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Leanza Cornett

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Leanza Cornett
Cornett at the 2017 Show Us Your Shoes parade in Atlantic City.
Born
Eva Leanza Cornett

(1971-06-10)June 10, 1971
Big Stone Gap, Virginia, U.S.
DiedOctober 28, 2020(2020-10-28) (aged 49)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma materTerry Parker High School
Rollins College
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
TitleMiss Florida 1992
Miss America 1993
PredecessorCarolyn Sapp
SuccessorKimberly Aiken
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 2013)​
Children2

Eva Leanza Cornett (June 10, 1971 – October 28, 2020) was an American television personality and beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Miss Florida 1992 and Miss America 1993 the same year.

Early life

Cornett was born in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and was a 1989 graduate of Terry Parker High School. She was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2006.[1]

Pageantry

Cornett was previously National Sweetheart 1991.[2] As Miss America 1993, she became the first Miss America to adopt AIDS awareness as her platform for her year of service. She became one of the first Miss America titleholders to refuse to wear the Miss America crown at public appearances.[3]

Career

Cornett was the first actress to play a live-action version of Ariel, the title character from The Little Mermaid,[4] at the "Voyage of The Little Mermaid" show at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in 1991.[5] She was also a member of the contemporary Christian music group Area Code,[6] which released their single album, One Big World, before Leanza’s big break.[5][7]

Cornett also served as a host for several television shows, including Entertainment Tonight (1994–1995),[6] New Attitudes (1998),[8] and Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? (2000).[9] She made television guest appearances in television series such as Melrose Place,[10] The Tick,[11] CSI, and Saved by the Bell,[12] and Fear Factor.[13] In addition, she served as a reporter for Animal Planet's coverage of the Eukanuba AKC National Dog Show programs,[11][14] and hosted the "On The Block" show on DIY Network.[4]

Her stage credits included Barefoot in the Park,[15] Godspell,[16] The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,[4] Bye Bye Birdie,[10] and Voyage of the Little Mermaid.[5]

Personal life

Cornett married broadcast journalist Mark Steines on July 22, 1995. Weeks after their wedding, Cornett was let go from her Entertainment Tonight position and immediately replaced by Steines himself.[3] Cornett and Steines had two sons, Kai Harper[17] (born on February 19, 2002), and Avery James[17] (born on November 4, 2003). The couple later divorced after 17 years of marriage.[17] She died on October 28, 2020, after being hospitalized for a head injury incurred in a fall at her home in Jacksonville, Florida.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Florida Times-Union: Apr 8, 2006-Parker High establishes Braves hall of fame". Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
  2. ^ "National Sweetheart Pageant History". Hoopeston Jaycees. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
  4. ^ a b c Grater, Tom (October 29, 2020). "Leanza Cornett Dies From Head Injury: Miss America 1993 & Actress Was 49". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Owens, Darryl E. (September 21, 1992). "Miss America: AIDS' New High-Profile Foe". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Nordyke, Kimberly (October 29, 2020). "Leanza Cornett, Former Miss America and 'Entertainment Tonight' Contributor, Dies at 49". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Jovida (November 1, 1991). "Vocal Group Plans 1st Appearance". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "New Attitudes – Cast and Characters". TV Guide. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Terrace, Vincent (January 17, 2020). Encyclopedia of Television Pilots: 2,470 Films Broadcast 1937–2019 (2 ed.). McFarland. p. 269. ISBN 9781476638102.
  10. ^ a b Bobbin, Jay (July 25, 1997). "Vital Statistics – Leanza Cornett". The Daily Chronicle. DeKalb, Illinois. p. 77. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Leanza Cornett". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  12. ^ "Friends remember former Miss America, Jacksonville native, Leanza Cornett". firstcoastnews.com. October 29, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Toone, Stephanie (October 29, 2020). "Former Miss America Leanza Cornett, known for her 'bright' spirit, dies at 49". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "AKC Eukanuba National Invitational Champions – Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "Disney-MGM Studios – General". WDW Radio. September 17, 2007. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "Tenor cast of BCHS drama alums". The Baker Country Press via George A. Smathers Libraries. September 16, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c Johnson, Zach (January 28, 2013). "Mark Steines Splits From Wife Leanza Cornett". Us Weekly.
  18. ^ Nelson, Ryan. "Miss America 1993 and Jacksonville native, Leanza Cornett, dies after brain injury from fall. She was just 49 years old". WJAX. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leanza Cornett.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss America
1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Mary Ann Olson
 Miss Florida
1992 		Succeeded by
Melinda Miller
Preceded by National Sweetheart
1991 		Succeeded by
Elizabeth Simmons
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