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.

Georgina Pires Sampaio
Born(1917-08-28)August 28, 1917
Died(1985-08-00)August , 1985
California, United States
Occupations
  • Dancer
  • singer
  • actress
  • fakir

Biography

edit

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]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Despiram a artista na rua". Revista do Radio (in Portuguese). 1959. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "A busca pela história de Georgina Pires Sampaio". Diário do Rio Doce (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  3. ^ "Diva Rios, Cantora Brasileira, Visita o Diario Da Noite". Diário da Noite (in Portuguese). 22 June 1942. Retrieved 3 October 2017 – via Suzy King Blog.[dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Suzy King,a Primeira Subcelebridade do Brasil". Conexao Mista (in Portuguese). 26 June 2014. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  5. ^ a b c "Livro Cravo na Carne fala sobre a mulher-faquir baiana". A TARDE (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 April 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  6. ^ Farias, Adriana (26 February 2017). "Livro mostra os espetáculos das faquiresas nas décadas de 20 e 50 em São Paulo". VEJA SÃO PAULO (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2017-10-03.
edit