Gila Golan's career started as an Israeli fashion model, which led to appearances as a film actress. She was apparently born in Krakow, Poland, for she was discovered there in a train station during the German occupation in 1940. She was adopted by a Roman Catholic couple and later sent to a boarding school in France before emigrating to Israel after World War II where she changed her name from Zusia Sobetzcki to Miriam Goldberg. She became interested in fashion and her being spotted by an American photographer led to appearing in the Israeli magazine La'isha. It was a natural step for her to extend her fashion activities into the 1960 competition which led to her being crowned "Na'arat Israel" - Israel's Maiden of Beauty . Cohen and his wife came to view her as sort of a foster daughter. She married three times and has several children and reportedly she now runs an investment business.
Miss Israel, 1961.
Gila Golan was found as a toddler wandering the streets of a war-scarred Poland in World War II. She was adopted by a Catholic family and was sent to a boarding school in France. The name Miriam Goldberg was the name given to her when she enrolled at the school. In the early 50s, she and her family moved to Israel, where she finished high school and won the title of Miss Israel 1961. She never knew who her real parents were or what her real name and birthdate was.
