The most famous escorts of all time: Mata Hari

Some of the most fascinating female figures in history were famous courtesans. Margaretha Geertruida Zelle MacLeod, better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was an exotic dancer and escort from the Netherlands, believed to have also been a spy for Germany during the First World War.  

At age 18, she married a Dutch army captain and moved to Indonesia. Mata Hari went through an abusive relationship with her husband until she joined a dance group and broadened her Indonesian experience. It was at this time that she chose the name “Mata Hari”, which translates into the word “sun”, but literally means “eye of the day”.  

She moved to Paris in her late twenties, when she and her husband parted. At first, she rode horses in the circus, but soon turned to posing for artists and exotic dancing. Her success was almost instant as she took over most European venues. From Spain and Monte Carlo to Germany, the confident Mata Hari was essential in turning exotic dance into an art form.  

Like many escorts, she created a fascinating persona with an even more mesmerizing background story, saying that she originated in India and was raised in a temple. The colourful trimmings she added to her story assisted in transforming her into an exotic figure, helping her move towards a wealthy and influential clientele. By 1910 she became the best paid escort of Europe.  

During the First World War, Mata Hari could move around Europe freely since she was a Dutch citizen and the Netherlands were a neutral party during the war. Whether she really was a spy or simply a political pawn is debatable, however. What cannot be questioned is the quality of the services she offered and her undoubted magnetism.