Raquel Welch is one of the quintessential celebrities embodying the glamor of the 1960s and 1970s.
Her inimitable style and alluring demeanor made her one of the most iconic screen actresses of the era, and her legendary roles and outfits remain a core feature of popular culture to this day.
Welch is a true Hollywood icon, not only in her screen and stage career—but in the secret truth of her personal life.
Let’s take a look at Welch’s incredible rise to fame—and the truth of her story behind the scenes.
A Star is Born
Raquel Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada on September 5, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois.
Her father, Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, hailed from La Paz, Bolivia, and worked as an aeronautical engineer. Her mother, Josephine Sarah Hall, was a college graduate from the University of Illinois, and worked hard balancing her career with running the family home.
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The oldest of three children, it was clear from a young age that Welch was destined to be a star. But no one had any idea just how stellar her fame and fortune would one day become.
All The Right Moves
Even as a young child, it was clear that Raquel Welch was destined for stardom. She had a unique and charismatic personality, and charmed everyone with her special presence. Not only that, but she was incredibly talented in all the ways of a performer—taking dancing lessons from a young age.
And as she blossomed into a beautiful young woman, this attention was only going to increase—as she began winning local beauty contests.
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But this recognition was only just the beginning of Welch’s journey to stardom.
Latin Love
Even though Welch was growing up in America, she had a rich cultural heritage on her father’s side.
A Spanish man who had later emigrated to Bolivia, and then America, Welch’s father was keen to assimilate into U.S. culture and give his children the best start in life.
This meant that he chose not to teach them Spanish when they were growing up—but this wouldn't stop Welch going on to embrace her heritage in the years to come.
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But first, something else would come along that would distract Welch from both her origins and her aspirations…
Love is in the Air
During her teenage years, we know that Raquel Welch was adored by many thanks to her incredible good looks and effortless charm.
Even though everyone loved her, there was only one man who had truly captured her heart—her high school sweetheart, James Welch. And so, at the age of 18, the two long-term lovebirds tied the knot.
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Deeply in love, the new Mrs. Welch thought that she had found her happy ending. But in truth, her incredible life story was only just beginning.
Pitter Patter
When you think of Raquel Welch at the height of her career, she seems the embodiment of hedonistic style and indulgence. But behind the scenes, this young star was actually a hardworking mother of two!
Shortly after her marriage to James Welch, the two of them welcomed two children—Damon Welch, born in 1959, and Tahnee Welch, born in 1961.
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It seemed that everything was going perfectly for Welch at this point—but the truth was in fact a very different story.
Splitsville
In the late 50s and early 60s, it seemed like the young star Welch had everything worked out—a burgeoning career, a happy marriage and two beautiful children. But behind closed doors, things were not as rosy as they seemed.
And so in 1961, the same year that the seemingly happy couple welcomed their daughter, they shocked the world when they confirmed that they had split.
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However, this wouldn't be the end of the road for Welch—neither for her love life, nor her passion for her career.
