By PETER BOSCH

On the Fourth of July, I wrote a piece for America’s 250th birthday, celebrating the Statue of Liberty with 13 COVERS. As I mentioned, the statue was a gift from France.

Now that it’s the Fifth of July, it’s time to celebrate the 80th anniversary of France’s second-greatest gift to the world — the bikini!

On July 5, 1946, French fashion designer Louis Réard revealed the barely there swimsuit, modeled by Micheline Bernardini, at the Piscine Molitor (a popular swimming pool in Paris).

Louis Réard and Micheline Bernardini

How important was the unveiling? Well, it started another French revolution! He called it the “bikini” after Bikini Atoll, where the first public test of the nuclear bomb had been done by the U.S. just a few days before. Réard wanted his design to create as much of an explosion in the world of fashion. He got his wish — for many countries banned it immediately for its shocking immodesty.

These days, it’s the best-selling swimwear every year.

So to salute National Bikini Day, here are 13 COVERS (and other images) featuring America’s two favorite beach girls, Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge, basking in the worshipful attention being paid to them by Archie Andrews and almost every other sensible guy on the beach.

Also, the Archie Comics 85th Anniversary Betty & Veronica Swimsuit Special will hit comics shops July 8.