Why Brigitte Bardot was such a bombshell, according to science

Brigitte Bardot has died this week at the age of 91, sending shockwaves through Hollywood and the fashion world. 

Her natural yet provocative appearance made her one of the most desired leading ladies in the world – often featured on lists of the 'most beautiful women of all time.'

But what exactly was it about the bombshell that made her so attractive?

According to Dr Julian De Silva, a facial cosmetic surgeon based in London, it all comes down to the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty. 

'The ancient Greeks used a mathematical ratio to measure beauty and harmony,' he explained in a blog post. 

'This golden ratio was used in Greek architecture, famous renaissance paintings and is the basis for Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, his definition of the perfect male body.'

So, how does Bardot stack up against this ancient measurement? 

The Daily Mail used an online tool to analyse the French actress' face – and uncovered an impressive score of 81.62 per cent.

The Golden Ratio was devised by the Greeks in an attempt to measure beauty.

It can be applied to almost anything, and was famously used by Leonardo Da Vinci for the perfect human male body in his famous work, the Vitruvian Man. 

The premise behind the Golden Ratio is that the closer the ratios of a face or body are to the number 1.618 (Phi), the more beautiful they become. 

To understand the secret to her good looks, the Daily Mail uploaded a front–on photo of a young Bardot to GoldenRatioAI. 

The site's analysis revealed that the actress' Face Height Ratio was 1.078 (66.61 per cent), while her Philtrum to Nose Ratio was an impressive 1.577 (97.46 per cent). 

Finally, her Eye to Mouth Ratio was a 1.929 (80.79 per cent), giving her a total score of 81.62 per cent. 

While this is no doubt an impressive score, it pales in comparison to several other leading ladies, according to Dr De Silva. 

A recent analysis by the plastic surgeon found that Emma Stone is the most beautiful woman in the world (94.72 per cent accurate to the Golden Ratio).

This is followed by Zendaya (94.37%), Freida Pinto (94.34%), and Vanessa Kirby (94.31%). 

Beyond her stunning face, Bardot was also known for her blonde hair. 

This may have contributed to her appeal, according to a 2011 study by researchers from the University of Westminster. 

In that study, a woman sat at the bar of a London nightclub, looking out to the main dance floor. 

While the woman wore the same clothes and makeup, she wore wigs of different colour – red, brown or blonde. 

The results revealed that the woman was approached much more often by men when she wore the blonde wig. 

'Our confederate was more likely to be approached by men when she had blonde hair and less likely to be approached when she had red hair,' the researchers explained in their study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 

However, what really set Bardot apart from other beautiful women were her contradictions, according to Ben McCann, associate professor of French Studies at the University of Adelaide.

'She appeared simultaneously natural and provocative, spontaneous and calculated,' he explained in an article for The Conversation.

'Her dishevelled glamour and effortless sexuality helped construct the archetype of the modern “sex kitten”.'