Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his daughter, Giulia. Photo / Getty Images
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his daughter, Giulia. Photo / Getty Images
Giulia Sarkozy, 13, sparked outrage in France after Madame Figaro called her ‘more of a woman than ever’.
Critics, including former minister Nathalie Loiseau, condemned the magazine’s portrayal as inappropriate for her age.
Madame Figaro removed the phrase but stood by its coverage, amid ongoing legal troubles for her parents.
The teenage daughter of Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni has been described as “more of a woman than ever” on the cover of a fashion magazine, sparking outrage in France.
Giulia Sarkozy, 13, posted a series of online videos in which she is seen lip-syncing to provocative rap songs.
Madame Figaro, one of the country’s most popular upmarket glossy magazines, ran pictures of Giulia and reported: “We discover a teenager who is more of a woman than ever.”
In response, furious critics have described the magazine’s coverage of the daughter of the former French President and Italian supermodel as “shocking”, saying: “She’s only a girl”.
Referring to the short films on TikTok, Madame Figaro wrote: “Giulia films herself facing the camera, dressed in a black tank top, with straight hair, cheekbones and eyes subtly made up.”
While conceding she is “just 13 years old”, it referenced her “model looks” and said they are “an obvious nod to the legacy of her mother, a catwalk icon in the 1990s”.
Italian-born Bruni, who turns 57 this month, was a model and fashion star before becoming first lady of France when she became Sarkozy’s third wife in 2008.
The report continued: “One thing is for sure: Giulia’s attitude and charisma have not failed to make TikTok users react, many of whom have praised her appearance.”
The offending post by Madame Figaro describes Giulia Sarkozy as "more of a woman" at 13.
Madame Figaro referenced comments posted on social media about Giulia, including “You’re sublime”, “Star” and “Be a model”.
But the coverage provoked anger among those who believe Giulia is far too young to be made into a fashion celebrity on account of her famous parents.
Nathalie Loiseau, France’s former Minister for European Affairs and now an MEP, wrote on X: “Madame Figaro, you are talking about a 13-year-old child.
“This vocabulary is inappropriate. I would even say that it is irresponsible. Think before publishing such phrases.”
Erwan Le Morhedec, a Paris lawyer and essayist, was equally concerned, saying “She’s a little girl” and that “her parents would be wise to take a look at her account”.
And Hugo Baup, a leading psychiatrist in France, wrote: “Presenting a 13-year-old girl as ‘more of a woman than ever’ is shocking. It’s embarrassing.”
In the videos, Giulia mimes to songs by Maitre Gims (Master Gims) – the French-Congolese hip-hop star who was linked to the Paris rap collective Sexion d’Assaut (Assault Section), one that was accused of several prejudices, including sexism and homophobia.
In one video, Giulia mimes along to Zoum Zoum – a song about rappers persuading young girls to get into their limousines.
Giulia sings: “She asked me for a selfie, she was beautiful as an elf. The compliment is not free, go to the passenger side in the Merco Benza” (slang for Mercedes-Benz).
Following multiple complaints, Madame Figaro removed its online reference to Giulia being “more of a woman than ever”, but it otherwise stood by its coverage.
Madame Figaro is part of Le Figaro – the conservative daily that has been a consistent supporter of Sarkozy, who served one term as President, from 2007 to 2012.
Giulia was born in October 2011, and, when posting images of the child on her own social media accounts, Bruni always used to cover her face with an emoji.
This attempt to preserve Giulia’s anonymity has now ended, however, and her parents have given her permission to promote her activities, which include horse riding.
The scandal comes at a difficult time for the Sarkozys as both are indicted criminal suspects facing prison.
Bruni was allegedly part of a criminal conspiracy to whitewash her husband over allegations he accepted millions in cash from Muammar Gaddafi, the late Libyan dictator.
Both deny any wrongdoing, while Sarkozy has already been convicted in relation to other crimes.
