Mary Leona Gage facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Leona Gage
Gage, circa 1965
Born	(1939-04-08)April 8, 1939 Longview, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 5, 2010(2010-10-05) (aged 71) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress model beauty pageant holder
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Title	Miss Maryland USA 1957 Miss USA 1957 (Dethroned)
Spouse(s)	Gene Ennis ​ (m. 1953⁠–⁠1958)​
Children	5
Beauty pageant titleholder
Major competition(s)	Miss Maryland USA 1957 (Winner) Miss USA 1957 (Winner) (Dethroned) Miss Universe 1957 (Top 15) (Disqualified)

Mary Leona Gage (born April 8, 1939 – died October 5, 2010) was an American actress and model. She also held beauty pageant titles. In 1957, she was crowned Miss USA 1957. She was the first person from Maryland to win this title.

However, she lost her crown soon after. It was discovered that she was 18 years old, married, and a mother of two children. Pageant rules at the time did not allow married women or mothers to compete.

Early Life and Pageant Journey

Leona Gage was born in Longview, Texas. When she was very young, her family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas. Her mother worked hard to support the family. Her father stayed home after an accident.

At age 14, Leona married Gene Ennis. They moved to Maryland. She became a mother to two children at a young age. Her marriage faced difficulties. To help herself, she started working in a dress shop.

There, she met Barbara Mewshaw, a part-time model. Barbara introduced Leona to a modeling agency. She also helped Leona enter the Miss Maryland USA pageant. Leona hoped to become a model. She entered the contest and won!

Leona told the modeling agency that she was married. She knew this might prevent her from going to the Miss USA pageant. She later claimed that a pageant official told her to keep her marriage a secret. However, pageant officials in Baltimore denied this.

Both Leona and Barbara traveled to Long Beach, California. This was for the Miss USA pageant.

Life After the Pageant

When the news about Leona Gage's marriage became public, many people wanted to hear her story. She appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was a very popular TV program. Her appearance was one of the highest-rated shows for CBS at that time.

From 1957 to 1964

In 1957, Leona moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, with her two sons. She worked as a showgirl at the Hotel Tropicana. In 1958, she divorced Gene Ennis. She later married dancer Nick Covacevich.

In 1961, she moved to Los Angeles, California. She met Gunther Peter Collatz, who became her fourth husband.

Leona Gage also started acting in movies. In 1962, she appeared in the film Tales of Terror. In 1964, she had a small role in A House Is Not A Home. She also appeared in Scream of the Butterfly that year.

From 1965 to 1980

In 1965, Leona published her first book. It was called My Name Is Leona Gage, Will Somebody Please Help Me?. Her picture was on the cover. The film Scream of the Butterfly was released at the end of 1965, but it was not very popular.

After her movie career slowed down, she went to hairdressing school. In 1966, she began singing and dancing in burlesque clubs. She married two more times and had another son. She had a total of five children: one daughter and four sons.

She tried to make a comeback in commercials, but it was not successful. In the 1970s and 1980s, she continued to try for acting roles.

Leona Gage lived in Southern California for many years. She passed away on October 5, 2010, from heart failure. She had been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease earlier in her life.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Images for kids

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  Gage, circa 1965