[4] This happened after a contestant in the Miss America event refused to do a photo shoot in swimwear, prompting Catalina to withdraw their support.
They added to the prestige by using Hollywood starlets, including Bette Davis, Joan Blondell, and Olivia de Havilland in their marketing campaigns.
The following year, with the rising importance of mass market retailers, the decision was made to offer Catalina to Wal-Mart stores across America.
Catalina had a presence in South America, through license agreements, especially Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, sponsoring the beauty pageants in these countries, with several contestants winning the Miss Universe event.
Catalina was part of the Warnaco Swimwear Group's portfolio of brand names including Speedo, Anne Cole, Nautica and Michael Kors.