Jackie Loughery, the first woman to be crowned Miss USA, has died. She was 93 years old.
The Miss Universe Organization announced Loughery's death with an Instagram post on Sunday, calling her a "trailblazer in the pageant community."
View this post on Instagram>$4
Loughery won the Miss New York pageant in 1952 before competing at the first Miss USA pageant, which was held that year in Long Beach, California.
There was a tie for first place at the pageant, but Loughery was crowned Miss USA after a second round of voting, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Loughery went on to compete at Miss Universe, where she came in ninth place.
As the first Miss USA, Loughery helped pave the path for titleholders who dreamed of a career in Hollywood.
Loughery signed a seven-year movie contract with Universal as part of her prize package, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Her breakthrough role was in the 1956 film "Pardners," in which she starred alongside Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. She had a recurring role in the "Judge Roy Bean" series and was Johnny Carson's assistant on the game show "Earn Your Vacation."
In 1957, Loughery appeared alongside "Dragnet" star Jack Webb in the film "The D.I.," and the pair married the following year. Webb was Loughery's second husband, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The pair divorced in 1964.
She remarried in 1969. Her husband, Jack Schwietzer, died in 2009.
Loughery also appeared in "Perry Mason" and "Bonanza." According to IMDb, her last acting credit was "Marcus Welby, M.D." in 1969.
Advertisement
