Miss Yugoslavia 1956 Tania Velia

May 27, 1956 - New York, New York, U.S. - Miss Yugoslavia 1956 TANIA VELIA arrives at Idlewild Airport in New York via TWA from Los Angeles to audition for a TV role. Some history on Tania - 1945 - a junior swimming champion at age 14. Becomes a member of the Yugoslavian Olympic swimming team. 1955 - When the team competes in Austria, she refuses to return to her native country. Goes with her mother to America and seeks asylum in the States, enters America as a political refugee with help of her American aunt, after escaping from behind the Iron Curtain. She has been a professional architect, swimmer, actress, fashion model and singer. 1955 - Columnist E. Wilson reports her to be Sagas Girl of the Month. She speaks six languages. Wins her movie contract two weeks after her arrival in Hollywood. 1958 - Films Whiplash on location in Puerto Rico. During the trip, shes put in jail in Venezuela because she has her picture taken beside a statue of Simon Bolivar. (Credit Image: (c) KEYSTONE Pictures/ZUMA Wire/ZUMAPRESS.com/Mary Evans)

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Asylum Audition Aunt Becomes Bolivar Columnist Competes Contract Enters Escaping Idlewild Junior Languages Puerto Refugee Refuses Reports Rico Sagas Seeks Shes Speaks Swimmer Tania Velia Venezuela Whiplash Yugoslavian

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