Leona Gage Dies: Miss USA For One Day Dies at 71

Leona Gaga Has Died At the Age of 71

Leona Gage, who was Miss USA for one day in 1957, died at the age of 71 on Tuesday October 5. The cause of death was heart failure according to the New York Times who quoted the Associated Press.

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She lost her title back in the 50s because pageant officials found out the day after she was crowned, that she was married and had two children. She had also told them that she was 18-years-old, when she was actually 21. Married women were not allowed to enter the Miss Universe pageant, but Ms. Gage thought she had a shot to enter the competition anyway and entered because she needed the money.

She was Miss Maryland in the competition, but told reporters after she had won the Miss USA title that she did not even have a boyfriend:

Leona Gage had actually been married twice, both when she was 14, but the first marriage was quickly annulled. She had her second child by the time she was 16 and said she had never expected to win. 

She made many TV appearances after her loss and while she was very popular, she also admitted she received a lot of hate mail. 

She ended up having six failed marriages and five children, two of whom have already passed away.