Bikini Timeline
1946: The bikini is invented in Paris by Louis Reard. The name is taken from Bkini Atoll, test site of the first hydrogen bomb.
1951: Bikinis are banned from beauty pageants after the Miss World contest. The Miss World Pageant was originally the Festival Bikini Contest.
1957: Brigitte Bardot and her bikini star in “And God Created Woman”, begining the sales demand in America.
1960: “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”, by Brian Hyland finally makes the bikini popular in America.
1963: “Beach Party“, starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon is released, launching a series of beach/bikini movies. The typical plot: boys meet girls (wearing bikinis) on the beach and dance! More U.S. bikini sales!
1964: Rudi Gernreich designs the monokini, just the bottom of a bikini swimsuit. Thus, in Europe topless sunbathing is born.
1966: “One Million Years B.C.”, starring Raquel Welsh and a fur bikini. Critics hated the film, the public loved Raquel AND the bikini!
1970’s Rio De Janeiro and St. Tropez produce the Brazilian bikini and the Thong. The standard "uniform" of bikini contests is born!
2000: The “Thong Song” by Sisqo causes a resurgence in thong bikini popularity.