Emilienne d'Alençon
(Emilienne André)
* July 18th 1869, Paris (France)
† February 1946, Nizza France)
Born in Paris, she ran away with a gypsy violinist at age 15. In 1898 she appeared in the Cirque d’Été with trained rabbits. She became the “object of obsession” by King Leopold II of the Belgians and Jacques d’Uzès, son of the Duchesse d’Uzès, heiress to the Veuve Clicquot fortune.
Emilienne d'Alençon was one of the “three most notorious courtesans of the age”, known as the “Les Grandes Trois” along with Liane de Pougy and Carolina Otero, called “La Belle Otero".
She later entertained at the Folies Bergère, where she worked with rabbits again, this time tinted pink with ruffled collars, and became a famous dancer and actress, performing also on other variety stages and music halls.
She was the lover of Etienne Balsan, a french socialite and heir, who also found Coco Chanel as his mistress. Emilienne d’Alençon was Chanel’s first customer, as she wore her hats, made especially for her at the races at Longchamp. A unique relationship between the three, even by French standards.
She also shared a romantic relationship with Valtesse de la Bigne. She left the glamorous stage of Paris' night life in 1906 and married a jockey, Percy Woodland.
In 1918 "Sous la masque", a collection of her poems were published. She had a passion for gambling, which ruined her financially. She later moved to Nice, and died at age 77. She is buried in Cimetière des Batignolles, Paris.
References:
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Emilienne d'Alençon at Folies Bergère (Jules Cheret)
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