A socialite is a person, typically a woman from a wealthy or aristocratic background who is prominent in high society . A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditional employment.
19-844: Mary Russell may refer to: Ann Russell Miller (born Mary Ann Russell, 1928–2021), American socialite and nun Lady Mary Russell (1934–2022), Scottish socialite Mary Baptist Russell (1829–1898), Irish-born American religious sister, nurse, philanthropist, and educator Mary Doria Russell (born 1950), American author Mary Jane Russell (1926–2003), American photographic fashion model Mary Rhodes Russell (born 1958), American judge Mary Russell (actress) (1912–2005), American actress Mary Russell Cromwell , English wife of Wingfield Cromwell, 2nd Earl of Ardglass Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford (1865–1937), English pilot and ornithologist Mary Russell (singer) (born 1951), American soul singer Mary Russell (character) (active since 1994),
38-476: A convent , left her mansion overlooking San Francisco Bay before it was sold to a member of the band Metallica. She threw a party at the San Francisco Hilton for 800 guests. She wore a flower crown, and carried a helium balloon with the words "Here I am", so that people could find her in the crowd of 800 attendees. She gave away all of her possessions, and boarded a plane the following day to join
57-581: A Tennessee newspaper. It was popularized by Time magazine in the 1920s. Historically, socialites in the United Kingdom were almost exclusively from the families of the aristocracy and landed gentry . Many socialites also had strong familial or personal relationships to the British royal family . Between the 17th and early 19th centuries, society events in London and at country houses were
76-410: A fictional character in works by Laurie R. King Mary Russell (ship) , built in 1817 See also [ edit ] Mary Russell Mitford (1787–1855), English author Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Mary Russell . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to
95-486: A nun, but instead fell in love and married Richard K. Miller on June 15, 1948. Richard was an heir to the Folger coffee fortune . He was also the grandson of Christian Otto Gerberding "C.O.G." Miller , the founder of Pacific Lighting Corporation, which eventually became Pacific Gas and Electric Company ; Richard eventually rose to the vice presidency of that company. She and Richard had a total of ten children. She became
114-554: A prominent socialite in San Francisco, holding a spot on 22 organization boards and donating money to various causes. According to a 2005 feature in the San Francisco Chronicle she was friends with Loretta Young , Nancy Reagan , and Phyllis Diller . She held frequent parties at her nine-bedroom San Francisco mansion, and spent her days smoking, drinking champagne, playing cards and travelling around
133-547: The Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel based in Des Plaines, Illinois . She announced that "The first two-thirds of my life were devoted to the world. The last third will be devoted to my soul." Her children's reactions were mixed. Miller remained in the convent for the rest of her life, rarely seeing her family. According to one of her sons, Mark Miller, "She was kind of an unusual nun. She didn't sing very well. She
152-509: The media , particularly when the status of being a celebrity is largely due to that lifestyle. Celebrity Paris Hilton is an example of a 21st-century socialite due to her ability to attract media attention and fame based only on her connections and associations. Hilton is the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton , the founder of Hilton Hotels & Resorts , and heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune. Due to her outrageous lifestyle, Hilton
171-418: The 18th and 19th century. Most of the earliest socialites were wives or mistresses of royalty or nobility, but being a socialite was more a duty and a means of survival than a form of pleasure. Bashful queens were often forced to play gracious and wealthy hostess to people who despised them. Mistresses had to pay for their social reputation and had to use their social skills to obtain favor in the court and retain
190-528: The Establishment , or an American " society " based on birth, breeding, education, and economic standing, were originally listed in the Social Register , a directory of the names and addresses of the "preferred social contacts" of the prominent families in the 19th century. In 1886, Louis Keller started to consolidate these lists and package them for sale. The concept of socialites dates to
209-638: The focus of socialite activity. Notable examples of British socialites include Beau Brummell , Lord Alvanley , the Marchioness of Londonderry , Daisy, Princess of Pless , Lady Diana Cooper , Mary Constance Wyndham , Lady Ursula d'Abo , Margaret Greville and the Mitford sisters . Since the 1960s, socialites have been drawn from a wider section of society more similar to the American model, with many socialites now coming from families in business or from
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#1732771836674228-433: The impression that by simply being wealthy and fashionable, an individual has the opportunity to become famous. Consequently, it is an individual's ability to climb the social ladder due to his or her wealth and recognition that makes them a socialite. According to The New York Times , socialites spend between $ 98,000 and $ 455,000 per year (young and old, respectively) to maintain their roles as successful socialites. Just
247-459: The intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Russell&oldid=1241540181 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Ann Russell Miller Ann Russell Miller , O.Carm (October 30, 1928 – June 5, 2021)
266-484: The interest of their lovers. With the increase of wealth in the US in the 19th century, being a socialite developed into a role that brought power and influence. In the 21st century, the term "socialite" is still attached to being wealthy and socially recognized. The lines between being a socialite and celebrity with an exuberant partying lifestyle have since become blurred due to the influence of both popular culture and
285-583: The world of celebrity. Despite this, the notion of the Sloane Ranger still emphasises many socialites' connections to Britain's ruling class . The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is widely regarded as the current home of socialite activity in the UK. The television show Made in Chelsea has explored the lifestyles of young socialites living in London in the 21st century. American members of
304-500: The world on scuba diving trips. Even so, she was a devout Christian and made a pact with her husband that when one of them died, the other would join a religious order. When her husband died of cancer in 1984, Corky Bowles invited her to join him on his yacht, and proposed. She refused as she had already made up her mind that she now belonged with the Carmelite nuns. On her 61st birthday in 1989, Miller announced she would be entering
323-540: Was an American socialite who left her wealth behind to become a Carmelite nun known as Sister Mary Joseph of the Trinity . Mary Ann Russell was born in San Francisco on October 30, 1928. Her father, Donald J. Russell , chaired Southern Pacific Railroad . Her mother was Louise Herring Russell. She was an only child after the death of her sister Donna when she was young. Russell had dreams of becoming
342-480: Was frequently late to her required duties around the convent. She threw sticks for the [community] dogs, which was not allowed. Also, she was my mother." Miller died after complications from a stroke on June 5, 2021, aged 92. She was buried on the grounds of the convent in Des Plaines, Illinois, and her family had a private funeral for her. Socialite The word socialite is first attested in 1909 in
361-432: Was hailed by the media as "New York's leading It Girl " in 2001. Gossip Girl , an American television series airing between September 2007 and December 2012, focuses on the lives of New York City socialites who live on Manhattan 's Upper East Side . The show is a strong influence on how socialites are regarded in the 21st century because of the presence of scandal, wealth, and fashion in each episode. Pop culture gives
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