The Scandal Filled Life Of Cléo de Mérode 

If you have any suggestions for historical videos, please leave them below! Apologies for the sound issues. If you want to support this channel, you can find me at www.buymeacoffee.com/indiascarlett

In today's age of every minor celebrity and IG influencer getting shoved down our throats, why do I just now hear about this woman?? Hers is a life truly worth remembering.

I've never heard of her before this, but her life was certainly remarkable. What an interesting video.

This Woman was ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!! She was AWESOME! I LOVE THAT SHE DEFENDED HERSELF IN A BOOK AND USED THE LIES TO HELP PROPEL HER STARDOM!!! SHE WAS A ROCK STAR BEFORE ROCKSTARS!!!

This is very well done. Your voice is so calming, thank you!

The nude statue seems to be made of blending a traditional bust (one with a neck, shoulders rounded down to the upper chest, but no shoulders), with the body cast of a different model. Looking at photos of her in sleeveless dresses with low necks the statue does not match her body. The arms and hands are entirely different and and they don’t match up. The waist is also proportionately different in relation to hips and chest than hers. Even the legs are different. The shoulders of the nude (adult) statue look like they were blended onto a bust and they’re not at all like hers or even the shoulders of a dancer, they’re held entirely too high, the musculature is wrong. As a dancer holds her shoulders down at all times, they develop differently, with less definition and this elongates the neck. As for her ears, it was considered modest to cover ones ears. Notice the same hairstyles were common during the 1800’s, especially around the time of the Civil War of the US.

That was very interesting indeed. As a dancer myself, with a fairly extensive familiarity with ballet culture and its imagery, both historic and current, I gained quite a bit of insight and context from this single biography. I was already quite familiar with some of the photographs of Cleo depicting particular characters. I was not aware however, that her image had transcended the niche world of ballet, nor that there were so many images of her in other contexts. There is also something interesting about her hair. In ballet culture, this odd hairstyle has become associated in the public mind with ballet in general, when in fact it is only ever worn in one particular ballet, Giselle. While this hairstyle was fashionable at the time of Giselle’s premier (1841), it was no longer in fashion, on or off the ballet stage prior to Cleo’s career. I am not aware of a direct connection between her and the ballet Giselle, yet for some reason Giselle is the only ballet in the classical repertoire in which purists insist that this particular hairstyle be worn. Nearly every other ballet from the same period also featured this style, but no other ballet from this or any other period is given the same attention on this detail. The oddity of it has always struck me. I’m starting to wonder if Cleo had anything to do with it. It was around the same time as Cleo’s career that ballet began opening up to the masses. It makes sense to me how her fame helped solidify the template of the ballerina in the public imagination. I’m wondering if her fame also had an impact on how we depict a certain historic work from the repertoire.

She really was a rare beauty for any age. It’s sad what the rumors and press did to her, but she remained strong.

What a beauty! Even her last photos at the end of her life, are stunning!

Thank you for this wonderfully well researched bio. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Cleo life was fascinating and the Belle Epoque was a momentous time be be alive in! Another interesting life is Marquesa Luisa Casati. 😊

She aged well. Even in her senior years, she had beautiful eyes! Despite the inevitable skin aging, you couldn't help focus on those large and beautiful eyes. Also, she seemed to overcome her life experiences, that relationship where her lover left her for a younger woman. By then, she was a strong woman that was well equipped to move on. Bravo to her!

What an amazing woman. Yes, beautiful and savvy. A sweet summary of her life was lovely; thank you.

Thank you for this video. I used to collect antique postcards, so I've known about Cleo de Merode for a while. I'm glad to see a video on her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, welldone

You deserve many more views than this, your video is phenomenal!

Although there were plenty of nasty references about dancers becoming courtesans and dependent on men, it was mostly out of necessity. Cleo had family money and background and so didn't need to prostitute her talents. This is a story as old as time, young girl and old man. Ugh.

Around 4:43 it is referred to the "typical tight laced waist" and although Cléo was, by her position in society and du to her fame, probably using tight lacing, it is not the standard! It never was. There has been made an increasingly lot of effort by quite a few youtubers (such as Bernadette Banner) over the last years and I suggest you watch them. Like in the epic blue ballgown in the 2005 Cinderella movie shows, a tiny wais is more times than not an optical illusion, where a smooth look and flattering proportions are rather achieved through padding up than cinching in. tl;dr tight lacing is no standard, it is a well crafted optical illusion

Subbed. Yours is the first profile of hers with as much biographic, cultural context I've heard no where else. Brava!

