Miss USA Winner in 1957 Dies at 71

Miss USA winner in 1957, Leona Gage, died from heart failure at the age of 71 at a Sherman Oaks hospital on Tuesday. Gage enjoyed her Miss USA title only briefly because the next day it was discovered she was married with two children, and the title was taken from her. Gage, who was only 18 years old when she won the pageant, also fibbed about her age, telling officials she was 21 years old.

Gage, like Vanessa Williams and Carrie Prejean generations later, became more famous for the scandal surrounding her win, than for wearing the crown. She appeared on television many times because of the controversy, including the famous Ed Sullivan Show. Gage was first married at age 14 then had her second child at age 16.

After winning the Miss Maryland USA title in the 1957 Miss USA competition in Long Beach California, Gage told reporters she did not have a boyfriend and “I want to wait until I’m 26 before I become seriously interested in the opposite sex”.

Just a day later her story was exposed. She had been already been married twice, both times at age 14 – the first was quickly annulled – and had her second child at 16, all forbidden for the resume of a pageant contestant.