Voting Station

Kiki of Montparnasse

Please vote to return to collections.

Model

The Resume

    (October 2, 1901-April 29, 1953)
    Born in Chatillon-sur-Seine, France
    Birth name was Alice Prin
    Model/nightclub singer/painter
    Posed for Jean Cocteau, Francis Picabia, Alexander Calder, Arno Breker, Moise Kisling, Amadeo Modigliani, Maurice Utrillo and Man Ray
    Wrote 'Kiki's Memoirs' (1929)

Why she might be annoying:

    She began posing nude for sculptors at age 14.
    She went to New York hoping for a film career, but on the day of her Paramount screen test, realized she had forgotten her comb and never showed up (1923).
    She spent a night in jail after slugging a cafe owner and a policeman (1925).
    When singing in nightclubs, she would climb on tables and lift her skirt, showing her garters and often a lot more (since she never wore underwear).
    She died from the effects of alcohol and cocaine.

Why she might not be annoying:

    The New York Times wrote, 'Kiki had a wretched childhood that could only lead to laughter or despair, and being solid and brave she chose laughter.'
    She had a sold-out exhibition of her paintings in Paris (1927).
    Even as she slipped into poverty, she visited elderly hospital patients to bring them cheer and any gifts she could find.
    She said, 'All I need is an onion, a bit of bread, and a bottle of red wine, and I will always find someone to offer me that.'
    Ernest Hemingway wrote that she 'dominated the era of Montparnasse more than Queen Victoria ever dominated the Victorian era.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 102 Votes: 61.76% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 36 Votes: 69.44% Annoying