Quick Info

ProfessionBusiness Manager
NationalityFrench
BirthplaceGermany
Date of Birth07/12/1952
Age73 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.

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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

Physical Stats & More

Height5'4" (163 cm)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorMedium Copper Golden Blonde

Educational Qualification(s)

EducationStudied to become a typist

Personal Life

Food HabitNon-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 StatusDivorced
Affairs/BoyfriendsDominique Pelicot (Electrician, Real Estate Agent, Salesman)
Marriage Dates
First MarriageApril 1973
Second MarriageJuly 11, 2007
Marriage PlaceAzay-le-Ferron, Indre

Family

SiblingsMichel (Deceased due to heart attack)
SpouseDominique 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

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.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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