Since the Meiji Period, geigi who support themselves with their arts have often been perceived as a sort of dream girls and there have been occasions when some magazines conducted popularity contests or postcards featuring some popular geigi were well received.
自らの芸を以って生活する芸妓は、明治以降一種のあこがれの存在としてとらえられることも多く、雑誌で人気投票が行われたり、絵葉書が好評を博したこともあった。