At least it's not any longer.
Justice minister Rachida Dati managed to upstage Carla Bruni when she arrived for a dinner at the Elysee Palace last night.
Bruni, 40, looked stunning in clinging purple one-shouldered dress, cutting a fine figure in her first outing as France's new first lady.
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Glamourous: All eyes were on French justice minister Rachida Dati (left) as Carla Bruni made her first outing as the First Lady
Miss Bruni, who married President Nicolas Sarkozy last month after a whirlwind courtship, was at his side as he greeted Israeli leader Shimon Peres who is visiting Paris.
But Miss Dati, 42, attracted most of the attention as her revealing navy satin gown drew gasps of admiration.
The minister - whose British counterpart is the decidedly unglamorous Jack Straw - showed off a shapely leg thanks to her gown which was split to the thigh.
Bruni is used to batting off any female competition. But she may not have counted on the half-Algerian, half-Moroccan Miss Dati whose confident smile showed she knew she was stealing the show.
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Upstaged: Carla Bruni with President Sarkozy (right) and Shimon Peres at the Elysee Palace
The 52-year-old president appeared unperturbed as his wife and cabinet minister turned the steps of the presidential palace into a catwalk.
Another French politician known for her glamorous looks could have made it a three-way battle.
But human rights minister Rama Yade, 32, was busy in her constituency north of Paris.
French political journalist Thierry Lalatte said: "With women like Carla Bruni and Rachida Dati on the scene, French political summits have certainly become a lot more watchable."
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Can we give the French our Justice minister Jack Straw and we get French justice minister Rachida Dati in return?
- Wildgoose, London, England
I am proud of having such a beautiful woman as First Lady! Besides, she is very intelligent. No doubt Mrs Dati is pretty and clever. She is an excellent justice minister too.
- Catherine Croizé, France
Oh boy, and then take a look at the frumpy left wingers that Britain has.
- Karen, USA
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