Nude Carla Bruni-Sarkozy On Bags

Brazilian supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy may be France's First Lady now but she remains hot as a fashion model. Proof? The former supermodel is currently featured nude on white canvass shopping bags produced by clothing company Pardon.

The trendy bags shows nude Carla Bruni, standing upright beside a caption that says “My guy should have bought Pardon!” in French. The bags sell for three euros each, but is also being handed out for free in the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion, where Pardon is based.

Unfortunately, the supermodel may have had enough of fashion modeling because the circulation of the shopping bags has provoked her to file a lawsuit against Pardon. Carla Bruni's lawyers claim that the bags make use of the first lady's image without her consent and commercial gain. "Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has exclusive and absolute rights over her image. We are going to ask for 125,000 euros in damages for the sale of this article which constitutes a moral and matrimonial attack."

Carla Bruni's nude photo was taken way back in 1993. It was a famous photo in black and white, sold at a New York auction early this year for $91,000 along with nude images of Kate Moss and Giselle Bundchen.

For its part, Pardon contends that the company is entitled to use the nude photo because the supermodel turned France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is a public figure. "(Carla) is a public woman - you find photos of her everywhere," Peter Mertes, Pardon's founder and company manager disputed.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's nude photo on shopping bags was not the first controversial issue that Pardon provoked. Last year, the clothing company was also attacked by French church leaders when it featured a picture of the Virgin Mary on its female G-strings.

Carla Bruni Battles Against AIDS

Supermodel turned France's first lady Carla Bruni uses her influence to support the battle against AIDS.

Being the wife of the influential France President Nicolas Sarkozy, the 40-year old Italian-born former model says she will focus her AIDS charity work on the plight of mothers and children who are affected by the disease.

Carla Bruni will act as a goodwill ambassador for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, as well as other deadly diseases including tuberculosis and malaria.

Although she is not well-praised for her music, the model-turned first lady's charity campaigns will be given credits, hopefully.

From modeling to songwriting/singing to politics, Carla Bruni often speaks out about using her powerful position to help good causes. Her support to battle against AIDS is just one of them.