Vanessa Richardson

As such, when people dislike their name, they tend to not be well adjusted psychologically and have lower self-esteem. This can lead to a host of negative outcomes, such as anxiety and depression. To combat these feelings, many change their names to one that matches their inner identity. To Cleo, her name probably sounded like the name of a girl destined to spend her whole life on a farm.

As such, when people dislike their name, they tend to not be well adjusted psychologically and have lower self-esteem. This can lead to a host of negative outcomes, such as anxiety and depression. To combat these feelings, many change their names to one that matches their inner identity. To Cleo, her name probably sounded like the name of a girl destined to spend her whole life on a farm.

Perhaps it was hard for her to imagine a cosmopolitan existence with a name she thought better suited to a country bumpkin. So Cleo gave herself the most sophisticated one she could think of. Catherine. As Katharine Hepburn proved in the 1920s, it was a name that sung with star quality. It was elegant, grand, timeless.

Perhaps it was hard for her to imagine a cosmopolitan existence with a name she thought better suited to a country bumpkin. So Cleo gave herself the most sophisticated one she could think of. Catherine. As Katharine Hepburn proved in the 1920s, it was a name that sung with star quality. It was elegant, grand, timeless.

After all, it was a name shared by two wives of Henry VIII and a handful of saints. But to truly make herself stand out, she opted for the ultra-modern variant, spelling her name with a Y instead of I-N-E. The staccato of the two syllables, Cath-rin, gave the classic moniker a modern edge, like a pop of bullets fired from a gun.

After all, it was a name shared by two wives of Henry VIII and a handful of saints. But to truly make herself stand out, she opted for the ultra-modern variant, spelling her name with a Y instead of I-N-E. The staccato of the two syllables, Cath-rin, gave the classic moniker a modern edge, like a pop of bullets fired from a gun.

As if the universe were rewarding her boldness, when she was nine years old, Catherine's family moved farther into the Wild West to Coleman, Texas. Though it was still a small town, Coleman was much larger than Saltillo. For Catherine, it probably felt like the big city. But the excitement was short-lived. After the move, James and Ora divorced.

As if the universe were rewarding her boldness, when she was nine years old, Catherine's family moved farther into the Wild West to Coleman, Texas. Though it was still a small town, Coleman was much larger than Saltillo. For Catherine, it probably felt like the big city. But the excitement was short-lived. After the move, James and Ora divorced.

And while it wasn't unheard of, the sudden dissolution of a marriage was still somewhat scandalous in the early 1900s. Even still, Ora held her head high and pushed forward. She found a job as a hotel manager, which came with a room where she and Catherine lived. To Catherine, hotel living must have been a dream come true.

And while it wasn't unheard of, the sudden dissolution of a marriage was still somewhat scandalous in the early 1900s. Even still, Ora held her head high and pushed forward. She found a job as a hotel manager, which came with a room where she and Catherine lived. To Catherine, hotel living must have been a dream come true.

She likely crossed paths with affluent visitors on the regular, people like doctors, lawyers, and wealthy world travelers. But the dull reality wasn't nearly as grand as her fantasies. Many of the guests made her keenly aware of how little she really had. While they all slept under the same roof, it was abundantly clear that she and her mother were simply the help.

She likely crossed paths with affluent visitors on the regular, people like doctors, lawyers, and wealthy world travelers. But the dull reality wasn't nearly as grand as her fantasies. Many of the guests made her keenly aware of how little she really had. While they all slept under the same roof, it was abundantly clear that she and her mother were simply the help.

As she watched her mother struggle to provide for her family, Catherine made up her mind. There was no way she'd end up like Ora. She was determined to be the one calling the shots, staying in lavish hotels and being waited on. But Catherine didn't fancy working hard to reach her goals. Even though she believed she was destined for finer things, she knew school wasn't how she'd get there.

As she watched her mother struggle to provide for her family, Catherine made up her mind. There was no way she'd end up like Ora. She was determined to be the one calling the shots, staying in lavish hotels and being waited on. But Catherine didn't fancy working hard to reach her goals. Even though she believed she was destined for finer things, she knew school wasn't how she'd get there.

It was boring and stuffy, and no one expected a woman to be book smart anyway. So just after the seventh grade, when she would have been around 13, Catherine dropped out of school. Unfortunately, the teenage stunner had other options. Less than a year later, while visiting family in Oklahoma, Katherine met 16-year-old Lonnie Frye.

It was boring and stuffy, and no one expected a woman to be book smart anyway. So just after the seventh grade, when she would have been around 13, Catherine dropped out of school. Unfortunately, the teenage stunner had other options. Less than a year later, while visiting family in Oklahoma, Katherine met 16-year-old Lonnie Frye.

The son of a preacher, he had a good head on his shoulders and the physique of a laborer. The two were instantly smitten, and flirtation quickly turned to talks of marriage. While still very much children themselves, Katherine and Lonnie tied the knot. Soon after that, they had a daughter named Pauline. This should have been the start of a new, exciting life.

The son of a preacher, he had a good head on his shoulders and the physique of a laborer. The two were instantly smitten, and flirtation quickly turned to talks of marriage. While still very much children themselves, Katherine and Lonnie tied the knot. Soon after that, they had a daughter named Pauline. This should have been the start of a new, exciting life.

Catherine had the love of a good man, the blessing of a beautiful child, and the freedom to run her own household. But she wanted more. Lonnie worked long hours for little money, which meant that Catherine was hardly the kept woman she'd longed to be. After two years of dismal reality, the bloom was off the rose, and the couple divorced.

Catherine had the love of a good man, the blessing of a beautiful child, and the freedom to run her own household. But she wanted more. Lonnie worked long hours for little money, which meant that Catherine was hardly the kept woman she'd longed to be. After two years of dismal reality, the bloom was off the rose, and the couple divorced.