Bridget's family
Brigitte Trogneux was born on April 13, 1953 in the north of France (the town of Amiens) - in the family of a famous chocolatier. She was the sixth and youngest child. The company of her five-generation confectionery dynasty produces, among other things, macarons. The family business is quite successful and generates a profit of four million euros per year.
Brigitte Macron while working at the school where the future President of France studied
The work of the First Lady of France
Brigitte Macron taught at the behest of her soul. She is certified in Liberal Arts. For some time, the first lady worked as a teacher in Paris and Strasbourg.
In 1991, Brigitte left for her homeland to work there at the Jesuit Lyceum. After three years of work, it was at this lyceum that she met Emmanuel Macron.
Macron was a teenager then, and was in the same class as her daughter Laurence.
Brigitte Macron at school
Since the future Mrs. Macron led a theater group in addition to her main job, she became close to Emmanuel during the production of plays.
Parents of teenager Macron were shocked by his relationship with an adult woman. They sent their son to finish his studies in Paris. Emmanuel did not stop communicating with Brigitte at a distance, and promised to marry her as soon as he became an adult.
In 2007, Macron kept his promise and married Brigitte, who by that time was already divorced. Her first appearance as a politician’s wife took place in 2020.
Then Brigitte actively helped her husband during the election campaign. When Macron became president, he decided to strengthen the status of the first lady by making her activities transparent and official.
In August 2020, the French President issued a “charter for transparency in the activities of the President’s wife.” So Brigitte began to have certain responsibilities, which she does for free in her new status.
Dating and marriage of Macron and Bridget
The future spouses met when Emmanuel was 15 (!) years old. Brigitte Trogneux then taught French and led a theater group at the private school La providence, where Macron studied.
Emmanuel and Bridget during a rehearsal for a school play
They first met during the preparation of a theatrical play. Looking at Madame Macron, one can assume that in her youth she was very pretty, and, to be honest, now Bridget is also in excellent shape. Joint classes with the teacher lasted for two years - they spent every evening together, and Emmanuel followed his teacher with his tail and even accompanied her home. Of course, Bridget's husband didn't really like the last fact.
Emmanuel Macron during school
Two years later - at 17 - the future president of France made a declaration of love to 40-year-old Bridget. But at that time, the woman already had a husband and three children, so she didn’t even think of taking the guy’s declaration of love seriously.
Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron (20 years ago)
Macron confidently declared: “No matter what you do, no matter how much you avoid me, I will still marry you.”
Emmanuel's father, Jean-Michel Macron, forbade Bridget to communicate with their young son. When Emmanuel was 17 years old, his parents sent him to study in Paris, at the elite gymnasium named after Henry IV. The future spouses continued to communicate through letters.
Bridget and Emmanuel on vacation
It’s hard to believe, but a few years later Bridget divorced her husband to be with Macron. At that time, Emmanuel was just beginning his journey in big politics, and Bridget became a teacher at one of the religious schools in Paris. 13 years later they got married.
Their wedding took place in the town hall, in the fashionable beach resort of Le Touquet, where Brigitte inherited a luxurious villa, which today serves as the couple's second home.
During his wedding speech, Emmanuel thanked Bridget's parents and children for supporting their union. The young groom admitted that although he and his beloved are not a “normal couple,” they are still a “real couple.”
Brigitte et Emmanuel Macron : les images…
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Macron's wife is the most atypical first lady of France
Who is she, the new first lady of France? Brigitte Tronier, 64, is 25 years older than her husband, President-elect Emannuel Macron. They say that this is a woman with a strong character who has a great influence on her husband. Perhaps a woman won the French elections after all...
Brigitte Tronier. Photo: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
What is known about the wife of the new French president? She was 40 and he was 15 when they met. Brigitte Trognier led a theater group at the Catholic school where Emannuel Macron studied. In his senior year, he said that he would definitely marry Brigitte when he made a career, and he kept his promise. The love story of the elected President of the Fifth Republic and his wife is somewhat romanticized, but true. Now he is 39, and she is 64 years old. What is she like, the First Lady of France?
