Women and Old Stogies

One cannot ignore the pinky-ring-clad stereotype of an assertive male puffing away in defiance of his surroundings as the “typical” cigar smoker. Cigar smoking has largely been thought of as a male domain. People commonly associated with smoking cigars include the likes of Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro and JFK, with women rarely making the list of top famous cigar smokers. However, that is definitely not to say that they aren’t out there. Here we will explore the history of women and cigars, as well as some of the iconic women who have enjoyed them.

Justin Case, in the latest Justin and Friends Adventure, Chasing the Golem, out soon, discovers a loose thread in the fabric of misdirection woven by Mona Lott pertaining to the particular proclivity of Lyda Cain and Mona to enjoy individually specific brands of Cubans the occasional pinch of snuff. The Termination Agent for Tin Can Communications soon discovers that their penchant for the highly addictive carcinogenic leaves and the world's single greatest preventable cause of death becomes a clue, but to what?

Assumptions swirl around the gal with a ‘gar, with perception instantly branding her as a hard-charging, no-nonsense broad who rocks a power suit and eats her subordinates for breakfast. It’s implied that she’s an alpha female who punctuates each statement with a pointed puff of an Ashton Corona, or jabs the air with her Montecristo #2 after a dynamic presentation to members of the board.

“A cigar numbs sorrow and fills the solitary hours with a million gracious images.” - George Sand

France has long been home to women with an appreciation of fine cigars, particularly French author George Sand, a noted intellectual and paramour of Frédéric Chopin. Born Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin in 1804, Sand adopted her masculine nom de plume during a time when female writers weren’t as readily given their due as men with a pen. The George Sand Smoker Society, a club of female cigar enthusiasts emerged in her honour during the Cigar Boom of the 1990s.

While she didn’t indulge in a rolled cigar, Good Queen Bess herself, Queen Elizabeth I of 16th century England, had a fondness for smoking a pipe.

Historically, women in tobacco-growing regions smoked cigars, with Aztec and Peruvian women known to smoke cigars during the 16th-century. As cigars began to be imported and created around the world, they became associated with affluence and luxury, as such, important female figures were known for smoking cigars. Notably, Spanish countesses and duchesses were known for enjoying smoking cigars.

In the 19th century Queen Victoria had banned cigar smoking in her presence, and with this came a shift in public opinion. It became unacceptable in the Victorian era for women to be smoking, with the habit seen as a taboo and something that only those of low moral character would engage in. When King Edward VII ascended to the throne, he broke this ban for men with the words “Gentlemen, you may smoke”.

20th century male cigar smokers’ chauvinistic attitudes toward female smokers remained largely unchanged. Rudyard Kipling famously stated, “a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke”. Likewise, American director Samuel Fuller claimed that “a woman is just a script, but a cigar is a motion picture”, and Groucho Marx stating that “given the choice between a woman and a cigar, I will always choose the cigar”.

However, during the 1920s, there was something of a secret resurgence in female cigar smokers. Women-only cigar clubs cropped up, hideaways for ‘progressive’ women, female artists and writers who loved to smoke. One such club was found in Berlin and is believed to be where cigar smoking icon, Marlene Dietrich smoked before she moved to the United States. Consistently challenging female stereotypes, Marlene Dietrich famously wore ‘men’s’ clothing and smoked both cigars and cigarettes. She even appeared smoking a cigar in the film ‘Touch of Evil’!

In the 1990s, there was a huge resurgence in the number of women smoking cigars. With cigar smoking seen as a symbol of high-status and luxury, many women took up the hobby, no longer fearing the repercussions of a damaged reputation that once faced women who smoked cigars.

Celebrities, including Demi Moore, Madonna and Whoopi Goldberg were all spotted and photographed while smoking cigars. More and more women took to smoking cigars; however, in places like the UK and US where women smoking cigars was unconventional, those that chose to smoke were seen as feminists and rebellious.

Other famous female cigar smokers include Beyoncé, the Kardashians, Ciara, Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez. The rise of social media has also led to an increased interest in cigar smoking, with many popular female cigar aficionados rising to prominence.

A number of Cigar Aficionado’s most iconic covers feature women like Rihanna, who posed many times in photos and videos with a cigar in hand. Who can forget resonant quotes such as: “There’s something about smoking a cigar that feels like a celebration. It’s like a fine wine. There’s a quality, a workmanship, a passion that goes into the smoking of a fine cigar.” —Demi Moore

Non-smokers welcomed smoking bans put in place at the start of the 21st century, cigar smoking (and smoking in general) is thankfully a little less common than it once was. However, there are still many women who enjoy a stogie, including some famous faces!