Gila Golan, a renowned Israeli former fashion model and actress, was born in Krakow, Poland in 1940. She was abandoned at a train station during the Holocaust and was subsequently adopted by a Roman Catholic family. Her adopted family sent her to a monastery for education, where she received a strong foundation in her early years.
Following World War II, Golan arrived in Israel with the name Zusia Sobetzcki and continued her education at an Orthodox girls' boarding school, where she eventually adopted the name Miriam Goldberg. Her fascination with fashion led her to undergo plastic surgery, which ultimately caught the attention of an American photographer. This exposure launched her career in the Israeli women's magazine LaIsha, and she went on to participate in the 1960 national fashion competition, winning first place and being crowned Miss Israel.
To maintain her anonymity, Golan changed her name to Gila Golan, which allowed her to avoid drawing attention to her religiously conservative benefactors. She represented Israel in the 1960 Miss World competition, where she secured second place. Her newfound fame led to a trip to the United States, where she was tasked with raising funds, and she eventually decided to stay.
Golan's film career began with a role in Stanley Kramer's Ship of Fools, followed by appearances in Our Man Flint, Three on a Couch, and The Valley of Gwangi. Throughout her life, she has been married three times and has children from each of her marriages. In recent years, Golan has rediscovered her faith and now runs an investment business.
Note: The above biography is based on the Wikipedia article Gila Golan, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