This was a wonderful video, from the music, to the pictures and to your beautiful voice. 🙂

As a fellow Cleopatra, her story is amazing.

This is a beautiful video, thank you.

Very lovely. I was struck numerous times with the intent in her expression, specifically her eyes, as her career progressed and she became more savvy to media and publicity. Your use of the photos in the sequences detailing her response to the "lessons" is great; these pics during your narration now show many with her gaze straight-on, direct, and with a slight smile of acknowledgement. I'm sure those pics also show the development of her modelling skills, but I also see a deliberate choice to embrace fame on her terms. She seemed to becoming quite comfortable with her crown; I'm grateful for the Vogue pics that show she remained so. Great job on the video!

I look forward to listening to more future postings. Great Job.

Sounds like she may have been the first “super model”. I always find it interesting when women as beautiful as Cleo seem to have not such great luck in love, or perhaps she just didn’t want to give up her freedom.

Brava!!! And thank you for introducing me to such an icon.

What a remarkable woman, the reporters are never satisfied. They want to drag the performers down. To what end ? So they move on to the next person. I was not familiar with this lady, thank you sharing a bit about her life.

And thus tomorrow, today’s celebrities will be forgotten too.

I much appreciated, that it was read...calmly, in a well understood voice, taking her time & NOT speaking SO FAST to the point of annoyance. I HATE...when listening to someone read their script Fast....that it stresses me trying to keep up. It was also Well Scripted!

So many of the legendary beauties of the past are unattractive by today's standards. This woman would be a stunner even today

My 18 yr. old granddaughter looks amazingly like this woman in her youth; to the point that it surprised me. Well, I guess I know what she's going to look like when she gets old and I will have long passed...lol.

New subscriber...... just stumbled upon your page and was riveted from beginning to the end Being an avid lover of history I’ll be sure look out for your next upload 🙂

Leopold was Queen Victoria’s and Prince Albert’s uncle. Victoria’s mother and Albert’s father were King Leopold’s brother and sister!

I simply love your video style, truly refreshing and creative.

Really enjoyed this. The story of Cleo's life, your presentation, your voice. Very nice! Thank you!

Liane de Pougy? Romaine Brooks and Nathalie Barney? Le belle Otero? So many stories...enjoyed this immensely. Well done!

This was very interesting. I had never heard of her before. She really was very beautiful.

I heard a little about her while learning about T Lautrec and Paris of that time, interesting story😊

Beautifully done. I am now a subscriber.

This video is fascinating. And Cleo is a compelling person!

Seems like the media hasn't changed very much. Female celebrities still go through this nonsense of being put on a pedestal and then being torn down. :( I think I'll track down her memoir and give it a read - I'm a ballet teacher and it would be interesting just from the aspect of her performing career.

I have always liked Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and interested in Ada Lovelace. Clara Barton, or Elizabeth Blackwell, maybe Josephine Cochrane.

Good job for for also mentioning the horrendous things Leopald of Belgoim was doing in the Congo

I'd love to see her costumes in color. Must have been rich/beautiful. I'm really enjoying your videos. Thank you!

Wonderful video. I have a new interest. I wonder if any of the old postcards of her are for sale on eBay. Another interesting woman I would love to have presented by you is Montespan.

Fascinating and well-told. Loved it. Tnx

It was a pleasure listening at your excellently fluent English and watching Cléo de Merode being brought to life again.

What an awesome woman with all that women had to put up with in those days she was an awesome character I bet her book is very interesting.

The press has always been toxic. Great video.

underrated channel. you have such a nice voice .

What a wonderfully done video about the life of Cleo. Subscribed!💕

I started collecting her postcards, without knowing much about her. She navigated through troubled waters but knew how to steer her boat well. I love her even more after this video. Thanks.

I know someday soon I will be able to brag that I was your 679th subscriber. Excellent, lovely video. I can’t wait to see what you do next.

I really enjoyed your video! I hope to hear more from you, and I become a subscriber. I love learning about lesser talked about people in history.

Thank you for introducing me to this interesting woman. Subscribed. X

Petit rats is still a thing. It doesn’t carry the connotations described here, it just refers to junior dancers, “little mice” scurrying about. It’s an endearing term. Although they were vulnerable to exploitation at the time, and often poor as church mice, the term itself was not a degradation, with sexual connotation, or as calling someone a rat.

