She was one of America's greatest sex symbols, and she still turns heads today. But Raquel Welch, 71, faced tough times as a young actress. Married at 18, she soon found herself a single mother of two in Hollywood. She credits her American mother as the small voice in her head when she encountered the pitfalls of stardom. And she embraces her Bolivian father's Latin culture.

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Today, Welch continues to expand her life beyond the big screen. She's written a biography, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage. She has also developed a wig line for a company called HairUWear. She donates more than $1 million annually in wigs to the American Cancer Society for women with cancer-related hair loss. My Generation sits down with Welch to learn why she thinks getting older isn't bad.

Also of interest: Raquel Welch through the years.