Ulla Andersson

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Ulla Andersson a.k.a Ulla Jones is a former high fashion model, actress, singer and songwriter who during the 1960's graced countless magazine covers before she retired from the Ford Modelling Agency.

[edit] Career

Ulla was discovered in Stockholm by Eileen Ford when she was just 15 years old. She was immediately signed to the Ford Modelling Agency and sent to Paris where she learned the business. It wasn't long before she was travelling the world and working in Europe, the United States and Russia. She was photographed by every renowned fashion photographer of the day including Hiro and her image appeared on his prestigious fashion publications as Harper's Bazaar and Vogue.

[edit] Private Life

In 1966 when Ulla was 19 years old she met Quincy Jones at a party given by TWA in honour of Frank Sinatra in New York. After a whirlwind courtship, Ulla left the 5th Avenue apartment she was subletting from Robert Evans in Manhattan and moved to California to live with Jones. They were soon married and Ulla retired from her modelling career to raise their two children Martina Jones and Quincy Jones III. Earlier that year, Ulla was selected to represent Sweden in the 1966 Miss World pageant, in London, United Kingdom.

The pressures of her husband's touring and social life caused friction in the marriage as did Ulla's growing alcoholism and substance abuse problems. After several years of marriage, she took the children and left her husband. She returned to Sweden where she remains today. Although she and Quincy were formally separated, they were not legally divorced until the mid-1970s, when Quincy was diagnosed with a brain tumor and gravely ill. He was not expected to live and it was his wish to marry his longtime partner, actress Peggy Lipton, for the purpose of legal provisions for their two daughters. Ulla agreed to finalize the divorce and a one-time cash settlement. After receiving a small settlement, she moved out to the suburbs of Stockholm and suffered a string of abusive relationships. Ulla struggled continuously with her finances because of her growing health issues. After 25 years of addiction, she attained sobriety and has been sober for over a decade.

Today, she is a grandmother and is the author of an autobiography 'Red Carpet Blues'.