After Brigitte Bardot: These Celebrities Are Now Champions for Animal Rights!

Brigitte Bardot’s departure signifies the end of an era and the loss of a trailblazer in animal advocacy. She leveraged her fame and influence into a powerful tool for animal rights. Starting in 1962, at just 28 years old, she challenged societal norms by demanding that animals be stunned before slaughter, a stance she publicly advocated on television. This commitment led her to abandon her film career in 1973 to focus on helping vulnerable animals. From her iconic actions on the ice floes for baby seals in 1977 to the establishment of her foundation in 1986, she continually pushed public consciousness and political engagement.

Today, her legacy is substantial: “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation has rescued over 12,000 animals at the ‘BB Ark’, operates in 70 countries, maintains 4 shelters, employs 300 staff, has hundreds of volunteers, and 40,000 donors,” the Brigitte Bardot Foundation stated in a tribute following her death on December 28, 2025. Bardot never relented in her efforts to improve legislation for innocent animals and to seek justice against those who mistreated them. “Her legacy continues through the ongoing work and battles of the foundation, driven by the same passion and loyalty to her ideals,” the foundation affirmed.

“Delphine, You Are My Successor”

Her impact also lives on through the unwavering commitment of various public figures who have vowed to continue the fight for animal rights. This includes former Miss France 2012, Delphine Wespiser, whom Bardot regarded as her “successor.” “So many of us, animal warriors, mourn you today,” wrote the TV presenter and columnist in a post that aligned the two beauty queens and their advocacy for animals.

Similarly, Karine Ferri expressed deep admiration for Bardot’s efforts in animal welfare in a heartfelt social media post. She highlighted “these crucial fights” (mandatory stunning of animals before slaughter, ending animal crash tests, banning ivory trade, stopping animal testing for cosmetics, outlawing acts of zoophilia, banning fur, and ending dolphin and orca shows)… Ferri, who is also actively involved in animal rights, promised, “I will continue your fight, alongside those who dedicate their time and energy: shelters, associations, volunteers.”

The campaign for animal welfare continues through numerous personalities who share a love for animals and are undoubtedly equipped to advocate for the most vulnerable. Notable figures include Hugo Clément, a staunch animal defender, TV host Nagui, who has long supported the SPA, and Pamela Anderson who campaigns against fur use and foie gras production with PETA, as well as Mélanie Laurent, who works with the Sea Shepherd organization.