Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (28 January 1873 – 3 August 1954) was a French writer, actress, and journalist, best remembered for Gigi, which later became a successful play and film. But beyond her literary achievements, she was a badass mf who lived on her own laws when it came to sexuality. (Which, btw, takes alot of courage, especially for the views in her time)
Colette was openly bisexual at a time when it was risky to be so. One of her most talked-about relationships was with Mathilde "Missy" de Morny, a noblewoman and the III cousin of Napoleon III. In 1907, (FUCKING POWER MOVE BTW) they also shocked a Persian crowd when they shared a kiss on stage, causing the show to be cancelled.
But Colette didn’t let public opinion control her. She kept writing, kept pushing boundaries, and kept living her life authentically, like a fucking badass. By the time she passed away on 3 August 1954 from kidney disease, she had secured her place in history as one of France’s greatest writers. She was also the first woman in France to receive a state funeral, a testament to the lasting impact she had on literature and culture. Today, she’s remembered not just for her words, but for the fact she was a fucking queen, and literally kissed NAPOLEONS NIECE. Like not emporor or anything, but she damn well was a queen.
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