Here's a story that's breaking hearts. Closer Weekly has learned exclusively that one of Shirley Temple's most iconic dresses has gone missing. Now, this isn't just any dress—it's a one-of-a-kind piece from the legendary child star's collection. Collector Tonya Bervaldi-Camaratta, who's been gathering Shirley Temple memorabilia for years, shared her heartbreak after five dresses disappeared during a shipment from Florida to Vermont back in August. While four of the dresses have been recovered, one remains unaccounted for.
The Missing Piece: A Dress from Shirley Temple's 'The Little Princess'
The dress that's still missing is from Shirley's 1939 film, The Little Princess. For Tonya, who's been building this collection since she was 13 years old, finding this dress would be the cherry on top. The other dresses in the shipment are from some of Shirley's most memorable films, including Bright Eyes (1934), Stowaway (1936), Wee Willie Winkie (1937), and Little Miss Broadway (1938). Tonya described the missing dress as being in pristine condition, almost too good to be true. "It doesn’t have a tag, and it looks like it could’ve been made yesterday," she said. That's why she's offering a reward, hoping that someone out there might recognize it and return it.
This is Shirley wearing the dress that's now missing.
Read also:Chris Delia Why Was He Cancelled The Real Story Behind The Controversy
Reuniting with the Rest of the Collection
On a brighter note, Tonya managed to recover the other four dresses after they were sold at a Cargo Largo location in Missouri. It was thanks to a post on Shirley Temple’s official Facebook page that she was able to track them down. The person who bought the dresses had no idea what they had until they discovered a little movie tag inside that read "Temple." Amazingly, they were sold for less than $100, a stark contrast to the $15,000 Tonya originally paid for the missing dress. "It’s almost like they were meant to come back to me," Tonya said with a mix of relief and gratitude.
Remembering Shirley Temple: A Life Well-Lived
Shirley Temple, born in 1928, left an indelible mark on Hollywood and beyond. She passed away in 2014 after battling Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and pneumonia. In her lifetime, Shirley was married twice—first to John Agar from 1945 to 1950, and then to Charles Alden Black, whom she married in the same year she divorced Agar. Charles passed away in 2005. Together, they had three children: Lina, now 69, Lori, 63, and Charles, 65.
For more on this incredible story and Shirley Temple’s lasting legacy, grab the latest issue of Closer Weekly. And if you're hungry for even more exclusive content, be sure to sign up for our newsletter!
