Jackie Loughery (1930–2024), first Miss USA
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2 min readJackie Loughery was the winner of the first ever Miss USA pageant in 1952 and went on to an acting career.
- Died: February 23, 2024 (Who else died on February 23?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles at the age of 93.
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Jackie Loughery’s legacy
When Loughery won the first Miss New York USA competition in 1952, representing her home of Brooklyn in New York City, she moved on to the first Miss USA. Competing in a borrowed gown, she prevailed in a second vote to break a first-place tie. Having advanced to the first Miss Universe pageant, she came in ninth place, while Miss Finland, Armi Kuusela, won. Asked in the pageant what her hopes were for the future, Loughery stated she wanted to be an actress, a wish that soon came true.
By 1953, Loughery was appearing in movies like “Abbott and Costello Go to Mars” and “The Veils of Baghdad.” She went on to costar in the TV Western “Judge Roy Bean” and had a recurring role on “Mr. District Attorney.” She was also Johnny Carson’s (1925–2005) assistant on the short-lived game show “Earn Your Vacation.” Among her notable movies were “Pardners,” “Eighteen and Anxious,” “A Public Affair,” and “The D.I.,” in which she starred alongside her future second husband, Jack Webb (1920–1982). Loughery later appeared on episodes of such TV shows as “Surfside 6,” “Wagon Train,” “Perry Mason,” “Bonanza,” and “F Troop.”
Loughery’s favorite beauty trick
“It’s wonderful for your skin and you can mix it yourself. Beat the yolk of an egg and about a half-teaspoon of olive oil until it’s fluffy. Pat it all over your clean face with a square of cotton and let it dry. Then wash it off with warm water, splash it with cold, and your skin is soft and glowing.” —from a 1954 interview with Lydia Lane
Tributes to Jackie Loughery
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
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