Born in St. Louis as Geraldine “Gerri” Paredes, Alexandra the Great 48 was a famous burlesque performer during the mid-to-late 20th century. She won a Sophia Loren lookalike competition as a teenager and, at first, she pursued a career as a singer. In her 20s, Alexandra the Great 48 entered the world of burlesque and modeled for the Latin-influenced bandleader Xavier Cugat. Her career took off at age 25 under the guidance of actress Rose la Rose.
Among the highlights of her career, she drew crowds of more than 3,000 people on the streets of Honolulu by modeling her 48-25-42 physique in the 1970s. She she was a headline performer internationally as well as many holdover performances in Honolulu,Hawaii.For her work, she was inducted into the Burlesque Hall of Fame, and she was also featured in the 2010 movie “Behind the Burly Q.”
In her later life she shifted her career by developing a unique line signature line cosmetic, skin, and beauty care products. She used the energy behind her late-career projects in part to stay youthful. “It was a chance for advancement,” she said. “I hate ticking clocks.”
Alexandra The Great 48 