The scandal that ended Marjorie Wallace’s reign as Miss World

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It could be just an ordinary picture of a couple enjoying their vacation, two souls who seem to have found their place in the world together.

But now, with everything we know, and the secrets that were hidden behind the scenes – it’s impossible to look at Tom Jones and Marjorie Wallace the same way again.

”Not exactly Mr Faithful”

At the peak of his fame in the ’60s and ’70s, Tom Jones was a heartthrob known for his wild lifestyle, reportedly bedding hundreds of women.

Tom, who assumed the role of sex symbol, has previously admitted that he slept with 250 women a year at the peak of his career. Among his many high-profile romances was a fling with Mary Wilson of the Supremes — at a time when interracial relationships were still considered taboo in much of America.

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But here’s the twist: while he was living out his rockstar fantasies, Jones had a devoted wife, Linda, at home. They were married for 59 years before her tragic passing from lung cancer in 2016.

Tom Jones in 1973 / Getty Images

“From the very beginning, he was not exactly Mr Faithful,” biographer Sean Smith told Daily Mail in 2015.

It’s unclear how much Linda knew about her husband’s shady side, but it is clear that she suspected something wasn’t right. According to Sir Tom, the couple had a “don’t ask” policy when he was on tour.

Jones has never shied away from discussing his notorious affairs, but one stands out more than the rest — his romance with Marjorie Wallace.

First American to be crowned Miss World

Marjorie Wallace, born on January 23, 1954, was a woman whose name would soon echo through the corridors of history. An actress, television host, model, and beauty queen, she captivated the world with her striking beauty and undeniable charm.

When Marjorie was just 14, her world was rocked by her parents’ divorce, sparking a rebellious streak in her.

Already craving adventure, she set off on a 1,200-mile road trip to Miami with a friend, showing she wasn’t afraid to follow her own instincts. But her teenage years weren’t all wild; she also dove into the usual high school activities like competitive swimming and cheerleading, which gave her a reputation as both driven and athletic.

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As she got older, relationships with men became a bigger part of her life. At 17, she moved in with a guitarist from the indie rock band Pure Funk, and that’s when she really started to embrace the world of music and rebellion.

In 1973, she would cement her place in the annals of fame — becoming the first American woman to ever be crowned Miss World. The 20-year-old Marjorie defeated 53 competitors at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The title was more than just a crown; it was the beginning of a journey that would intertwine her fate with some of the most iconic figures of her time.

Meeting Tom Jones

In December 1973, Marjorie, then 19 and newly crowned Miss World, met Tom in his dressing room at the London Palladium before his show.

According to his publicist, he was immediately taken with her, and they later went to the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair together. The following month, Tom bought two bracelets — one for Marjorie and another for Linda, as their birthdays were just days apart.

Although it wasn’t unusual for Tom to be linked to different women, the American beauty queen was different. Apparently, Tom admitted to his friends, ”This one could really affect me.”

In 1974, Tom and Marjorie flew to Barbados for a TV show about Miss World, but their public display of affection, kissing on the beach, led to Marjorie losing her crown. However, both denied being in love with each other at the time.

The problem for the uptight English organizers of Miss World was that Marjorie was also dating American Indianapolis 500 and Formula One driver Peter Revson, with whom she was reportedly engaged.

During her engagement to Revson, she continued her affair with Tom Jones, which angered the founder of Miss World. Shortly after that, Revson, tragically died in a crash during a practice run for the 1974 South African Grand Prix. The race driver passed away en route to a hospital, wearing a gold locket that Wallace had given him, engraved with the words, ”If not for you…”

Overdose of sleeping pills

Revson’s death was, of course, devastating for Marjorie, but it wasn’t the only heartbreaking event that tormented her.

When Tom realized his childhood sweetheart Linda was about to find out of the affair, he ended things with Marjorie. Heartbroken and unable to cope, Marjorie overdosed on sleeping pills.

A hospital spokesman stated that it was impossible to determine how many pills Marjorie had taken, but she was placed on a kidney dialysis machine to help clear the drug from her system. The tragedy marked the end of a six-month period that had begun with triumph and ended in heartbreak for the small-town girl who had been voted the most beautiful in the world.

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Marjorie’s agent explained that the whole situation was due to her working too hard. On top of the personal challenges in her life, it all became too much for her. “Finally, it all came down and hit her on top of the head and knocked her down,” agent Jeff Carey told the Daily Record.

Fortunately, Marjorie recovered from the overdose and has always insisted it was not a suicide attempt. Her mother, Alice, said, ”She might have felt like she couldn’t go on,” but Wallace herself said two years later, ”I was depressed and OD’d on a few too many sleeping pills. I never attempted suicide.”

What’s particularly interesting is that Tom Jones sent a bunch of flowers and well wishes to Marjorie while she was recovering in the hospital in Indianapolis. At the time, Tom was in Las Vegas performing at the famous Caesar Palace Hotel. He heard the news about Marjorie on the radio in his car and was deeply shaken by it. According to his spokesman, Chris Hutchings, Tom took the news hard, and when she recovered, she met him a few months later in Mexico City.

Marjorie Wallace today

Marjorie, now 71, has always been drawn to showbiz.

After her brief relationship with tennis star Jimmy Connors, Marjorie moved to New York and tried her hand at TV sportscasting with ABC and CBS. She also appeared in commercials for brands like Ultra Brite, Wella, and American Express.

In 1977, she met film producer Michael Klein at a party, and they married in 1978. They had a son, Adam. In 1981, she became one of the first co-anchors on Entertainment Tonight, but a few months later, she turned down a reporter position on the show.

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Her marriage to Klein ended in 1982, and soon after, she was rumored to be dating Richard Cohen, Tina Sinatra’s ex-husband. In 1994, she married real estate developer Donald Soffer, but they divorced in 1996.

But how did it actually end for Tom and Marjorie?

The Sunday Mirror revealed that Tom, now 84, kept contact with her after all these years. They recently talked about his new role as a judge on The Voice.

Marjorie shared, “He is very happy to be doing it, and I told him if it’s as good as the American version, it will be a huge hit.” She added, “We stayed friends and we’re often in touch. I wouldn’t want to rehash our relationship as it was so long ago, and I have no interest in doing that. But it’s great to speak to him on the telephone once in a while. I always follow his career and am really pleased he is going to be coaching up-and-coming singers. He has such a beautiful voice.”

Did you know about this story? I had no idea! It’s fascinating how a single picture can hold so much — if you just dig a little deeper.

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