Patricia Mary Donnelly
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| Born | Patricia Mary Harris (1919-10-30)October 30, 1919
Durand, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | October 25, 2009(2009-10-25) (aged 89) |
| Other names | "The Long-Stemmed American Beauty" |
| Occupations |
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| Title | Miss America 1939 |
| Spouse |
Robin Harris (m. 1948) |
| Children | 2 |
Patricia Mary Donnelly (née Harris, October 30, 1919 – October 25, 2009) was an American beauty queen who won Miss America in 1939. She subsequently briefly had a career as a singer and worked on stage and screen.
Donnelly was born in Durand, Michigan.[1] She was a singer in grade school and on radio programs, and she began singing with a band soon after she finished high school. She also worked as a model for Hudson's department store.[2]
Donnelly was the last to be crowned at the Steel Pier.[3] In the talent competition, she sang the then-new ballad "To You" and the faster-tempo "Old Man Mose". After winning the Miss America title, she traveled across the United States making personal appearances. She was given the nickname "The Long-Stemmed American Beauty".[2]
Following her reign as Miss America, Donnelly sang at the Stork Club, on Broadway, and appeared in some films. She worked for the John Robert Powers modeling agency.[1] Her Broadway credits included the musical revue Priorities of 1942 and the musical comedy The Lady Comes Across (1942).[4]
En route to Chicago on the famous "Super Chief" of railways, she was introduced to Jack L. WarnerofWarner Brothers Studio. He recognized her strong resemblance to Hollywood beauty, Ann Sheridan.
Soon a Hollywood contract was offered, but Donnelly turned it down. "I realized by that time I didn't want my face known," she said. "In other words, I wanted the freedom of movement, to go where I pleased without people knowing who I was."
Donnelly married Robin Harris in 1948 and had two children, Amanda and Stephen. For years she and Robin worked together as travel editors of the Hearst Newspapers.[5]
In 1980, she was diagnosed with throat cancer after years of smoking cigarettes.[6] She underwent a laryngectomy and spoke with the aid of a prosthesis.[6]
Donnelly died on October 25, 2009, at the age of 89.[7]
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| Preceded by | Miss America 1939 |
Succeeded by |
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Michigan pageant winners
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| Miss Michigan |
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| Miss Michigan USA |
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