Bikini

A bikini is a two-piece swimsuit worn by women that consists of two triangular pieces of fabric on the top that cover the breasts and two triangular pieces of fabric on the bottom. The front triangle covers the pelvis but exposes the navel, and the back triangle covers the area between the buttocks and often the buttocks themselves. 

The coverage provided by the top and bottom can vary, with some bikinis providing full coverage of the breasts, pelvis, and buttocks, while others are more revealing with a thong or G-string bottom that covers only the mons pubis and a top that covers only the areolae.

Four days after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on deserted Bikini Atoll in 1946, French automobile engineer and clothing designer Louis Reard introduced a new two-piece woman’s swimsuit at a outdoor fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris on July 5, 1946. He proclaimed the suit the "ultimate" concept and called it the bikini, naming it after the atomic bomb test site, as he meant it to be "highly explosive."

When the bikini made it's debut, Louis Réard couldn't get any of the usual models to wear it and so he hired 19-year-old nude dancer Micheline Bernardini from the Casino de Paris to model it.

Micheline Bernardini modeling Réard's first ever bikini at the Piscine Molitor. Wikipedia Commons

The term "bikini" was first used in an advertisement in the French magazine Le Monde Illustre in July 1947 to describe the Louis Réard-designed two-piece swimsuit.

Réard didn't create the idea of the bikini; drawings of bikini-like suits have been found on wall paintings dating back to 1600 BC.

Maisie Dunn from Essex became the first girl in Britain to wear a bikini in public on the beach. While she was on holiday in Newquay in the summer of 1946, Maisie Dunn decided to follow the latest sensation from Paris.

When the bikini was introduced, no models were willing to wear such revealing swimwear, so the designer had to hire a stripper to model it.

Brian Hyland's novelty-song hit "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" became a US #1 hit during the summer of 1960. The song tells a story about a bashful young girl who was afraid to wear her tiny new bikini on the beach. Co-writer Paul Vance was inspired after watching his 2-year-old daughter Paula at the beach in her new bikini. 

Ursula Andress made the famous white bikini that she wore in Dr No herself as she was unhappy with what she was given to wear.

The 1967 Bollywood movie An Evening in Paris is remembered for featuring Sharmila Tagore as the first Indian actress to wear a bikini on film. This was considered a bold and controversial move at the time, as bikinis were not commonly seen in Indian films and were not widely accepted in Indian society. The scene featuring Tagore in a bikini caused a stir and made headlines, but it also helped to break down societal taboos surrounding the swimwear.

The bikini has evolved over time with different styles and designs, including the tankini, monokini, and high-waisted bikini.

Fashion designer, Rudi Gernreich, has been credited with introducing the first thong bikini.

Sports bikinis have gained popularity since the 1990s. These bikinis are designed for active wear, and are typically made with more durable and stretchy material than traditional bikinis. They also often have a more athletic cut, with wider straps and a higher waistband for better support and coverage during physical activity. 

The rise in popularity of sports bikinis can be attributed to the increasing number of women participating in water sports, beach volleyball, and other activities that require a swimsuit that stays in place and offers more coverage. They are also popular among fitness enthusiasts who prefer to workout in a bikini.

In most parts of the Middle East, bikinis are considered to be controversial or are outright banned. The conservative culture and religious beliefs in the region view the bikini as immodest and inappropriate. This can vary depending on the country and the specific laws in place. In some places, the wearing of a bikini is strictly prohibited on public beaches, while in other places, it is not allowed anywhere. Some places may also have designated beaches or hotel pools where bikinis are permitted.