Raquel Welch is completely unrecognizable in stunning photos winning Maid of California nearly 70 years ago

Raquel Welch won the title of Maid of California in 1958, beating out 44 other women for the prize when she was 18 years old. 

The future actress, then known as Raquel Tejada, was awarded several prizes, including a $1,000 bond and a $500 wardrobe.

Raquel also took home the top prize at San Diego’s Fairest of the Fair, being named their Fairest and Miss Contour. 

Captioned footage of the show summed it up neatly: “San Diego’s beauties sometimes are hard to beat. As a matter of fact, sometimes it’s impossible.”

Born in 1940, Raquel Welch started out on-screen in 1964’s A House Is Not a Home, appearing in The Virginian, Bewitched and McHale’s Navy the same year. 

Her breakout role came in 1966’s One Million Years B.C.. Raquel starred as cavewoman Loana, donning a leopard print bikini that made her a defining sex symbol of the decade.

Alongside her prehistoric hit, Raquel starred in ‘60s projects like Fantastic Voyage, Fathom, Bedazzled and The Biggest Bundle of Them All. 

Her superstar status extended into the following decade, starring as Constance de Bonacieux in The Three Musketeers (1973), Lady Edith in The Prince and the Pauper (1977) and two episodes of Mork & Mindy (1979). 

Raquel was married four times throughout her life. She first tied the knot in 1959, wedding James Welch and welcoming two children. The couple divorced in 1964, but Raquel kept his surname throughout her life. 

The actress subsequently married producer Patrick Curtis followed by screenwriter André Weinfeld. Raquel said ‘I do’ for the fourth and final time to Richie Palmer in 1996, separating seven years later in 2003.

The actress last appeared in public in 2017 at PORTER Hosts Incredible Women Gala in Association with Estée Lauder. 

That same year, Raquel last appeared on screen in How to Be a Latin Lover and 10 episodes of Date My Dad. The ‘60s star passed away on 15 February 2023, at the age of 82.