Mental Floss - On this day in 1946, the first bikini debuted in a poolside fashion show in Paris. French auto engineer and fashion designer Louis Réard crafted the revealing new two-piece
![Image of PARIS: BEAUTY CONTEST, 1946. - Contestants In A Beauty Competition In Paris, Which Was One Of The First Public Appearances Of The Bikini, 5 July 1946. From Granger - Historical Picture Archive Image of PARIS: BEAUTY CONTEST, 1946. - Contestants In A Beauty Competition In Paris, Which Was One Of The First Public Appearances Of The Bikini, 5 July 1946. From Granger - Historical Picture Archive](https://www.granger.com/wmpix/age/rue/0126418-PARIS-BEAUTY-CONTEST-1946-Contestants-in-a-beauty-competition-in-Paris-which-was-one-of-the-first-public-appearances-of-the-bikini-5-July-1946.jpg)
Image of PARIS: BEAUTY CONTEST, 1946. - Contestants In A Beauty Competition In Paris, Which Was One Of The First Public Appearances Of The Bikini, 5 July 1946. From Granger - Historical Picture Archive
World News Tonight on Twitter: "TODAY IN HISTORY: On this day in 1946, the first bikini, created by Louis Reard, was modeled by Micheline Bernardini during a poolside fashion show in Paris.
![National Bikini Day: Who invented the bikini? French engineer Louis Réard designed the skimpy swimsuit - The Washington Post National Bikini Day: Who invented the bikini? French engineer Louis Réard designed the skimpy swimsuit - The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_960w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2018/06/26/Local/Images/GettyImages-543547448.jpg&w=1200)
National Bikini Day: Who invented the bikini? French engineer Louis Réard designed the skimpy swimsuit - The Washington Post
![July 5, 1946: The Bikini Was Introduced and Soon Became a Summer Staple for American Women - Lifetime July 5, 1946: The Bikini Was Introduced and Soon Became a Summer Staple for American Women - Lifetime](https://cropper.watch.aetnd.com/cdn.watch.aetnd.com/sites/5/2018/06/Bikini.jpg)
July 5, 1946: The Bikini Was Introduced and Soon Became a Summer Staple for American Women - Lifetime
![National Bikini Day: Who invented the bikini? French engineer Louis Réard designed the skimpy swimsuit - The Washington Post National Bikini Day: Who invented the bikini? French engineer Louis Réard designed the skimpy swimsuit - The Washington Post](http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_960w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2018/07/01/Local-Enterprise/Images/Photo_Gallery-Bond_at_50-Girls-080ba.jpg)
National Bikini Day: Who invented the bikini? French engineer Louis Réard designed the skimpy swimsuit - The Washington Post
![Women in Bikini Tanning at Deligny Swimming Pool in Paris, July 1946 Carry-all Pouch by French School - Fine Art America Women in Bikini Tanning at Deligny Swimming Pool in Paris, July 1946 Carry-all Pouch by French School - Fine Art America](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/default/flat/pouch/images/artworkimages/medium/1/women-in-bikini-tanning-at-deligny-swimming-pool-in-paris-july-1946-french-school.jpg?&targetx=0&targety=-191&imagewidth=777&imageheight=856&modelwidth=777&modelheight=474&backgroundcolor=FFFFFF&orientation=0&producttype=pouch-regularbottom-medium)