Born: 1875 (Paris, France)
Biography:
Cléo de Mérode was born on September 27, 1875, in Paris, France, at 7:00 P.M. She was the illegitimate daughter of Viennese Baroness Vincentia Maria Cäcilia Catharina de Mérode and the Austrian judge, lawyer, and tourism pioneer, Theodor Christomannos. Raised Catholic, Cléo was affectionately called Lulu by her family.
At the age of eight, Cléo was sent to study dance with the Sisters of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. She showed exceptional talent and made her professional debut as a dancer at the Paris Opéra when she was only eleven years old. It was during this time that Cléo developed a fondness for music, which ultimately led her to pursue a career as a dancer.
Cléo’s rise to fame was meteoric, and she quickly became renowned for her glamour and beauty. Her image began appearing on postcards and playing cards, making her one of the first celebrities to have her photographic image widely distributed worldwide. Photographers Nadar and Léopold-Émile Reutlinger played a significant role in popularizing her image.
At the age of sixteen, Cléo debuted her signature hairstyle, a chignon, which became a sensation in Parisian society. Women all over the city eagerly adopted the style, and it even caused controversy in Sweden when female workers were ordered to stop wearing the chignon to work, nearly sparking a strike. The hairstyle remained popular for decades, and as late as 1941, American newspapers referred to it as the Cléo de Mérode hairdo.
However, the chignon also led to rumors about Cléo’s ears. It was said that her ears were either missing or deformed since the hairstyle covered them. To dispel these rumors, Cléo boldly appeared in public with her ears exposed, proving that the rumors were baseless.
Throughout her career, Cléo not only captivated audiences with her exceptional dancing skills but also embraced her role as a trendsetter. She was the embodiment of the Belle Époque era and became an iconic figure of her time. Her fame surpassed the world of dance, and she became a symbol of beauty and style.
In 1911, Cléo’s father, Theodor Christomannos, passed away. On his grave, she left an inscription in German that read, The man who wanted everything for others and nothing for himself. This inscription reflected the deep appreciation she had for her father and his selflessness.
Cléo de Mérode’s influence on society extended beyond her time as a dancer. Her fame as a celebrity icon and her iconic hairstyle left an indelible mark on popular culture. She pioneered the concept of the modern celebrity and became a trendsetter for women’s fashion. Cléo’s impact on the arts and her status as a woman in the public eye have solidified her place in history.