Leanza Cornett, who was named Miss America in 1993, has died at the age of 49, according to the Miss America Organization.
The mother and former television personality died after suffering a head injury earlier this month, according to a Facebook page called “Leanza Cornett’s Circle of Love.” The page shared on Oct. 18 that she had endured “an enormous blow to the back of her head” and had surgery to stop bleeding in her brain. The Miss America Organization expressed condolences for Cornett on Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness the Miss America Organization relays the news our beloved Miss America and friend, Leanza Cornett, has passed away,” the company announced on its Facebook page on Wednesday. “Leanza had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious. We know she meant so much to so many, including all of you.”
Cornett, who had lived in Jacksonville, Florida, won the Miss Florida beauty pageant in 1992, according to Variety. A year later, she was crowned Miss America at the 66th annual national pageant. She was the first representative of Florida to gain the title. While in her role, she advocated for AIDS awareness, which had not previously been a platform a winner had taken.
Before being crowned, the Virginia native was the first actress to play a live-action version of Ariel, the title character from “The Little Mermaid,” at the “Voyage of The Little Mermaid” show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in 1991.
She would become known as one of the mid-1990′s hosts of “Entertainment Tonight,” where she worked alongside former husband Mark Steines, also a host of the show. She would make appearances on “Melrose Place" and “Fear Factor,” and host shows such as “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?”
Cornett and Steines were married from 1995 to 2013, and they had two children Avery and Kai, who are both teenagers. Steines, 56, posted a tribute to his former wife Wednesday on Instagram.
"It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of my ex-wife, Leanza the mother to our two extraordinary sons Kai and Avery, " he wrote on his Instagram page. “We will always remember the wonderful times shared during her short time here on earth. I find comfort knowing Kai and Avery will forever have the best guardian angel watching over them as they navigate life’s path. I ask that you please keep them as well as Leanza’s parents and her family in your prayers.”
Others posted tributes about Cornett on Thursday.
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