- Started dancing at the age of six, in order to help her mother keep the family together after her father deserted the family. When she won contents, she said later, she would always ask for a cash prize rather than a trophy because "the cup would turn green, but five dollars would feed the family for a week".
- Specialty dancer, chorus girl, singer and musician, as well as the co-owner of a night club called Tondelayo's at 18 West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan above Times Square where she served as hostess and performed every night.
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