Kiki de Montparnasse, born in 1901, is a woman of 2019. She is famed for being Man Ray’s muse, but she was an artist in her own right. Model, actress, singer and painter, she had agency over her body and image. She had led the way for today’s modern and magical woman, who is proud of her body and voices her point of view.
Photographed and painted by artists such as Sanyu, Jean Cocteau, Mayo, and Per Krohg, Kiki relished her body, in clothes and out of them. Her powerful self confidence was never diminished despite so many women of her time struggling with society-enforced repression, sexism and patriarchy.
“Rather than accept a fate as a sexualised object for men to gaze upon, Kiki grew into a self-possessed woman who was not shy about craving sexual pleasure just as much as any man did.” -Another Magazine
Her memoir was published in 1929 in France, but was prohibited by U.S. customs for depicting such a sexually liberated life story. It was not published in English until 1996.
Kiki died at the young age of 53 but her art that she created and inspired lives on, along with “Kiki de Montparnasse,” a clothing and lingerie brand inspired by its namesake. Founded in 2005, Kiki de Montparnasse redefined and redesigned sensual taboos, using high end materials. All of Kiki de Montparnasse's designer lingerie collection is delectable to the touch and based on living a full life on your own terms.