Cannes 2012: Salma Hayek, Paz Vega Bust Out in Daring Dresses

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The Cannes Film Festival has a long and colorful history with bare breasts.

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In 1954, sex became an integral part of the young film festival’s image when a buxom French starlet named Simone Sylva started a topless tradition during Robert Mitchum's photo call on the beach.

A bemused Mitchum stood by as Miss Sylva's assets hit the international news wires. Overnight, the photos created a lasting image of Cannes in the world's mind. The image was boosted, or shall we say reinforced, by a bikini-clad Bridgette Bardot, who became a fixture at the French fest for a decade.

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Even today, aspiring starlets court major international headlines by showing off their cleavage in various ways on the red carpets at Cannes. It's certainly one way to get attention. But even A-list actresses also seem to enjoy titillating the press and the carpet watchers with cleavage-baring gowns that might perhaps be deemed too risque at Hollywood or New York premieres and parties.

This year is no different. Salma Hayek showed off her always impressive cleavage at the Madagascar 3 premiere in a Gucci gown. And Paz Vega worked the red carpet in Stephane Rolland couture gown with a feathered skirt that went unnoticed due to a very revealing keyhole detail at the bust.

German actress Diane Kruger wore a bust-boosting bra under her coral-colored Calvin Klein frock at the Women In Film celebration at the festival, co-hosted by the fashion house. Even Will Smith's wife Jada Pinkett -- not exactly known for her ample assets -- wore a very low-cut dress by Paco Rabanne that night.

Stay tuned to Fash Track for more updates on the 2012 Cannes Cleavage Competition.