Miss America of 1951. She generated controversy by declining to make her obligatory appearances in a swimsuit. Raised on the Alabama coast, she was educated in a Roman Catholic convent school, gained a local reputation as an opera singer, and entered the Miss Alabama Pageant in search of scholarship money. After winning her state's title, she traveled to Atlantic City where she sang the aria "Caro nome" from Verdi's "Rigoletto" in the talent competition and was crowned Miss America. At that time, Catalina was a main sponsor of the Pageant and its subsequent tour, with the girls expected to wear the company's bathing suits during appearances; she refused, though she did comply with the title's other expected duties, and Catalina retaliated by withdrawing their financial support and founding the rival Miss USA Pageant. After her reign, she married film mogul Matthew Fox in 1954 and lived in New York where she attended the New School, produced Off-Broadway plays, and was active in various social causes, then following her husband's 1964 death she relocated to Washington D.C., bought Jackie Kennedy's former home, and was for many years a society matron and Democratic political figure of note. She lived out her days in Georgetown and died of cancer.
Miss America of 1951. She generated controversy by declining to make her obligatory appearances in a swimsuit. Raised on the Alabama coast, she was educated in a Roman Catholic convent school, gained a local reputation as an opera singer, and entered the Miss Alabama Pageant in search of scholarship money. After winning her state's title, she traveled to Atlantic City where she sang the aria "Caro nome" from Verdi's "Rigoletto" in the talent competition and was crowned Miss America. At that time, Catalina was a main sponsor of the Pageant and its subsequent tour, with the girls expected to wear the company's bathing suits during appearances; she refused, though she did comply with the title's other expected duties, and Catalina retaliated by withdrawing their financial support and founding the rival Miss USA Pageant. After her reign, she married film mogul Matthew Fox in 1954 and lived in New York where she attended the New School, produced Off-Broadway plays, and was active in various social causes, then following her husband's 1964 death she relocated to Washington D.C., bought Jackie Kennedy's former home, and was for many years a society matron and Democratic political figure of note. She lived out her days in Georgetown and died of cancer.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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