Womanica

Lana Turner (1921-1995) was an American actress who in a five decade career starred in over 58 feature films and several television shows. Touted as the Hollywood bombshell, she was famous for playing good girls gone bad and consistently being in the tabloids for her multiple marriages, famous affairs, and a murder trial. For Further Reading: Lana: The Public and Private Lives of Miss Turner Lana...

María Félix (1914-2002) was a Mexican actress who rose to fame at the height of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. Her roles varied across genres and archetypes, breaking from the tradition of traditional, submissive female roles in the industry.  For Further Reading: María Félix, 87, Feisty Heroine Who Reigned Supreme in Mexican Cinema, Dies María Fél...

Grace Jones (1948 - present) is a model, singer, actress, and performance artist. She has been on the cover of Vogue, Essence, and Interview Magazine. She released chart topping albums including Nightclubbing, Warm Leatherette, and Slave to the Rhythm .  For Further Reading:  The Power of Grace Jones  The She-centaur: All the rage and outrage of Grace Jones and Jean-Paul Goude's ima...

Maria Malibran's (1808-1836) powerful operatic voice made her an international sensation. But her fame and talent hid a lifetime of pressure… and pain. This month, we're diving into the "Divas" of history, examining how the label has been used from many angles, whether describing women pejoratively... or with admiration.  History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason...

Emma Hamilton (c. 1765 –1815) was an English model, maid, and dancer. She was the mistress of a series of wealthy men. She was the muse of painter George Romney and featured in more than 70 of his paintings. She had a very public affair with a war hero, Lord Horatio Nelson, that scandalized British high society.  For Further Reading:  Emma Hamilton: Seduction & Celebrity The lo...

Martha Mitchell (1918-1976) was the wife of President Richard Nixon's Attorney General and campaign chair John Mitchell. Dubbed “the Mouth from the South,” Martha was a political star in Washington until she fell from grace amid the Watergate Scandal.  For Further Reading: Martha Mitchell: the woman who blew the whistle on the Watergate scandal Martha Mitchell: Capital's Most Talk...

Edith Bouvier Beale (1917-2002), also known as "Little Edie," was an American socialite and the cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. She gained fame from  Grey Gardens , a documentary that explored her eccentric, reclusive life with her mother, "Big Edie," in their decaying East Hampton mansion. She was an icon of American counterculture and influenced film, theater, and fashion. For Further...

Mildred Bailey (c.1900-1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady", and "Mrs. Swing.” She was a major pioneer of the “swing” style of singing that became synonymous with jazz vocals.  For Further Reading: Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of its Second Century Mildred Bailey: Queen of Swing   Indigenous...

Blaze Starr (1932-2015) was an American stripper and burlesque star whose big stage presence and innovative use of props earned her the nickname “The Hottest Blaze in Burlesque.” She was also known for her affair with Louisiana Governor Earl Kemp Long, and later wrote a memoir about the relationship that turned into a movie starring Paul Newman. For Further Reading: Blaze Starr, Burles...

Minnie Riperton (1947-1979) was an American soul singer, best known for the 1975 hit song “Lovin' You.” From an early age, Riperton captivated audiences with her extraordinary five-octave vocal range and command of the whistle register. At the peak of her commercial success, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and became one of few celebrities to share her diagnosis publicly. She defi...

Leona Helmsley (1920-2007) was a real estate agent turned mogul after marrying Harry Helmsley. Leona served as the head and face of the Helmsley hotel empire, and her unapologetic wealth and antics earned her the nickname “queen of mean.” Later, Leona was convicted on charges of tax evasion and served more than a year in prison. For Further Reading: Leona Helmsley, Hotel Queen, Dies at...

Ruan Lingyu (1910-1935) was a Chinese silent film actress known as the “Greta Garbo of China.” Considered one of the most prominent film stars of the 1930s, her roles, exceptional acting, and her suicide at the age of 24 led to her status as an icon of Chinese Cinema. For Further Reading:   Ruan Lingyu: The Greta Garbo of China The Tragic Life and Career of Ruan Lingyu Meyer, Rich...

Ava Gardner (1922-1990) was an American actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood. She first gained notoriety for her appearance in the 1946 film noir “The Killers.”  For Further Reading: The Wild Life and Many Loves of Ava Gardner Ava's Story The Reluctant Star This month, we're diving into the "Divas" of history, examining how the label has been used from many angles, whether des...

