Georgina Pires Sampaio | |
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Born | |
Died | California,
United States | August , 1985
Occupations |
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Georgina Pires Sampaio (born August 28, 1917 – August, 1985) was a Brazilian dancer, singer, actress and fakir. [1] She is best known for her dance routines which involved snakes.
Sampaio started her career in 1939, in São Paulo, Brazil, as Diva Rios, singing sambas and marches. [2] [3]
Later on she changed her name to Suzy King and started her iconic act of performing with pythons. [4]
Sampaio had her peak during the 1950s when public fakirism was most popular. She was a multi-media star of sorts when such a term did not exist yet, always making sure newspapers would keep abreast of what she was doing. [2]
Sampaio wrote a play that was banned by the authorities. She also tried to emulate Lady Godiva wearing a long blond wig to cover her breasts and riding a horse through the center of the city. [4] She was almost gang-raped by a mob and was saved by a passerby.
She left for Mexico in the late 1960s, where she changed her name to Yacui Yapura Sampaio Bailey. [5] She married an American in 1970 and moved to the United States. [5]
Sampaio died alone in her trailer in California in 1985. [5]
Sampaio is featured in the book, Cravo na Carne: Fama e Fome, by Alberto de Oliveira and Alberto Camarero. [6]