Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu (aka "Dragon Lady"), former First Lady of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, has died in Rome at the age of 86.
As the wife of the chief advisor/head of the secret police and brother of the single, President Ngo Dinh Diem, Madame Nhu acquired the role of First Lady.
Raised Buddhist and later converting to Catholicism, Nhu became known for generally speaking her mind, harshly speaking out against Buddhist protests, including against her own Buddhist father; therefore, receiving the nickname "Dragon Lady." Time Magazine quoted her as saying, “You are never going to overthrow this government because you don’t have the guts... And if you do overthrow it, you will never have me because I will claw your throat out first.”
Beyond the controversy that surrounded her, Nhu was also known for her extravagant fashionable attire, hairstyle and popularized wearing a more form-fitted and modern version of the traditional áo dài.
After the death of her husband and President Diem and the eventual fall of South Vietnam, Nhu exiled to Italy where she has been residing with her children.
