At first glance, the photo could pass for a simple snapshot of a couple on holiday — two people seemingly in love, sharing a moment far from the chaos of the world. But once the truth came to light, it became difficult to view Tom Jones and Marjorie Wallace through the same lens.
During the height of his fame in the 1960s and ’70s, Tom Jones wasn’t just known for his voice — he was also infamous for his womanizing ways. The Welsh singer, who embraced his image as a sex symbol, once confessed to sleeping with as many as 250 women a year.
Among his many affairs was a brief relationship with Mary Wilson of The Supremes — a bold and controversial pairing at a time when interracial relationships were still frowned upon in many parts of the U.S.
But here’s where the story takes a turn: while Jones was living out the rockstar dream, his wife, Linda, remained faithfully by his side. Their marriage endured for nearly six decades, until Linda’s death from lung cancer in 2016 — a quiet, steadfast presence behind a man whose personal life was anything but.
“He was never exactly Mr. Faithful from the start,” biographer Sean Smith revealed in a 2015 interview with the Daily Mail.
How much Linda truly knew about her husband’s double life remains a mystery. But by all accounts, she seemed to sense something was off. According to Tom himself, the couple operated under an unspoken agreement while he was on the road — a quiet understanding not to ask too many questions.
Though Jones has always been open about his many affairs, one relationship stands apart from the rest: his entanglement with Marjorie Wallace.
The First American Miss World
Born on January 23, 1954, Marjorie Wallace was more than just a pretty face. She quickly rose to international fame as the first American woman to be crowned Miss World. But her charm extended beyond the pageant stage — she was also a model, TV host, and actress, known for her beauty and magnetic presence.
Her early years were marked by personal upheaval. At just 14, Marjorie’s life took a sharp turn when her parents divorced — a moment that seemed to ignite a rebellious fire in her. Unafraid of risk, she once took a 1,200-mile road trip to Miami with a friend, chasing freedom on her own terms.
Still, her wild side was only part of the story. In high school, she was just as committed to structure and discipline, throwing herself into competitive swimming and cheerleading. Her reputation? Athletic, ambitious, and unshakably driven.
As Marjorie grew older, her relationships with men began to play a more prominent role in her life. By the age of 17, she had moved in with a guitarist from the indie rock band Pure Funk — a move that marked her deeper dive into a world shaped by music, rebellion, and a desire to break free from the ordinary.
Then, in 1973, everything changed. At just 20 years old, Marjorie Wallace made history as the first American ever to win the Miss World crown. She stood out among 53 international contestants at the Royal Albert Hall in London — a win that catapulted her into the global spotlight.
But the title brought more than fame. It opened doors that would lead her into the orbit of some of the most powerful and glamorous figures of the era.
Enter Tom Jones
It was December 1973 when the newly crowned Miss World — just 19 at the time — crossed paths with Tom Jones backstage at the London Palladium. He was already a household name. She was the striking newcomer. And according to his publicist, Tom was instantly captivated.
Later that evening, the two reportedly spent time together at the upscale Westbury Hotel in Mayfair. By the following month, Tom was already buying jewelry — a bracelet for Marjorie, and one for his wife Linda, whose birthday happened to fall near hers.
Tom had always been linked to other women, but this time felt different. Close friends recalled him saying, “This one could really affect me.”
There was something about Marjorie Wallace that went beyond the usual tabloid fling — and it didn’t take long before the world started paying attention.
In 1974, Tom Jones and Marjorie Wallace jetted off to Barbados to film a television special centered around Miss World. What was meant to be a professional appearance quickly turned into a media storm. Their affectionate behavior — including kisses shared on the beach — caused an uproar. The fallout was swift: Marjorie was stripped of her Miss World title.
Both denied being in love at the time, but their connection had already stirred controversy for another reason.
Behind the scenes, Marjorie was also involved with Peter Revson — a celebrated American race car driver who competed in both the Indianapolis 500 and Formula One. The two were reportedly engaged, making the public affair with Jones even more scandalous in the eyes of the conservative Miss World organizers.