Andrey Zhvirblis, Business FM columnist, who worked in France for many years “That she was his teacher is not entirely true. They met at the theater courses where she taught, although she herself is a teacher of French and Latin. But she was not directly a teacher in Emmanuel Macron’s class, that is, there is some kind of theatrical story here, but their romance as such began a year later. This became known very quickly and, of course, became a huge scandal. Firstly, her husband, with whom she lived for 20 years and with whom she gave birth to three children, left her. Secondly, Macron’s family was completely shocked, and he was hastily sent from the city of Amiens to Paris to finish his studies at the Lyceum of Henry IV. She is truly rated as a good psychologist and coach. Maybe it is so. But, in any case, all these insinuations about the fact that this is some kind of fictitious marriage, and in general it is very strange, it is absolutely untrue. Well, there was this love story, and there was this whirlwind romance when she came to see him in Paris. Her parents were famous chocolatiers in the city of Amiens, and the funny thing is that they were famous for the production of these pastries, which are called macarons. You can laugh at Macron-macaron, but in any case, it was a shock. This, of course, went beyond the bounds of decency in such a generally decent family. She herself is a teacher, not in a public school. She taught at a private Catholic Jesuit college. Macron also studied at a Catholic college, that is, these families are quite traditional, and suddenly such a turn. You can imagine what would happen, for example, in the USA. She would probably just be put in prison. And this story dragged on for quite a long time, until 2006, when Brigitte’s husband gave her a divorce, and soon, a year later, they got married in 2007. Macron himself was already an inspector of finance at that time, that is, although he was already a young, but quite an accomplished man. There may be a first lady in France now because that phrase has been used. But when we say “first lady”, what do we see first? Jacqueline Kennedy for us is such an image of representation, that is, this is a certain woman who takes on a fairly active political role, not being in the shadow of her husband, but together with him in harmony and somehow engaging in political life and public life. Perhaps this is so, given that Macron generally has a very American style for this campaign. The first performance before the general public also had such signs of a show. At first he performed himself, but then Brigitte came out, they kissed, and then the whole family came out. A lot of people came out, I don’t know, several dozen people. Brigitte herself, I must say, has three grown-up children and seven grandchildren, and a host of other relatives. All the relatives came on stage. And together they sang La Marseillaise, so perhaps in the future she will play the role of just such a first lady in a somewhat American, mediatic style.”
Unequal marriage is perceived in two ways in French society. Opinions are divided - some are on the side of Brigitte Macron, others are categorically against her.
Anna Labrouer, a resident of Paris “I would say 50/50. There are those who simply hate this character, and there are those who, on the contrary, are proud that a French woman is much older than her husband, tries to be in shape, fashionable. There are people who very much condemn this and do not believe in this marriage, in their love. Some people say that Macron is gay. Brigitte is a fairly strong woman who has a great influence on Emmanuel. I know that she wears luxury brands. LVMH sponsors her entire wardrobe. She is now also a style icon. He is very close friends with Bernard Arnault's daughter. This is the CEO of LVMH. This is a large group of luxury brands, which includes Louis Vuitton, Dior and many other brands. Somehow they don’t even mention that she is from a fairly wealthy bourgeois family. Probably due to the fact that Emmanuel Macron is originally a socialist.”
People who have worked with Macron say Brigitte is one of the few people he trusts. Alexis Kohler, who headed Macron’s cabinet when he was economics minister, recalls her influence on her husband: “Brigitte attended business meetings with him. This is a woman who is involved in her husband’s life.” When Macron was asked about his wife’s presence at one of the meetings, he replied: “Her opinion is important to me.” Brigitte, in turn, calls herself the “leader of the fan club” of Macron.
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Children and grandchildren
The Macron couple do not have children of their own. Answering a question from journalists, Macron explained that this was a conscious decision. He calls Bridget's grandchildren his children. Bridget has three children and seven grandchildren.
Brigitte Macron with her daughters
At one time, all major media outlets circulated photographs of Emmanuel Macron walking with his wife and carrying bottles of baby food for her grandchildren. French publications write that Macron is very grateful to Bridget’s children for being able to accept their relationship.
Bridget’s grandchildren don’t call Emmanuel “grandfather,” but they call him the affectionate English “daddy.”
Macron with his grandson Bridget
Who's Who: Among the Presidents' Wives
It's not easy being the president's wife! Official receptions, events and all kinds of meetings! Let's figure out who is who among the first ladies of different countries.
Melania Trump (49)
Valentino dress
Melania Trump is the first lady of the United States and a true style icon. Despite all the media attacks from the series “here she’s wearing heels, and here she’s wearing a dress that’s too short,” we must give credit that Melania always looks chic. And even twenty-year-old models will envy her figure! It is not surprising that she holds the unofficial title of the sexiest of the wives of American presidents.
