30. Her Signature Act in Paris Caused a Sensation
In Paris, Josephine Baker remade herself into a glamorous Jazz Age cabaret star, and took the City of Light by storm. Her signature stage act was quite risque, with her performing while clad only in high heels, a skirt made of artificial bananas, and a bra that revealed far more than it hid. She sang and danced with a wild abandon and erotic frenzy that held the audience spellbound. She was often accompanied by her pet cheetah, Chiquita. Wearing a diamond collar, the feline would sometimes escape into the orchestra pit, terrifying the musicians and further enhancing the wildness of the moment.