She was one of several wives of Emperor Bokassa but she became the Empress when he created the Central African Empire.

He chose to crown Catherine as Empress Consort and she was in an outfit by French fashion house Lanvin.

[1] Her four year old son Jean-Bédel Bokassa Jr. attended the ceremony as the heir apparent.

One of her son's half brothers, Georges, was made a cabinet minister but her husband said he was not strong enough to be an heir.

At the end of 2010, Catherine accepted a state medal of honour from François Bozizé who was then the Central African Republic President.