Elizabeth Taylor was an icon of her time. Her brilliant performance in movies, among other things, earned her a name in Hollywood and her legacy has continued to inspire people to this day. She was a master of her craft and a heartfelt humanitarian.
People still look up to her for the dedicated businesswoman that she was. Within a short span of time, Taylor peaked in the entertainment industry thanks to her extreme perseverance and tenacity.
The late artist eventually found happiness after welcoming her four children and her family has since grown to include plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There’s one grandchild though who looks incredibly like the actress.
Elizabeth Taylor ve oğlu Michael Wilding Jr.dan olan ilk torunu Laela Wilding pic.twitter.com/FvwzmKgljq
— baysan pamay (@baysanpamay) May 22, 2021
Many believe that Laela Wilding, the daughter of Taylor’s son Michael Wilding, Jr., is the perfect reincarnation of the iconic star. And just like her grandmother, Laela is a humanitarian who is carrying on the actress’ good work through the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Born in 1971, Laela was Taylor’s first grandchild who fortunately spend plenty of time with the actress. “She was very artistic. She had a great eye,” Laela told The List about her late grandmother. Apparently, the star helped Laela understand fashion and the correct way to do her makeup. “She once said to me, ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it,'” recalled the 50-year-old.
Shot for Life magazine in April 1961, this was the second time Mark Shaw had photographed Elizabeth Taylor for the magazine. She is pictured here wearing the “Soiree a Rio” dress from Dior’s Spring-Summer 1961 Haute Couture collection. pic.twitter.com/fUoMGhoZGz
— 𝖤𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖺𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗁 𝖳𝖺𝗒𝗅𝗈𝗋 𝖣𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗂𝗇 (@taylor_domain) July 10, 2022
Now Laela, is heavily involved in carrying on her grandmother’s good work to help countless people who are living with HIV and AIDS. “We didn’t experience her as a movie star. She became impassioned about activism, and I can’t think of anything more inspiring than our grandmother’s compassion and determination for other people,” she explained to Town and Country.
In 1885, Taylor became the chair for the AIDS Project Los Angeles’ Commitment to Life fundraiser. This was around the time her friend, actor Rock Hudson, had passed away from HIV. Following this demise, Taylor personally sought to end the epidemic by co-founding The Foundation for AIDS Research and later in 1991 established her own organization the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), in 1991.
Honored to meet grand-daughter of Elizabeth Taylor, Laela Wilding. Very sweet and a fellow designer! @ET_AIDS_FDN pic.twitter.com/fbEq5DX6pV
— Phil Conley (@flipsterAZ) October 29, 2014
Following her death, Laela swore to carry on her grandmother’s legacy with the help of her siblings. “We are determined to support the legacy of our grandmother and let the world know the foundation is thriving,” she noted. “In addition to her [Laela’s] involvement with ETAF, she serves on the board of directors at Our House of Portland, which provides health care, housing, and other vital services to low-income HIV+ people,” reads the website of the foundation.
“Laela also organizes and speaks at events on behalf of ETAF, bringing people together in grassroots fundraising, encouraging love and acceptance for all of those affected by HIV,” it added.
Cover image source: Getty | Photo by Hulton Archive (L) Getty | Photo by Amy Sussman (R)