Torn between two high-profile relationships, Marjorie maintained her romance with Tom while still engaged to Revson. The situation infuriated Eric Morley, the founder of the Miss World competition, and ultimately contributed to her downfall.
Then, tragedy struck. During a practice session for the 1974 South African Grand Prix, Revson was killed in a devastating crash. He died en route to the hospital, wearing a gold locket Marjorie had gifted him — engraved with the words: “If not for you…”
A Downward Spiral
Revson’s death shattered Marjorie. But the heartbreak didn’t stop there.
As word of the affair threatened to reach Tom’s wife, Linda, he abruptly ended things with Marjorie to protect his marriage. The sudden rejection, combined with the weight of grief, proved too much.
Not long after, Marjorie overdosed on sleeping pills.
Though the hospital never disclosed how many pills she had taken, the situation was critical. Doctors placed her on kidney dialysis in a desperate attempt to cleanse her system.
In just six months, Marjorie Wallace had gone from global acclaim to personal collapse — a meteoric rise and fall that left the world stunned, and a young woman forever marked by a crown that cost more than anyone could have imagined.
The Breaking Point
Marjorie’s collapse, according to her agent, wasn’t the result of just one event — it was the weight of everything crashing down at once. “She was working too hard, juggling too much,” said her agent Jeff Carey in an interview with the Daily Record. “Finally, it all came down and hit her on top of the head and knocked her down.”
Thankfully, Marjorie pulled through. Though rumors swirled, she has always firmly stated that her overdose was not a suicide attempt. Her mother, Alice, once admitted, “She might have felt like she couldn’t go on.” But Marjorie set the record straight two years later: “I was depressed and OD’d on a few too many sleeping pills. I never attempted suicide.”
One surprising detail? While she recovered in an Indianapolis hospital, Tom Jones — then performing in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace — sent flowers and a message of support. He’d heard the news over the car radio and, according to his spokesman Chris Hutchings, was visibly shaken. Months later, after she had regained her strength, the two met again in Mexico City — a quiet reunion following a very public unraveling.
Life After the Spotlight
After a brief romance with tennis star Jimmy Connors, she relocated to New York and explored television broadcasting, taking on roles with both ABC and CBS in sports journalism. Her striking looks and charisma also landed her commercial gigs for brands like Ultra Brite, Wella, and American Express.
In 1977, her life took another turn when she met film producer Michael Klein at a party. They married the following year and welcomed a son, Adam.
By 1981, she made her mark once again — this time as one of the original co-anchors of Entertainment Tonight. Yet despite the high-profile opportunity, Marjorie soon stepped away, turning down a full-time reporter role with the show just months after joining.
Her life has been anything but ordinary — a whirlwind of crowns, cameras, heartbreak, and reinvention. Through it all, Marjorie Wallace remains a symbol of how quickly fame can rise, and how quietly strength can endure.
Life After the Headlines
Marjorie’s whirlwind personal life continued even after the spotlight dimmed. Her marriage to film producer Michael Klein ended in 1982. Not long after, tabloids linked her to Richard Cohen — the former husband of Tina Sinatra. In 1994, she tied the knot with real estate mogul Donald Soffer, but that union, too, ended in divorce just two years later.
But what ever became of her and Tom Jones?
According to a report by The Sunday Mirror, the story didn’t end quite as cleanly as one might expect. Despite the scandal, the heartbreak, and the decades that passed, Tom — now 84 — kept in touch with Marjorie over the years. Their relationship may not have lasted, but the connection clearly never fully disappeared.
In a rare comment, Marjorie shared, “He is very happy to be doing it,” referring to his role as a judge on The Voice. “I told him if it’s as good as the American version, it will be a huge hit.”
She went on to say, “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.”
It’s strange how one seemingly ordinary photograph — two people on a beach, smiling in the sun — can carry so much untold history. What looks simple on the surface can unravel into a story of love, fame, betrayal, and survival… if you just look a little closer.
