Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, known by her stage name Coccinelle, was a French transgender actress and performer. She is often considered a pioneering figure in the transgender community and is known for her contributions to the visibility and acceptance of transgender individuals.
Coccinelle gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s as a cabaret performer and actress.
She was one of the first transgender individuals to undergo gender confirmation surgery in 1958, a procedure that attracted significant media attention and helped raise awareness about transgender issues.
Coccinelle's openness about her gender identity and her advocacy work played a significant role in challenging societal norms and promoting acceptance of transgender people. She continued to work in entertainment throughout her life, appearing in films, television shows, and stage performances.
Coccinelle's legacy as a trailblazer for transgender rights and visibility continues to inspire and impact the LGBTQ+ community.
She entered the French world of entertainment in 1953 at Madame Arthur and then at the Carrousel in Paris. This is when she met Bambi, another cabaret performer and legendary transgender icon. Coccinelle helped Bambi with her first performances and gave her shelter at her home.
She was an international celebrity and a renowned club singer. She performed regularly at the famous nightclub Le Carrousel de Paris, which also featured regular acts by other famous trans women such as April Ashley and Bambi. She underwent a vaginoplasty by Georges Burou in Casablanca in 1958. After the operation, she became a media sensation and performed the Cherchez la femme revue which ran for 7 months at the Olympia in Paris between 1963 and 1964. In 1987, her autobiography was published, titled Coccinelle par Coccinelle.
She was married to Francis Bonnet from 1960 to 1962, Mario Costa from 1963 until his death in 1977, and Thierry Wilson from 1996 until her death. Le Carrousel de Paris was a Parisian cabaret that was most famous for its 1950s revues of cross-dressing and trans performers such as Coccinelle. It was created in 1947 by Marcel Ouizman, who also managed Madame Arthur. The cabaret was located near Moulin Rouge and was frequented by guests such as Jean Cocteau, Robert Desnos, Colette, and René Clair. The nightclub was one of the most expensive clubs in Paris during its golden years from 1947 to 1961.
Despite that, Tout-Paris would continue to admire the show of female impersonator troupe made up of Bambi, April Ashley, Péki d’Oslo, Capucine, Kiki Moustic, Les-Lee, Fétiche, Coco, Sonne Teal, Rita del Oro, Doriana, Chou Chou, and others. Le Carrousel de Paris definitively ceased its dinner-show activity in 2016.
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