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Babe Paley

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Socialite

The Resume

    (July 15, 1915-July 6, 1978)
    Born in Boston, Massachusetts
    Born Barbara Cushing
    Married to Stanford Oil heir Stanley Mortimer and CBS Chairman Bill Paley
    One of Truman Capote's 'swans': society women who became close friends of the author

Why she might be annoying:

    She was a smoker.
    Aside from marrying well, hosting lavish parties, and dressing fashionably, she didn't do much with her life.
    Her mother encouraged her and her sisters to marry only wealthy, powerful men.
    Her first marriage, to Stanley Mortimer, ended in divorce.
    She was an absent parent; in fact one daughter says their relationship was 'nonexistent.'

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was always on the Best-Dressed List.
    Her marriage to Bill Paley was a genuine love match.
    By marrying Paley--a Jew--she was bucking society tradition.
    Before marrying, she worked for Vogue magazine.
    She was actually very shy and insecure.
    Truman Capote wrote a thinly disguised account of her in his book 'Unanswered Prayers.' She was so hurt that she broke off all contact with him.
    Today, she is still considered to be a style icon.

Credit: The Truffle


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 27 Votes: 51.85% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 22 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 62 Votes: 61.29% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 48 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 33 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 70 Votes: 62.86% Annoying