Magana Baptiste was the first runner-up in the Miss U.S.A. contest of 1951 and later helped mainstream the science and sport of body building and assisted in introducing it to a female audience. She was an inductee of the Dance Hall of Fame, performed in the Pearl Fishers Opera, Carmen, and on the Ed Sullivan Show. She was a choreographer and consultant to the San Francisco Ballet and was the founder and director of the Magana Baptiste International School of Dance in San Francisco. In 1955 Magana and Walt Baptiste founded the first yoga center in downtown San Francisco at the heart of Union Square.
This belly dancing set appears to be from Magana’s personal collection, as she didn’t have a clothing store/brand at any point. Shows normal signs of wear/age such as discoloration. The top features a dainty strap that hooks on left side, two hook eye closures on the back, a custom tag inside with her name on it, fringe, sequins, and chains. The hip belt also features a custom tag inside, fringe, sequins, and two hook eye closures. Top is marked as a 34B, belt measures approx 16” laid flat when hooked. Would recommend for Women’s Small (4).
