"In 1953, at the now legendary Madame Arthur cabaret, a young woman appeared on stage dressed in a modest sarong but already possessing captivating charm. The audience applauds and does not yet know that they have just attended the first performance of Coccinelle, an artist who will soon have a string of triumphs on stages around the world.
However, nothing predestined Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, born Jacques Charles in a modest family and raised by a violent and authoritarian father, to shine in the spotlight.
At a time when cross-dressing is punishable by law and military service is still in place, Coccinelle invents a new way to live her life freely, and traces her own path as a liberated woman.
Defended by lawyer Robert Badinter, Coccinelle became the first French public figure to officially change her marital status and performed on stages around the world, from Syndey to Rio de Janeiro via Dakar. In 1989, after nine months of triumph at the Casino de Paris, she was caught up in debt and was forced to distance herself from her French public for a while. A place that upon her return, she will never really be able to find again..."
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.
Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, also known by her stage name Coccinelle. She was a French actress, cabaret entertainer, and singer. She named herself Coccinelle (Ladybird), a tribute to a red dress with black polka dots that she often wore. She was born on August 23, 1931 in Paris, France and passed away on October 9, 2006 in Marseille, France.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.
In 1952, Coccinelle became a star at Le Carrousel de Paris. The programs at Le Carrousel usually included a headshot of the performer’s male persona in the corner of the glamour photograph – even for trans women looking for transition surgery like Coccinelle and Bambi. In 1954, the police made Le Carrousel de Paris close for three months and banned Madame Arthur from male cross-dressing.
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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