FEMME FATALE: MATA HARI
(7-aug 1876 to15-oct 1917)
Mata Hari was born 7 aug 1876 in Leeuwarden , Netherlands. Her name at birth was Margaretha Geerruida Zelle.Her stage name is Mata Hari ("eye of the day"). She has a lavish early childhood until the age of 13, However Margaretha father went bankrupt in 1889,her paraents divorced soon thereafter, and her mother died in 1891.She tried to study a Kindergarden teacher, but her offended god father removed her after the headmaster began to flirt with her.
 |
Mata Hari |
|
At 18 she married a Dutch army officer and quickly bore him two children.But her marriage proved rocky.The couple returned to Netherland in 1902 and obtained a divorce and her husband retained custody of his daughter.Mata Hari then made her way to Paris where she reinvented herself as an Indian temple dancer.One of the biographers Pat Shipman wrote of Mata Hari "Her Languid Graceful Style Of Movement,Her Dark Eyes And Luxurious Hairs Telegraphed Her Sexuality To Any Male In Her Presence".At this time she took the name Mata Hari.Mata Hari has several relationship with powerful men across the continent.