Carla Bruni Sarkozy is gracing the cover of Vanity Fair this month, for their special September style issue, photographed by Annie Leibovitz.

The ultra stylish former model, and singer, is looking typically polished. I am in slight awe at the shininess of her hair.

Carla has a fresh-faced, natural approach to beauty that often comes after years of modelling. I also like the fact she doesn't pretend to be a girl without a past. The Italian beauty dated Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, amongst others, before marrying President Nicolas Sarkozy, in February.

"It's not that I had a lot of lovers, Carla tells Vanity Fair, "it's that I never hide them. It's a different thing."

For why we love Carla, just read more

It is refreshing to find a pretty woman in the public eye, who isn't afraid to actually open her mouth and talk. I know that in general French women hate her – my best friend, the Femme Fatale is all vitriol whenever I admire Carla's hair or her clear skin – but I like that she's openly sexy. Surely, we can admire beautiful women, in the public eye, without being consumed by hate or jealousy.

Karl Lagerfeld, who has used her as a model in the past, has only good things to say about the new First Lady, as well.

“She’s imaginative, clever, educated." He tells Vanity Fair. "She knows how to behave.”

Vanity Fair has asked: Is Carla Bruni the new Jackie O? I'm all for saying yes. Now we just want to hear her hair tips please...