Nejla Ates

Who was Nejla Ates?

Nejla Ates was Turkish of Crimean Tatar origin, belly dancer and actress, born in March 7, 1932. Notably, she appeared the films King Richard and the Crusaders and Son of Sinbad and Fanny, a Broadway musical.

Ates, whose named means "sunset fire", was a well-known nightclub girl who had a series of scandalous and highly publicized romances with famous and powerful men, including oil heir Sheppard William King III, actor George Sanders, singer Billy Daniels, bodybuilder Gerrard Brix, and actor Gary Crosby. She attracted royal admirers Saudi-Arabian Prince Faisal Hegelan and Prince Aly Khan.

A naked statue of her was erected in Central Park in November 1954 as a publicity stunt.

Ates had a number of scandal sheet-moments, including a running feud with Burlesque queen Rose la Rose, who claimed Atjes stole her best belly dancing moves from Rose's act.

Ates, despite her success and beauty, fell into poverty and twice attempted suicide. Her first suicide attempt via an overdose of tranquilizers and asprin followed an argument with her then lover, singer Bobby Colt. Atjes was named as correspondent in his divorce by Colt's wife Hope Diamond. Atjes spoke publicly about her depression thus: "I'm fed up with life... with love... with everything."