Gisèle Pelicot (French Business Manager) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Business Manager
Nationality	French
Birthplace	Germany
Date of Birth	07/12/1952
Age	73 years

Latest News about Gisèle Pelicot

17/02/2026

Gisèle Pelicot published her co-written memoir 'A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides' (Et la joie de vivre in French), written with journalist and novelist Judith Perrignon. The book was released worldwide in 22 languages by Flammarion and chronicles her experiences and the trial that made her an international feminist icon.

05/10/2025

Gisèle Pelicot returned to court in Nîmes for the retrial of a man who had appealed his rape conviction. She gave evidence under her maiden name Guillou, and the appeal was unsuccessful, resulting in the appellant's sentence being increased from nine to ten years' imprisonment.

14/07/2025

Gisèle Pelicot was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour on Bastille Day, recognizing her courage and advocacy for victims of sexual assault. She was one of 589 individuals honored in a decree published ahead of France's national celebrations, becoming a prominent symbol of dignity and resilience in the fight against sexual violence.

Do you like Gisèle Pelicot?

You can vote only once.

Bio/Wiki

Known For	Being drugged and raped by her husband and 72 men for a period of 10 years Becoming a feminist icon in 2024 after waiving her right to anonymity in a multiple rape case Choosing to hold her trial publicly rather than behind closed doors to raise awareness about sexual violence Publishing her memoir 'A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides' in February 2026 Being drugged and raped by her husband and dozens of men for approximately a decade Being drugged and raped by her husband Dominique Pelicot and dozens of men he recruited online over approximately a decade Being awarded France's Legion of Honour in 2025 for her courage and advocacy against sexual violence

Known For

Being drugged and raped by her husband and 72 men for a period of 10 years
Becoming a feminist icon in 2024 after waiving her right to anonymity in a multiple rape case
Choosing to hold her trial publicly rather than behind closed doors to raise awareness about sexual violence
Publishing her memoir 'A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides' in February 2026
Being drugged and raped by her husband and dozens of men for approximately a decade
Being drugged and raped by her husband Dominique Pelicot and dozens of men he recruited online over approximately a decade
Being awarded France's Legion of Honour in 2025 for her courage and advocacy against sexual violence

Physical Stats & More

Height	5'4" (163 cm)
Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Medium Copper Golden Blonde

Educational Qualification(s)

Education	Studied to become a typist

Personal Life

Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Controversies	Drugged and raped by various men including her husband for 10 years Drugged and raped by her husband Dominique Pelicot and dozens of men he recruited online over approximately a decade

Relationships & More

Marital Status

Divorced

Affairs/Boyfriends

Dominique Pelicot (Electrician, Real Estate Agent, Salesman)

Marriage Dates

First Marriage	April 1973
Second Marriage	11/07/2007
Marriage Place	Azay-le-Ferron, Indre

Family

Siblings	Michel (Deceased due to heart attack)
Spouse	Dominique Pelicot (m.1973-div.2001)(m.2007-div.2024)(Electrician, Real Estate Agent, Salesman)
Children	David Pelicot (Sales Manager) Florian Pelicot (Actor) Caroline Peyronnet (Author, Social Activist)

Career

Career Highlights	Worked as a business manager at EDF (Électricité de France) Known for raising awareness about rape and advocating for victims' rights Worked in administration for EDF (Électricité de France) Became an international feminist icon and advocate for victims of sexual violence Appeared in BBC's 2024 100 Women list Featured in Financial Times list of twenty-five most influential women of 2024 Appointed Knight of the Legion of Honour on 14 July 2025 Published memoir 'A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides' in February 2026 Continued to speak publicly about sexual violence and victims' rights after the trial and the publication of her memoir

Career Highlights

Worked as a business manager at EDF (Électricité de France)
Known for raising awareness about rape and advocating for victims' rights
Worked in administration for EDF (Électricité de France)
Became an international feminist icon and advocate for victims of sexual violence
Appeared in BBC's 2024 100 Women list
Featured in Financial Times list of twenty-five most influential women of 2024
Appointed Knight of the Legion of Honour on 14 July 2025
Published memoir 'A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides' in February 2026
Continued to speak publicly about sexual violence and victims' rights after the trial and the publication of her memoir

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Moved to France from Germany at the age of 5.
2. Lost her mother due to cancer when she was 9 years old.
3. Initially aspired to be a hairdresser but pursued a career as a typist.
4. Met her husband for the first time in 1971.
5. Divorced her husband in 2001 to protect their assets during his company's bankruptcy.
6. Testified publicly about her experiences to support other rape victims.
7. Her decision to forgo anonymity was influenced by her age, reflecting that she might not have had the courage to do so if she were younger.
8. In the 2024 trial, 51 men including her husband were convicted.
9. Became estranged from her daughter following the trial, after her daughter accused her father of abuse and accused her mother of being unsupportive.
10. Was named a knight of the Legion of Honour in a list released ahead of France's Bastille Day celebrations in 2025, becoming one of 589 individuals honored for exemplary service to the nation.

Gisèle Pelicot Business Manager French Germany