The enduring image of Tom Jones, a global music icon, is inextricably linked to his “bad boy” persona and prolific affairs, a stark contrast to his nearly six-decade marriage to his devoted wife, Linda. At the peak of his fame in the 1960s and 70s, Jones candidly admitted to engaging in hundreds of sexual encounters annually. Among these, his relationship with Mary Wilson of The Supremes stood out, defying the racial taboos of the era. Despite his wild lifestyle, Jones remained married to Linda for 59 years until her passing in 2016. Their marriage, characterized by a “don’t ask” policy, saw Linda seemingly aware of her husband’s infidelities, yet their bond endured. However, one affair, in particular, with Marjorie Wallace, garnered significant public attention and had a profound impact.

Marjorie Wallace, born in 1954, quickly rose to prominence as an actress, TV host, model, and beauty queen. Her early life was marked by rebellion and adventure, including a 1,200-mile journey to Miami at 14 and later immersing herself in the music scene. In 1973, at the age of 20, she made history by becoming the first American to win the Miss World title in London, a victory that propelled her into the orbit of iconic figures. This newfound fame set the stage for her fateful encounter with Tom Jones.

Their paths crossed in December 1973, when the newly crowned Miss World met Tom Jones backstage at the London Palladium. Jones was reportedly instantly smitten, and their affair quickly escalated. The following month, Jones bought identical bracelets for both Marjorie and his wife, Linda, indicating the depth of his involvement. Their relationship took a public turn in 1974 during the Miss World TV special in Barbados, where a public kiss on the beach led to Marjorie being controversially stripped of her Miss World crown. The organizers’ outrage was further fueled by Marjorie’s concurrent engagement to Formula 1 racer Peter Revson, who tragically died in a racing accident shortly thereafter, wearing a gold medal given to him by Wallace.

The double blow of Revson’s death and Jones ending their affair—reportedly due to his wife Linda discovering the relationship—devastated Marjorie. In her despair, she took an overdose of sleeping pills, leading to kidney dialysis. While she later insisted it was not a suicide attempt but a reaction to overwhelming personal problems and exhaustion, the incident marked a dramatic and heartbreaking end to a triumphant six-month period. Notably, Tom Jones, shaken by the news, sent her flowers during her recovery, and they later met in Mexico City, demonstrating a continued connection despite the turmoil.

Decades later, Marjorie Wallace, now 71, has continued to pursue a career in show business, including sports broadcasting and co-hosting “Entertainment Tonight.” She has been married twice more and has a son, Adam, from her marriage to Michael Klein. Despite the tumultuous past, the Sunday Mirror reported that Tom Jones, now 84, has maintained contact with Marjorie throughout the years. Marjorie recently shared that they “talk often” and that she continues to follow his career, expressing happiness for his role as a judge on “The Voice.” While she has no desire to rekindle their romance, their enduring friendship underscores the complex and lasting nature of their shared history.