Brigitte Macron (66)
Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron
Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron
Brigitte Macron is the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. In the past, she was a French teacher at a private school. It was there that Brigitte met her future husband (at that time he was her student). After graduation, he promised to marry her, which, in fact, he did 10 years later. Despite the fact that Brigitte is almost 70 years old, she looks simply gorgeous.
Elena Zelenskaya (41)
Elena Zelenskaya is the wife of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. She is one of the most stylish and beautiful women in the country. We look at all her appearances and admire the work of the stylists. By the way, Elena and Vladimir studied at the same school, but met only after graduating from university. At that time, Vladimir was already actively performing in KVN with his team “Kvartal-95”, and Elena was a co-author of the team’s stage numbers. Until recently, Elena worked as a screenwriter for the Kvartal-95 studio. Apparently, everyone in the presidential family has a sense of humor!
Mehriban Aliyeva (54)
The wife of the President of Azerbaijan has a very active civic position; she does not sit at home, but constantly participates in the cultural life of the country. Since 1995, he has served as president of the Azerbaijan Cultural Foundation. In 2004, she became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and in 2002, president of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation. And that’s not all; her biography has a huge list of awards and achievements that cannot even be listed. And Mehriban is an unreal beauty! And it’s simply impossible to believe that she is already 54 years old!
Juliana Awada (45)
Juliana Awada and Mauricio Macri
The first lady of Argentina has been repeatedly called one of the most elegant women on the planet. And in 2020, Vogue magazine included Juliana in its honorary “best dressed” rating. By the way, she is also a graduate of Oxford, so she is fluent in English. Juliana is not only the first lady, but also a businesswoman; she inherited a large textile business.
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba (56)
Photo: legion-media.ru
The first lady of the small African country is originally from Paris, but as a child she and her family moved to Gabon, where she grew up and received her education. Now Sylvia is actively involved in charity work and fights for women's rights. She also founded her own foundation, the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation, which helps people who find themselves in difficult life situations. In addition to all this, the first lady of Gabon knows a lot about fashion; at official events she can often be seen in Chanel and Valentino.
Beatriz Gutierrez Muller (50)
Beatriz Gutierrez Muller and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Beatriz Gutierrez Muller
The wife of the Mexican president immediately refused the title of the country's first lady, explaining that they did not have any specific functions and responsibilities. And she met her husband when he was the mayor of Mexico City and she was a journalist.
Peng Liyuan (56)
Peng Liyuan and Xi Jinping
Peng Liyuan and Queen Letizia
In the past, the first lady of China was a famous singer, but she left her career for her husband. Peng is popularly called the “calling card of China” for his charitable work and elegant style. In her images, she skillfully combines European classics with traditional Chinese elements.
In 2013, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. That same year, she became one of the most powerful women according to Forbes magazine.
Elections and support
The couple's love story captivated the French, so it played a small role in Macron's victory in the presidential election.
Emmanuel and Bridget during the first round of elections
Brigitte devoted herself entirely to her husband's political career; she often helped compose speeches for Macron's political speeches. However, Bridget herself is not going to become a politician. According to Madame Macron, she just wants to “be close.”
Age difference
Brigitte Macron is 24 years older than her husband. By the way, the current US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have the same age difference.
However, unlike the owner of the White House, the French presidential candidate always emphasizes that his wife is his closest advisor.
Emmanuel Macron with his wife
French economist Marc Ferazzi, best man at Macron's wedding and now a member of Macron's team, described their relationship this way:
Yes, they are not exactly a traditional couple. But they fell in love with each other 20 years ago and since then their feelings have only grown stronger. Their story is very simple and you have to accept the fact that people can just fall in love - and so much so that their love will never wane.
Style icon
Fashion magazines in France called the country's first lady a “style icon.” The woman prefers clothes from the two largest French fashion houses - Dior and Louis Vuitton and can afford it.
Brigitte Macron called "style icon"
Today, Macron actively brings his wife into the world and allows the paparazzi to photograph them together and publish thousands of their pictures in newspapers and magazines. France has not seen such behavior, when a politician himself actively talks about his personal life, since the time of Nicolas Sarkozy, who decided to “imitate the Kennedys” in his relationship with his now ex-wife Cecilia.
