Pageants Don’t Suit Catalina’s Owner

This year’s Miss Universe contestants are being stripped of their customary swimsuits in the wake of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the maker of Catalina swimwear.

Catalina and parent Taren Holdings Inc. were under contract through 1994 to supply swimwear and other clothing for Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestants.

Catalina’s product line was sold to the maker of Speedo swimwear, Authentic Fitness. It has no interest in continuing the pageant association. The sale, approved last week, appears to leave pageant contestants out in the cold.

Not so, said a deep-voiced man at the pageant’s Los Angeles headquarters who answered the phone, “Miss Universe.” He said he was “sure” another bathing suit company had been lined up but did not know which one.