"Smoke Housekeeper Cigars"

shouts one 1885 ad.....


The housekeeper is a voluptuous woman in a low-cut dress who graces the center of the ad. Images to the right and left show her pinning a flower to a man's lapel and stooping provocatively to light his cigar. The message is unmistakably sexual; the buxom housekeeper, like the cigar by that name, caters to your pleasure.....

Throughout history, the "Buxom" Woman with a Cigar has been the model for a woman's role in the cigar culture. Her presence, until recently, has been labeled by some a "Novelty Item", not to be taken seriously at all - Among her many campaigns, she has appeared as the show card in advertisements directed toward enticing and pursuading the male cigar smoker's purchase.

The sexual association of Women Cigar lovers and their male counterparts is not going away anytime soon - It seems we take a couple steps forward, and then bang - there goes a few steps back!

Even today, in 2008....

and the sad thing is.... some women are buying into the "Anti Propaganda Machine" - and displaying themselves in awkward and suggestive poses, in order to be accepted into the "Club". Didn't anyone tell them, we are the 21st Century Woman - Proud, Professional and Sensual all into one - We've shed the campy novelty portrayal - Sensuality and sexuality is a treasured gift, and its truth stems from the beauty of the woman. Displays for the purpose of display and exploitation, is an unneccessary act of poor taste, without regard or respect for its subject.

The acceptance of women in the cigar culture far outweighs the negative portrayal of her sensuality - this I fully believe; but, there are still the portals that promote the negativity, and which will never break way from, or discourage, the narrow minds of so very few.  My challenge is acquiring the tunnel vision which necessitates the absence of this sore spot in my vision.

After all poor Monica Lewinsky, look what they've done to her....

a name is just a name - The Cigar Woman will hit the Homerun!



Damsel....



a Life in Transition!...


led to Cigars4Women!