Raquel Welch
Also known as Jo Raquel Tejada
Career
Active 1964 – 2023
Biography
About Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch was a Golden Globe Award-winning American actress and former model who became a leading sex symbol of the late 1960s and 1970s. She was born Jo Raquel Tejada on September 5, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of three children. Her father, Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, was a Bolivian of Spanish descent, and her mother, Josephine Sarah Hall, had English ancestry tracing back to John Quincy Adams and the Mayflower. Welch is a slim, brown-haired, brown-eyed beauty standing 5'6" with natural 34D breasts. She was often called the most beautiful woman in the world, and after the death of Marilyn Monroe, she took on the mantle of Hollywood's top sex symbol. She remained one of the sexiest women over 50 for years.
Welch's family moved to La Jolla, California, in 1942, and she grew up there. She took dance lessons as a child and won beauty pageants as a teenager. Titles included Miss Photogenic, Miss La Jolla, Miss Contour, and Miss San Diego. In 1957, she was named Miss Fairest of the Fair at the San Diego County Fair. That same year, she graduated from La Jolla High School and later attended San Diego State College on a theater arts scholarship. She married her high school sweetheart, James Welch, in 1959. They had two children, Tahnee Welch and Damon Welch.
Welch's career spanned 59 years, from 1964 to 2023. She achieved fame in films and modeling, becoming a cultural icon of the era. In 1995, she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role in 'The Right to Remain Silent.' She passed away on February 15, 2023, at her home in Los Angeles, following a brief illness. She was 82.
She is remembered not only for her beauty but also for her talent and lasting impact on Hollywood.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Died
- Wednesday 15th of February 2023 (age 82)
- Years Active
- 1964-2023 (started around 23 years old; 59 years active)
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Ethnicity
- Mixed-race (primarily Caucasian)
- Sexuality
- Straight
Body
- Hair Color
- Brown
- Eye Color
- Brown
- Weight
- 118 lbs (or 54 kg)
- Measurements
- 37–24–37 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.65
- Bra/Cup Size
- 34D show conversions - UK: 34D, EU: 75D, AU: 12D, JP: 75D
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 48k (as of March 2026)
Frequently asked
What heritage does Raquel Welch have?
Welch was of mixed heritage: her father was Bolivian of Spanish descent, and her mother was of English ancestry that includes John Quincy Adams and Mayflower connections.
How long was Raquel Welch active in her career?
Welch was active for 59 years, from 1964 to 2023, starting around age 23.
What was Raquel Welch's most notable award?
Welch won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Did you know
- She was born Jo Raquel Tejada and later took her husband's last name, Welch.
- She won multiple beauty pageant titles as a teenager, including Miss Photogenic and Miss Fairest of the Fair.
- Her natural measurements were 37-24-37, and she had a 34D bra cup size.
- Her children, Tahnee and Damon, both pursued acting careers.
Help improve this profile
Spot something wrong or missing? Fix a detail, add a link, or share a fact. Every submission is reviewed before it goes live.
Are you Raquel Welch?


















