You would never had recognized Rita before her Hollywood fame! She was half Hispanic, and was born with black hair and had a natural low hairline. The movie studio loved her dancing, but decided to die her hair red and surgically raised her hairline. While I love this look for Rita, I still think she looks just as beautiful with her long black hair 🙂
Rita absolutely loved her career as a dancer. She never looks happier than when she’s photographed dancing! All her hours practicing since age 5 paid off; she starred with the 2 kings of Hollywood dance: Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
Outside of the dance studio, Rita’s look is quintessential vintage. She wore many bright colors and bold prints during the height of her Hollywood years. People wanted that Americana look during a troubling time, and she definitely nailed that aesthetic.
You’ll probably notice that Rita’s hair is NOT red in this photo! Towards the decline of her career, she died her hair blonde for a movie directed by her then-husband Orson Welles. The public was not a fan. They missed their all-American, red-headed gal!
This pic below is one of my FAVORITE Rita Hayworth looks. I need it in my wardrobe!!!
I scouted out some adorable photos of Rita with her 2 baby girls. While she experienced controversy and legal trouble over her parenting, both her daughters remained in contact with her till her death. Her youngest, Princess Aga Khan, she was especially close with. In the last years of Rita’s life she struggled greatly from Alzheimer’s. I was listening to some later interviews of hers, and she sounds slightly incoherent and not like herself. In honor of her mother, the Princess Aga Khan began charity work to raise money to fight against Alzheimer’s disease (check out this 5 minute interview here). In my opinion, I truly believe Rita loved both her daughters, but struggled in how to be the best working mother possible.
I don’t know what is happening in this picture, but I had to include it!
Rita’s marriage to Prince Aly Khan did not last. After the separation, Rita insisted on taking her two girls back to America so that they could be raised in a Christian nation with all the freedom and opportunities she had. I love these 2 candids of her below. They are lovely, raw images of the true Golden Girl.
Happy Friday!