Sinéad O'Connor (1966-2023) was a singer and activist who reached peak popularity in the 1990s. She is best remembered for her cover of Prince's “Nothing Compares 2 U” and for ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II on SNL.  For Further Reading: Sinead O'Connor Condemned Church Abuse Early. America Didn't Listen. Sinéad O'Connor, acclaimed Dublin singer, dies aged 56...

Anita O'Day (1919-2006) was an Irish-American jazz singer known for her distinct and agile voice, and for her vices. She was dubbed the “Jezebel of Jazz,” and had a successful musical career that spanned decades.  For Further Reading:  High Times Hard Times Anita O'Day, 87, Hard-Living Star of the Big-Band Era and Beyond, Dies Anita O'Day The Life of A Jazz Singer This month,...

Sophia Loren (1934 - present) is an Italian actress and sex symbol with a career spanning more than 70 years. She is widely considered to be one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. For Further Reading:  Sophia Loren: The Story of the Most Iconic Italian Actress Sophia Loren - TCM Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life Bellissima: Sophia Loren's Love-Filled...

Anita Mui (1963-2004) was a Hong Kong singer and actress whose contributions to the Cantopop music scene earned her the nicknames “the Madonna of the East” and the “daughter of Hong Kong.”  For Further Reading:  The Guardian: Anita Mui SCMP: ‘Daughter of Hong Kong': the life and times of Cantopop icon Anita Mui The Telegraph: Anita Mui This month, we're divi...

Yoshiko Yamaguchi (1920-2014) was a Japanese actress and singer who rose to fame in China during the 1930s and 1940s. Her Japanese identity was hidden and used in propaganda films to promote Japanese influence in occupied territories. After the war, Yamaguchi became a prominent Japanese politician and advocate for Sino-Japanese reconciliation. For Further Reading: Yoshiko Yamaguchi, 94, Actress in...

Ann Bannon (1932 - present) is a lesbian pulp fiction author. The height of her success was in the late 50s and early 60s with her paperback books like  Odd Girl Out, which gave a voice to closeted queer women around the country.  For Further Reading Ann Bannon, the Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction, Reveals Her Own Amazing Story Interview with Ann Bannon   Beebo's Significant Other Thi...

Jovita Idar (1885-1946) was a Mexican-American journalist, editor, and educator who dedicated her life to pursuing civil rights for her local community on the Mexico-Texas border. She protested for women's education, Tejano rights, and held back a group of Texas Rangers from destroying her newspaper's printing press. For Further Reading:  UnLadyLike: Jovita Idar ¡Que Viva Jovita! - Smit...

June Mathis (1887-1927) was an American screenwriter who became the first female executive for MGM.  For Further Reading:  June Mathis Dies While at Theatre   June Mathis: An Eye for Talent   June Mathis  The Dark Lover   This month we're talking about Go-Getters. Women who purposefully—or accidentally!—acquired life-changing wealth, good fortune, or influ...

Wuhsha (c. 1095) was a successful broker and banker based in Cairo at the turn of the 12th century. Documents recovered centuries after her death reveal her unusually vast wealth and independence as a businesswoman in medieval Jewish society.  For Further Reading: Wuhsha Al-Dallala A Jewish Business Woman of the Eleventh Century    Wuhsha the Broker Jewish Women in the Medieval Econ...

Hetty Green (1834-1916), known as the "Witch of Wall Street," was one of the wealthiest financiers of the 19th century. Famous for her extreme frugality, she built an enormous fortune by making investments in real estate, railroads, and bonds, often capitalizing on others' financial missteps. She defied social expectations for women of her time, leaving a legacy as a pioneer in American finance. F...

Helena Rubinstein (1872-1965) was a Polish-American businesswoman, art collector, and philanthropist. She was the founder of Helena Rubinstein Incorporated cosmetics company, which made her one of the world's richest women. For Further Reading: Helena Rubinstein The Color of Money How One Woman Built an Empire on Lipstick and Lotion This month we're talking about Go-Getters. Women who purposefully...

Eleanor (Nell) Gwyn (c. 1650-1687) was an English actress and mistress of Charles II. Touted as a celebrity figure of the Restoration Period, she was praised for her beauty, recklessness, wit, and generosity. Nell is considered a folk heroine whose story mirrors the rags-to-riches story of Cinderella. For Further Reading : Nell Gwyn: Mistress to a King: By Charles Beauclerk, Atlantic Monthly Press...