She first captured America’s heart as a beauty queen, then dazzled audiences on screen for decades. But beyond the glitz and glamour, her life has been marked by deep love, personal hardships, and an unshakable spirit. Take a look at this actress’s story and transformation over the years.

A young woman with dreams of the stage never imagined a spontaneous decision would set her on a path to nationwide fame. Raised in Phoenix, she was the daughter of an accountant who harbored aspirations of performing.

While studying drama in college, a friend encouraged her to enter a local beauty contest. That single step led to her crowning as Miss America in 1955, a title that would define her public image but never limit her ambitions.

“To this day, I don’t know why they voted for me. I’m hoping that it was because I chose a talent that made them sit up. I played a 70-year-old Irish mother lamenting the loss of her last son to the sea,” she shared.

“I took off all my makeup, wore a shawl and my father’s black socks — the costume I had worn when I’d done the play when I was in high school. It was the only thing I knew to do. I’m an actress, that’s what I wanted to be,” the beauty continued.