LOLA FALANA

Born Loletha Elayne Falana, the singer and actress is well-known by her stage name: Lola. She got her first dancing stint at 16, after being given the opening act slot by the “Queen of Blues” Dinah Washington. In fact, Dinah is often given credit for helping Lola’s career. Her first role in a Broadway musical is courtesy of another legend—Sammy Davis Jr. One of the movies that added to her fame was the American film The Liberation of L.B Jones, on which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as the New Star Of The Year.

Aside from acting, she is also a successful model, and was considered the first African-American woman to model for the Faberge Tigress perfume ads. Her Broadway appearance led to various other opportunities, including launching her own music career in 1964. She even became part of Frank Sinatra’s record label. At the peak of her career, she was also considered by many to be the “Black Venus”.