Next person biography:
At the remarkable age of 12, she achieved the prestigious feat of passing the Federal examination for professional radio operator, earning her the distinction of being the youngest ever to receive the license. Alongside her father, she received widespread acclaim from the government for successfully sending wireless distress signals during the devastating 1926 Great Miami Hurricane from Houston, Texas.
In 1927, she competed as Miss Houston in Galveston's "Second International Pageant of Pulchritude and Eighth Annual Bathing Girl Revue". The following year, she entered the Miss Universe contest as Miss Tulsa, Theda Delrey, only to face scrutiny when two contestants disputed her eligibility, claiming she was actually Alberta McKellop, the Miss Houston winner in 1927.
Undeterred, she participated in the "America's Sweetheart" contest, an early precursor to the Miss America pageant, in Miami, Florida, and secured a respectable second-place finish. However, her triumph was short-lived, as she was disqualified two months later due to her eligibility being questioned, as she had entered the contest while residing at her grandmother's home in Oklahoma.
Initially, she was under a short-term contract with MGM, which showcased her talent for a brief period. However, when her contract expired, Walter Wanger intervened, offering her a five-year contract.
In 1952, she generated significant buzz at the Miss Universe pageant in Los Angeles when she unexpectedly attended an uninvited luncheon for contestants during a rehearsal, sparking speculation about the nature of her actions.
Interestingly, press releases from the time claimed she had Native American ancestry, tracing her lineage back to the Cherokee tribe. Nevertheless, her father was listed on the rolls as a member of the Creek (Muscogee) Nation.
