Former Miss America Leanza Cornett has died at age 49. The news was confirmed on Facebook by the Miss America Organization.
"Leanza had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious. We know she meant so much to so many, including all of you," the post read. "We are devastated by this sudden loss in our Miss America family and we are deeply sorry for her family and close friends for their loss."
Cornett had been hospitalized earlier this month after suffering a head injury, according to a Facebook page, Leanza Cornett’s Circle of Love, which was dedicated to monitoring her condition. Although it is unclear how she sustained the injury, Cornett underwent surgery to stop bleeding in her brain after she sustained "an enormous blow to the back of her head." In an update on Saturday, Cornett's mother, Patti, said "no news is good news."
Cornett got a taste of the limelight in 1991 when she became the first actress to play a live-action Ariel in the "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" stage show at Walt Disney World Resort, according to IMDB. She performed in a contemporary Christian music group, Area Code, which released an album, "One Big World," in 1991. Then, in 1992, she was crowned Miss Florida. The following year she was crowned Miss America and became the first beauty queen to champion AIDS awareness.
"I had decided to champion AIDS as my cause going to Miss America no matter what," she previously told HIV/AIDS activist and blogger Mark S. King. "I met with the Executive Director of Miss Florida and told her and the rest of the Board that it wasn’t an option for me to do or speak out for anything else. The Florida board and everyone I worked with supported me wholeheartedly. I was surprised, simply because in 1992 the only people you heard about as activists were groups like ACT UP."
Cornett is survived by two children, Kai Steines, 18, and Avery Steines, 17, whom she shared with former husband Mark Steines.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.