10 Fun Princess Leia Gold Bikini Facts With Stunning Photos

We have four words for you: Princess Leia Gold Bikini. Also known as Slave Leia, it is Carrie Fisher’s costume in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). It’s an iconic look that shows Princess Leia Organa as a vulnerable woman and sci-fi sex symbol vs. the bad-ss member of the Rebel Alliance she is.

It was controversial then, and it is still discussed today. Nonetheless, the Princess Leia gold bikini is one of the most duplicated ensembles in cinematic history. Leia cosplay is a significant vibe at Comic Cons across the United States. Several other celebrities have donned the famous slave costume. Here are ten interesting facts about the gold bikini.

Designing the Bikini Princess Costume Fact #1

Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

Costume designers Aggie Guerard Rodgers and Nilo Rodis-Jamero Rodgers created the iconic look. Rodgers says the inspiration for Leia’s slave outfit came from the Egyptian Queen artwork of Frank Frazetta, who had an affinity for the female form. In addition, the designers molded Carrie Fisher’s torso for a custom fit.

Several versions of the bikini were crafted to accommodate different scenes in the film, including a bronze bra sculpted by Richard Miller. The design initially included a 25-foot fabric train but was ultimately not plausible. Due to wardrobe malfunctions with the costume, they assigned someone to ensure Fisher wasn’t exposed anywhere between takes.

Wearing Leia’s Bikini Fact #2

Carrie Fisher has repeatedly gone on record about Princess Leia’s bikini being highly uncomfortable and not something she picked to wear. Despite her hatred of the metal bikini, her complaints allegedly led to its creation. Fisher vocalized that the costumes she wore in A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back were boring and that no one could tell she was a woman in them.

Fisher described the material, “It was like steel, not steel, but hard plastic, and if you stood behind me, you could see straight to Florida. You’ll have to ask Boba Fett about that.” Additionally, she expressed the metal bikini is “What supermodels will eventually wear in the seventh ring of hell.”

Carrie Fisher and Her Stuntdouble Fact #3

Carrie Fisher had an incredible stunt double in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). Fisher and her stuntwoman Tracey Eddon wore a rubber version of the bikini for comfort during action scenes. Eddon also wore a rubber replica of C-3PO for the tumble off of the sail barge.

Rehearsing the Jabba the Hutt Scenes in Star Wars Fact #4

In Return of the Jedi, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) attempt to save Princess Leia from Jabba the Hutt. He is a giant slug-like alien gangster who has taken her prisoner and forced her to wear the “stupid outfit.”

Carrie Fisher admitted in an interview with Fresh Air, “When we first rehearsed it, Hans and Luke are brought in front of Jabba. They talk to Jabba, Jabba talks to Harrison and Mark, and then they’re led off. They never say, ‘Hey, how are you?’ So as they were being led off, I said, in the rehearsal, ‘Don’t worry about me! I’ll be fine! Seriously!’ Which I thought they should’ve kept in there.”

George Lucas and Princess Leia Fact #5

Fisher continued, “It was like, ‘Where am I in all of this?’ I have to stay with the slug with the big tongue! Nearly naked, which is not a style choice for me. It wasn’t my choice. When director George Lucas showed me the outfit, I thought he was kidding, and it made me very nervous. I had to sit very straight because I couldn’t have lines on my sides, like little creases. No creases were allowed, so I had to sit very, very rigid straight.”

She concluded, “What redeems it is I get to kill him, which was so enjoyable. I sawed his neck off with that chain that I killed him with. I really relished that because I hated wearing that outfit and sitting there rigid straight, and I couldn’t wait to kill him.”

Princess Leia Gold Bikini Fact #6

Before filming, Lucas showed Fisher the concept design, and it frightened her into increasing her exercise routine to tone her body for the shoot. However, Fisher admits to believing that was the point of showing her the drawings.

Leia Bikini Fact #7

Leia Costume Fact #8

It included the collar and several chain links—also, a letter of authenticity from Richard Miller. Miller is the designer who worked for George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic.

Leia Slave Fact #9

Celebrities Who Rocked Princess Leia’s Bikini

The first episode of season three of Friends is titled “The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy.” Ross admits to Rachel that he has always had this Star Wars fantasy, and she makes it come true. Hair buns and all.

Princess Leia Bikini Worn by Kristen Bell

Over the years, many celebrities have dressed that part, including Kim Kardashian, Melissa Joan Hart, Stella Maeve, and Yvonne Strahovski on the TV show Chuck. In addition, Kristen Bell rocked the gold bikini in the film Fanboys (2009).

Star Wars Fans in Princess Leia Cosplay

Leia Slave Cosplay With the Giant Slug

The Star Wars Celebration is a gathering of fans celebrating the Star Wars franchise. It started in 1999, when Lucasfilm held the Star Wars Celebration in Denver, Colorado, celebrating the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

‘Star Wars’ Leia Cosplayers

Subsequent events have taken place, welcoming forthcoming movies and honoring the 30th and 40th anniversaries of the original film’s release. But, of course, the Princess Leia slave costume usually draws large numbers.

Leia Slave Cosplay

Star Wars Gold Bikini Cosplayers

Many Star Wars cosplayers include the gold snake armband and leather boots in which Carrie Fisher represents Princess Leia. Finally, the color of the skirt varies between deep burgundy, bright pink, and red.

The braid to the side is one of Princess Leia’s iconic hairstyles. The other being the buns on each side of her head. Most people that wear the gold bikini sport the braid that she wore. However, many cosplayers rock the outfit with their unique hairstyles.

Princess Leia Cosplay

Princess Leia’s gold bikini cosplay is represented with beautiful Leia imitators worldwide. They also sell the slave costume at Halloween, but it’s certainly not the metal version.

Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia

Sadly, Carrie Fisher died of a heart attack on December 27, 2016. Her mother passed away the following day. Fisher starred in the original Star Wars trilogy as well as numerous other films.