Hollywood cerise
A vivid pink shade first named in the 1920s and used in coloured pencils
Hollywood cerise is a bright, strong pink colour. It first appeared in 1922 under the name Hollywood and was renamed Hollywood cerise in the 1940s. The colour became well known through its use in Venus Paradise coloured pencils during the 1950s.
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- First named Hollywood in 1922
- Renamed Hollywood cerise in the 1940s
- Used in Venus Paradise coloured pencils in the 1950s
- A vivid, highly saturated pink shade
What colour is Hollywood cerise?
Hollywood cerise is a striking, intense pink shade. Its tone is highly saturated, making it stand out among other pinks. The colour is bold and eye-catching, often used where a vivid pink is needed. It is distinct from lighter or softer pinks due to its strong, almost electric appearance.
Where does Hollywood cerise come from?
The colour was first introduced in 1922 under the name Hollywood. In the 1940s, it was renamed Hollywood cerise. The name reflects both its original title and its bright, cherry-like hue (cerise means cherry in French). The colour became especially familiar to many through its use in Venus Paradise coloured pencils in the 1950s.
Where Hollywood cerise is used
Hollywood cerise gained popularity in the 1950s as a shade in the Venus Paradise range of coloured pencils. Artists and hobbyists would have encountered it mainly in drawing and colouring. Its vividness made it a favourite for creating bold, lively artwork.
Pink around the world
What the pink and magenta family means from country to country.
The president's office in Buenos Aires is the Casa Rosada, the Pink House. A popular story says its paint once had ox blood mixed in, though this is not proven.
Politics and protestSource: Casa RosadaThe third day of the New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground is Jane McGrath Day. The crowd wears pink to raise money for breast cancer nurses.
Protection and healingHopeSource: McGrath FoundationThe Rose Valley near Kazanlak grows pink damask roses for rose oil. The harvest in late May and June is marked by a festival and the crowning of a Rose Queen.
Nature and renewalFestival and celebrationJoySource: Rose Valley, BulgariaToulouse is called la Ville Rose, the pink city, for the soft pink brick of its old buildings.
Nature and renewalSource: ToulouseIn November 2003 protesters entered parliament carrying roses, and the president resigned without bloodshed. The change of power is called the Rose Revolution.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Rose RevolutionAt Holi, the spring festival of colours, friends and strangers smear each other with gulal, a coloured powder. Pink and red gulal are the best known shades.
Festival and celebrationJoySource: HoliShades and relatives of Hollywood cerise
Hollywood cerise is related to other bright pinks and cerise shades. It is sometimes confused with similar intense pinks but is set apart by its specific tone and history. The name change from Hollywood to Hollywood cerise marks its distinction from other pinks.
Colours that go with Hollywood cerise
Harmonies are worked out from the value #F400A1. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Hollywood cerise
What colour is Hollywood cerise?
Hollywood cerise is a bright, highly saturated pink shade, known for its bold and vivid appearance.
Where does the name Hollywood cerise come from?
The colour was first called Hollywood in 1922 and renamed Hollywood cerise in the 1940s, combining its original name with 'cerise', which means cherry in French.
Where has Hollywood cerise been used?
It became well known in the 1950s as a colour in the Venus Paradise brand of coloured pencils, used for drawing and art.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cerise (color)" (the section "Hollywood cerise"), written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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