Josephine Baker just because.

For a woman with the most mundane of names, doesn’t she just define exotic? Although she apparently considered Josephine Baker an upgrade from her original name, Freda Josephine McDonald. Or Josephine Freda McDonald, depending on whom you ask. Already a mystery! Even without the bananas she's an art deco poster come to life. Born 1906 in St. Louis, Missouri - the Midwest for pity's sake - died 1975 in France. She achieved top billing as a dancer in the Folies-Bergere, and was a spy for the French Resistance during World War II. Spying. She and her fellow expatriate Julia Child had this in common. Hard to imagine, isn't it?
Josephine Baker Biographies

Graphic Source: eLibrary
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