Fascinating. Tis bliss the Girl lived long and well, and well deserved.

Thanks Great History The Statue is her face The body isn't a Ballet dancers nor is the pose. This is only my opinion.

So well done! Happy to find another great history channel.

A well done video. I had poster @16:00 and never knew who it was. One production note: Your audio is quiet, consider increasing your audio gain, or audio compression. Keep up the good work.

Wow! Completely love this, voice included. Thank you for making such an informative and sonorous bio. Love love love

Thank you for this revealing memorial of an extraordinary woman.

I am wildly impressed by your video. You're destined to have a million or more subscribers.

Please do something about the Volume of your Audio! I can barely hear you over your music!

Beautifully done. Thank you.

I've seen this lady's photos before, but didn't know that she was a dancer. It's so funny how the French press has not changed in centuries.

Beautiful presentation with in depth detail and stunning images..thank you.

Thank you for the video! Really beautiful and informative, soothing and exciting at the same time. If only you could do something about the volume of the intro..It is extremely loud in comparison to the main part.

Cleo looks just like me!We got the same eyebrows, same nose, same lips, same hair, we're like twins!It makes me happy that many people think she is beautiful, I also think she is super beautiful! I really admire Cleo :)

Please enable subtitles for those that need them. I’d like to watch but I can’t hear a word.

My goodness…I’d never heard of her and she clearly should be known..Thnak you for this video..Xx

Enjoyed this story a very beautiful woman thank you

Her beauty is indescribable. She would put the rich and famous to shame today…mostly because nowadays they all like the same with their plastic surgeries.

Great job! Well done!

Very interesting and well presented. Thank you.

How about the author Margaret Mitchell, Actress Jean Seberg,, Mary Shelley, spy Mata Hari, Cleopatra…

Very enjoyable !

Very interesting

This was fascinating and I am more culturally and historically aware for having watched , your voice is immaculate and excellently paced

Like many, who study the personalities of Fin de Siecle Paris, I've been infatuated by her for many years.. Photos, sure, they're everywhere. But not any real bio info. Bless you for providing this nectar. Peace out.

I can still hear someone talking through the music. I can't hear what she says but it can't be important for it is drowned out by the music. It must be the intention that the music was the main thing. LOUDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can still hear someone talking. Don't know what she's saying or all about.

Great vid! 😊😶

She is absolutely beautiful!! Her eyes have an innocence about them that is truly heartwarming 💐😊💕

Could you just show the pictures without rolling them up the screen. So annoying!

Thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed this video.

Who knew Simone de Beauvoir could be such a petty little B?

Very well done.

She made lemonade out of lemons. Refused to be a victim. She owned herself. Good for her.

My great grandmother would have been around in the late 1890s seems such a long time ago yet only 3 generations

It would seem to me that wonen always have to surrender to powerful men. Then, they are owned and governed by the rise and fall of their fasination that they have. The same is happening today

Loved this it was a joy and so interesting please keep going.x

before, i only knew her for her beauty. thank you for telling her story.

Very interesting video, I had never heard of her before. I love this kind of video but must admit I find it a challenge to concentrate with the background music competing for my attention. Sadly most of these type of channels do the same thing. I just want to focus on what you are saying. I can't always have subtitles on as I sometimes have these on when I'm doing things, but appreciate your hard work

CORPS DE BALLET--NOT QUARTER BALLET! THE NUMBER OF ERRORS IN THE SUBTITLES--SPELLING, GRAMMAR AND SYTAX--IS ABSOLUTELY APPALLING!

Brilliant could listen to you all day , thanks

She has eyes like Elizabeth Taylor

Whatta’ gal.

And what's wrong with being sensual? Some people are naturally sensual. Sounds like men coerced and forced girls, because most of them were girls not women, and told all their doing to whoever would listen leaving the female with all tje burden. Even when I was a virgin I was "hot," even though I was still a virgin. Virginity or "purity" is none of anyone's business, they just assume it's OK to call them whatever just because they have large breasts or they grew up attractive, even if the haven't done anything yet, they don't have to announce to you what they haven't done, it's none of your business

This was probably very interesting BUT, the voice was so small it was mostly inaudible.............very sad

Beautiful video and your voice is super serene & pleasant!

Wonderful. Never heard of her. Thank you for telling us about her. ( although you might get some advice on your french pronunciation)