The world associates Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name with opulence, sophistication, and success. However, it was not always perceived in the same manner, in fact, quite the opposite. Soon after he moved to the U.S., he was criticized for his unpolished look and Austrian accent. He was from a different society, and hardly knew English and table manners, yet there was one person who accepted him for what he was.

The star athlete’s ex-girlfriend in the seventies, Barbara Outland Baker, not only accepted him but also transformed him into a more American version. A 2003 publication by The Telegraph once shed light on Arnie’s whereabouts as a new immigrant to the country, with only a few accolades to his name. 

The most primitive form of Arnold Schwarzenegger

According to the publication, the 75-year-old pro had been in America for even less than a year when Barbara met him for the first time. Hence, he expressed himself in a more uncivilized manner that didn’t seem to impress the author. She belonged to a wealthy and conservative family, and almost nobody approved of Arnie’s demeanor while her friends had rich doctors and lawyers as husbands. 

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“He had poor table manners and had little understanding of polite society. When I first met him, I found him a turn-off. It was humiliating to be seen with him in public. He was just so bizarre looking,” she once said in an interview with The Telegraph. Given Barbara’s opulent background, she felt humiliated to be seen with him in public. 

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“How could I be seeing someone with all those creepy muscles?” she recalled. However, as many would agree, Arnie had this charm and incredibly ambitious nature that seemed to leave people hooked on him. Similarly, Barbara was interested in his passion. They lived together in a small apartment in Santa Monica for three and a half years. Nonetheless, it was only the beginning of the star’s so-called high-achieving career, which also meant the end of their relationship. 

Barbara Baker’s value in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life

Barbara claimed that his boyfriend could hardly speak 200 words of English, yet he charmed those who met him with his ambition and drive. “I am going to be famous beyond anything they know.’ And I bought it because he knew,” she admitted. When the couple split up in 1975, Arnie was the best-known bodybuilder by then, looking to make it in Hollywood. 

Moreover, his feature in Pumping Iron decided his entry into the film industry. Besides, Barbara had taught him English, and table manners, and also bought him stylish clothes. That was not all. She even took him to her home, where he mingled with the “American rich” for the first time. 

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The Austrian Oak never allowed his past to get to him. Rather, he always looked forward to the future. This aspect of his persona helped him achieve the larger-than-life successful career that is synonymous with his name. However, it is evident that his passion for personal relationships was not the same.