Neva Jane Langley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Neva Jane Langley (1933-01-25)January 25, 1933 |
| Died | November 18, 2012(2012-11-18) (aged 79) |
| Education | Wesleyan College |
| Occupation | Television celebrity |
| Title | Miss America 1953 |
| Predecessor | Colleen Kay Hutchins |
| Successor | Evelyn Ay |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Neva Jane Langley Fickling (January 25, 1933 – November 18, 2012) was an American actress and beauty queen who was crownedMiss America 1953.
Langley was born inLakeland, Florida. As a college sophomore she transferred toWesleyan College inMacon, Georgia, where she was a member ofAlpha Delta Pi sorority. While attending that college she became Miss Macon, Miss Georgia, and thenMiss America 1953.[1]
Ms. Langley's first television appearance asMiss America was onWhat's My Line (September 14, 1952) as the mystery guest. She rode the grand prize most-beautiful float by a commercial firm, called "America The Beautiful", in the January 1, 1953Tournament of Roses Parade inPasadena, California.[2] During her reign as Miss America, she was hospitalized for one week with pneumonia.[3] She was also known for being the onlyMiss Georgia to win the Miss America pageant untilBetty Cantrell was crownedMiss America 2016, sixty-three years later.
Langley has been featured in museum exhibitions, including a display at theKimball Art Center (2009)[4] of eleven original gowns worn in beauty pageant competitions and during her reign as Miss America, and the exhibition "Georgia's Miss Americas" at theMuseum of Arts and Sciences (Sept. 23, 2017–Jan. 14, 2018).[5]
Langley married insurance executive, William A. Fickling Jr., in 1955 and was the mother of four children (William, Jane, Julia and Roy).[3][6]
On November 18, 2012, Langley died of cancer at the age of 79.[7]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Miss America 1953 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Carol Taylor | Miss Georgia 1952 | Succeeded by Lucia Hutchinson |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
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