20 Amazing Photos of British Actress and Model Shakira Baksh in the 1970s

Before the name “Shakira” became synonymous with the Colombian-Lebanese singer, there was another beauty with the same name in Latin America. Shakira Baksh: model, actress, and beauty queen.

Born to Indian-Muslim parents in Guyana, her mother’s job as a dressmaker inspired Shakira to pursue a career in fashion and to finance her studies she worked as a secretary being only a teenager. Prompted by her boss, she participated in the Miss Guyana pageant, winning in 1967.

The crown granted her the opportunity to represent her Guyana at the Miss World pageant in London, where her looks garnered considerable attention. Shakira Baksh’s distinctive blend of Asian beauty with South American culture captivate up.

With her brown skin, black hair, and captivating dark eyes, she quickly became muse for dozens of photographers. Her sudden fame brought her tons of contracts from modeling agencies and acting opportunities, forcing her to settle in London. She entered cinema during the heyday of psychedelia. Her sex appeal rendered her a prominent figure in sci-fi films and established her as the it pinup model of her time.

In 1971, the Maxwell coffee company hired her to star in a campaign for TV. The commercial was seen all over London, including at the home of legendary British actor, Michael Caine, who upon seeing her on TV was “in love at first sight,” in his own words.

Being one of the biggest names in showbiz, he didn’t have a hard time finding her. They tied the knot in 1973, blending their Muslim and Christian beliefs in an interfaith marriage. Critics attacked the couple for being a mixed marriage. On this note Michael said: “She is a Muslim and she does Muslim stuff; I’m a Christian and I do Christian stuff, and no questions ever come up. The media view of Muslims is different from mine, which is very benign and peaceful.”

That same year the tabloids released a series of erotic photos Shakira had done earlier in her career, in an attempt to attack her. However, this went unnoticed by the couple. After her marriage, Shakira continued acting, until she retired a couple of years later to raise their daughter, Natasha.