Born Jo Raquel Tejada, Welch entered beauty contests as a teenager. Jo Raquel Tejada was the oldest of three children and is the daughter of American Joesphine Sarah and Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, a Bolivian of Spanish descent.She was raised in the Presbyterian religion and continues to attend church to this day.o Raquel Tejada was the oldest of three children and is the daughter of American Joesphine Sarah and Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, a Bolivian of Spanish descent. She was raised in the Presbyterian religion and continues to attend church to this day.