This famous heartbreaker is now 71 – try not to smile when you see her today…1
She took everyone’s breath away when she was crowned Miss USA back in 1972 and got to represent the country on the greatest beauty contest, Miss World.
This title opened many doors for gorgeous Lynda Carter, one of which, if not the most important of all, the role of Wonder Woman.
Carter became someone everyone admired. Not only men, but women from every part of the world celebrated her flawless beauty and incredible talent.
Speaking of the time she was named the most beautiful woman in America, Carter recalled, “I didn’t get any prizes.
They smack a little banner on you, they stick a crown on your head and call you a beauty queen,” branding the experience as both “bad” and “painful” because of the “certain built-in cruelty” pageants come with.
Before landing the legendary role of the hero woman, Carter struggled with her film career.
She did land a couple of roles, but she nearly ran out of money trying so she decided to take a normal job.
But then, she got a call from her manager who told her that Joanna Cassidy had been turned down and that Lynda had the part of Diana Prince and her crime-fighting alter ego, Wonder Woman.
Being one of the first female superheroes ever, Wonder Woman empowered many.
Just years before the series aired, thousands of women paraded down Fifth Avenue in New York asking for equality.
In an episode, Wonder Woman warned that “Any civilization that does not recognize the female is doomed to destruction. Women are the wave of the future and sisterhood is…stronger than anything.”
Carter executed the role to perfection. Her influence was immense and her character influenced a number of female writers and producers.
When told that women would be jealous of her portraying the heroine, Carter told CBS News, “Well, I said, ‘Not a chance. They won’t be, because I am not playing her that way.
I want women to want to be me, or be my best friend!
There is something about the character where in your creative mind for that time in your life where you pretended to be her, or whatever the situation was, that it felt like you could fly.”
In 1978, Carter was voted ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,’ and a poster of her wearing a crop top became the most selling that year, which didn’t make her particularly happy.
“It’s uncomfortable because I just simply took a photograph. That’s all my participation was in my poster that sold over a million copies, was that I took a photograph that I thought was a dumb photograph.
My husband said, “Oh, try this thing tied up here, it’ll look beautiful”. And the photographer said ‘the back-lighting is really terrific.’
So dealing with someone having that picture up in their… bedroom or their… living room or whatever I think would be hard for anyone to deal with,” she said in an interview during NBC television special Women Who Rate a 10.
Besides doing films and series, among which Partners in Crime, starring opposite another Hollywood beauty, Loni Anderson, and the Dukes of Hazzard, she also tried herself in theatre, landing a role in the production of Chicago.
In 2016, Carter was in attendance when the United Nations celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first appearance of Wonder Woman, declaring the female superhero as its “Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls”.
“The greatest honor and responsibility of playing Wonder Woman was serving as a role model for fans around the world, particularly girls,” Lynda said during the ceremony.
“I’ve seen first-hand how a powerful yet compassionate superhero can inspire women to believe in themselves and men to support equality.”
Lynda Carter was married twice. She and husband Ron Samuels, an agent and promoter, met when he asked her to his office to discuss business.
He was a prominent name in the field of film and worked with huge names like those of Jennifer O’Neill, Joyce DeWitt, Jaclyn Smith, and Barbara Carreras.
Back in the day, they were one of the most famous and most adored celebrity couples.
However, they went separate ways as there were cracks in their marriage such as the question of whether they should have children or not.
“I hope he forgives me and I have forgiven him because it was painful for both people. And I wish him – honestly and truly – wish him well,” Lynda stated when their divorce was finalized in 1982.
Two years later, Carter married Robert A. Altman, an attorney from Washington D.C.
The two met during an event organized by Maybelline, the cosmetic brand Carter was the spokesperson of.
Apparently, Robert only agreed to attend it because he had heard the Wonder Woman actress would be present.
“I know that she was a good-looking actress who modeled for Maybelline, but I couldn’t quite place her,” Robert said.
“I was intending to go back to the hotel and watch a football game and I thought the last thing I wanted was to go to dinner and get mixed up with some Hollywood actress.”
Once she tied the knot with whom she considered the love of her life, Carter stepped down from the limelight and dedicated her time raising their two children.
Carter and Robert stayed together until his passing in 2021. He was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and died at the age of 73.
The actress never truly went over the grief she felt. On what was supposed to be his 75th birthday, she shared a heartfelt message on her social media.
“Today would have been your 75th birthday. To me you cannot be gone, because the love you gave so freely endures. It lives on in me, our children, and the many people whose lives you touched.
You gave so much of yourself while you were here, and today we honor your love, your life, and your legacy.
“If I were up on a mountain today, I would sing to you through the mountain’s canyons. Instead, I woke to the dawn, over the ocean and sang my heart and love to you.”
Speaking of her drinking addiction, the now 71-year-old actress explained, “I’ve been in recovery for 23 years. And I didn’t even start drinking till I was in my mid-20s.
I would stop drinking for two or three years, then start again and it just felt terrible.
That was a long time ago and now I’m very happy,” adding that her late husband helped her a lot and was her knight in shining armour.
Lynda Carter remains one of the most beautiful women of Hollywood. She defies age and is as gorgeous as she has ever been.
