouse on allowance. She died in 1965 at the age of 96.