Jackie Stallone, the mother of Sylvester Stallone, was born in Washington D.C. in 1921 to John, a prominent attorney lawyer in the capital and a French-descended Parisian socialite from Brittany. Jackie was a very active woman who enjoyed athletics in her spare time.
She left home at 15 to join the Flying Wallenda’s act for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Despite her youth, she was unfazed by the dangers of doing dangerous acts as a high-flying acrobat in a circus show.
Her interest in showbiz continued into adulthood when she worked as an astrologer and women’s wrestling promoter before making her broadcast appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2005. She also has no reservations about discussing her well-known cosmetic surgery treatments, which have become part of her distinctive appearance.
Jackie is remembered as an incredible woman who lived life on her terms; from joining the circus at fifteen years old to achieving fame later in life against all odds – she made quite an impression on those around her and continues to be celebrated by both Sylvester Stallone fans and those who appreciate strong female role models.
Jackie wanted to be an acrobat and perform on stage, but her father, a distinguished lawyer, thought she should follow in his footsteps. But Jackie was determined to pursue her dream and, despite all difficulties, became a trapeze artist.
She subsequently returned to her hometown and was hired to host a fitness program on a local television station, making her the first woman in Washington, D.C., to do so. In the 1950s, she even went so far as to create her women-only gym, which was met with opposition from authorities because of the statue of a woman lifting weights that Jackie had placed there.
Despite all of this criticism and struggle, Jackie built a name for herself by succeeding in an area that was not considered socially acceptable for women at the time.
She met her future husband, Frank Stallone, a hairdresser and part-time actor, in 1945. Their son Sylvester was born a year later, but the birth was difficult.
The doctor’s failure to provide adequate treatment resulted in facial abnormalities, including paralysis of the lips, tongue, and chin. Jackie raised her children alone after giving birth to another boy with Frank.
Jackie quickly rose to fame and prominence in the entertainment business after participating in the wrestling show GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling). She subsequently went on to become an astrologer, popularizing her expertise through her book named ‘Star Power: An Astrological Guide to Supersuccess.’
She became well-known for undergoing cosmetic surgery treatments that significantly changed her appearance as she continued to appear on TV and create beautiful items such as face masks.
Although the actual number of cosmetic surgeries she had is unknown, Jackie said in a 2013 interview that she had more than 50 and continued to have such procedures even at 91.
However, after some time, she regretted the numerous plastic procedures she had. Jackie stated that her remarks about the quantity of filler she used were exaggerated, and magazines chastised her for her appearance.
Nonetheless, she was one of the few people who admitted to having all of their cosmetic procedures and eventually decided to stop having them done.
Despite using these therapies, Jackie was very concerned about her health and kept a healthy lifestyle that included regular physical activity. Her son Frank confirmed her death in September 2020 at nearly 100.
People worldwide shared their pleasant recollections of Jackie because they loved and respected her – she died quietly in her own home in Los Angeles.