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The ’60s Icon Who Lost Love And Endured Tragedy: Her Photos At 86
Connie Francis stands as one of the most influential and successful female vocalists in American music history—a performer whose unmistakable voice helped define the sound of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
With timeless classics such as “Who’s Sorry Now?”, “Stupid Cupid,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” she became an international sensation, captivating audiences around the world with her emotional delivery and remarkable vocal versatility.
Behind the glamour, however, was a life marked by extraordinary triumphs, heartbreaking loss, and an unwavering determination to survive challenges that would have broken many others.
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Connie showed musical talent from an early age. Recognizing her potential, her father became the driving force behind her career.
Fiercely ambitious and deeply determined to see his daughter succeed, he encouraged—and often pressured—her to perform from childhood.
Under his strict guidance, Connie appeared in talent competitions, television programs, and live performances while still very young.
Although his relentless efforts ultimately helped launch one of the most successful careers in popular music, they also created enormous emotional pressure.
Connie would later acknowledge that the discipline and expectations placed upon her during her formative years shaped both her incredible work ethic and many of the personal struggles she experienced later in life.
Her breakthrough arrived in 1958 with “Who’s Sorry Now?” At first, the song attracted little attention, but after legendary television host Dick Clark played it on American Bandstand, everything changed.
Almost overnight, Connie Francis became a household name.
The record climbed the charts not only in the United States but across Europe and beyond, transforming her into one of the world's first truly international female pop stars.
Over the following years, she dominated radio with a remarkable string of hit records, sold millions of albums, and performed in multiple languages, building an enormous global fan base that stretched far beyond English-speaking audiences.
While her professional life appeared glamorous, her personal life was often filled with heartbreak. One of the deepest emotional wounds came from her romance with fellow singer Bobby Darin.
Their relationship blossomed during the early years of their careers, and the pair reportedly envisioned a future together.
However, Connie's father strongly disapproved of the relationship and ultimately intervened, preventing the romance from continuing.
The separation devastated both young performers. Bobby Darin eventually moved on and married actress Sandra Dee, while Connie would later describe losing him as one of the greatest heartbreaks of her life.
Years afterward, she admitted that she often wondered how different her life might have been had they been allowed to remain together.
As the years passed, the tragedies continued to mount. In 1974, Connie became the victim of a horrific assault following a performance, an event that profoundly affected her emotionally and psychologically.
The traumatic experience left lasting scars and dramatically altered her confidence and sense of security.
Determined that others should not endure similar suffering without support, she later became an outspoken advocate for victims' rights, helping raise awareness about crime victims and encouraging improvements in victim assistance programs throughout the United States.
Not long afterward, another devastating blow struck when her beloved younger brother, George Franconero Jr., was murdered.
His death shattered the family and plunged Connie into overwhelming grief. Losing someone so close while still coping with previous trauma compounded her emotional struggles and made everyday life increasingly difficult.
The combination of public pressure, personal loss, and unresolved trauma gradually took a severe toll on her mental health.
During these painful years, Connie faced profound depression and experienced periods of emotional crisis.
She openly discussed her struggles with mental illness, including a suicide attempt, choosing to speak honestly about experiences that were rarely discussed publicly at the time.
Her willingness to share her story helped reduce stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged countless others to seek treatment and support. Rather than hiding her pain, Connie transformed it into a source of compassion for people facing similar battles.
As if those challenges were not enough, Connie also endured a devastating setback to the very gift that had made her famous—her voice.
Following nasal surgery intended to improve her breathing, complications temporarily robbed her of her ability to sing.
For an artist whose identity and livelihood depended upon her voice, the experience was emotionally crushing.
The fear that she might never perform again left her questioning whether her extraordinary career had reached its end.
Through months of rehabilitation, patience, and determination, she gradually regained her vocal abilities, demonstrating once again the remarkable resilience that had become a defining characteristic of her life.
Despite enduring repeated personal tragedies, Connie refused to let hardship define her legacy.
Throughout the years, she found strength in several enduring sources: her deep religious faith, the love she shared with her adopted son Joey, and the unwavering support of generations of devoted fans who continued to celebrate her music long after her chart-topping years had passed.
Their encouragement reminded her that her voice—and her story—continued to matter.
Professionally, Connie Francis achieved accomplishments that remain extraordinary by any standard.
She sold more than 80 million records worldwide, recorded songs in numerous languages, and became one of the first female solo artists to enjoy sustained international superstardom.
Her influence reached far beyond America, making her one of the most recognizable voices of her era.
Even decades after her biggest hits, her recordings continue to be rediscovered by new generations of listeners who appreciate the sincerity, warmth, and emotional depth she brought to every performance.
Today, at 87 years old, Connie Francis is remembered not only as a legendary singer but also as a symbol of perseverance.
Living a quiet life in Florida after retiring from the spotlight, she remains an enduring inspiration to fans around the world.
Her extraordinary journey serves as a reminder that fame does not shield anyone from heartbreak, loss, or personal struggle, but it also demonstrates the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
Through unimaginable challenges, Connie continued to move forward with courage, dignity, and hope.
Her legacy extends far beyond the millions of records she sold or the timeless songs she recorded.
It lives on in her advocacy for victims' rights, her openness about mental health, and her willingness to transform personal pain into compassion for others.
Connie Francis is remembered not simply because she possessed one of the most recognizable voices of the twentieth century, but because she showed the world that true strength is measured not by the absence of suffering, but by the courage to keep singing after life has tested you again and again.
