Jo-Carroll Dennison, former Miss America passes away at age 97

Jo-Carroll Dennison, oldest Miss America winner, passed away at age of 97. As per CNN, a friend of Dennison, Evan Mills revealed that she died at her residence in California on October 31. Mills went on to say that Dennison won Miss America title during World War II in year 1942 and defied trition by refusing to wear swimwear onstage after contest.  

Citing Evan Mills, CNN reported that former Miss America "serve as a model for young women -- and men -- in a world where many are tempted to bend to social expectations rar than trusting and following ir own moral compass." Mills who h edited her book received information of her death directly from her family. 

Achievements of Former Miss America Jo-Carroll Dennison

Dennison, who was born in Florence, Arizona in year 1923, h joined travelling medicine show of her parents as a child, where she used to sing, dance, and ride trick horses. Before being chosen for Miss Tyler pageant in Tyler, Texas, she was studying to become a secretary.  

Dennison said in her memoirs "Finding My Little Red Hat" that after her days on medicine show, she h sworn never to act in public again. But later, she consented to participate in Miss Tyler, CNN reported. She even ended up winning Miss East Texas and Miss Texas following win of Miss Tyler pageant, and n competed in and won — Miss America beauty contest in 1942, when she was just18 years old. 

Even Though Dennison topped swimsuit competition, but she declined to wear swimming suits throughout her year as Miss America. She praised Miss America Organization for eliminating swimsuit component of contest in 2018 and focused on "totality of each candidate" during contest's 100th-anniversary banquet earlier this year. 

Dennison, who was crowned Miss America just after United States entered World War II, h toured defense facilities, hospitals, and military camps to boost army morale. Furrmore, Dennison h also inked a deal with 20th Century Fox, where she appeared in films such as " Jolson Story" and "Winged Victory," a battle drama. She met many of era's superstars and she h connections with Charlie Chaplin's son Sydney and comedian Phil Silvers, whom she married in year 1945 and later divorced in five years. 

Dennison starred in "Dick Tracy" program and eventually worked in television shows behind scenes. She h two children with CBS producer and director Russell Stoneham before y split from ir marriage in 1970s. 

Dennison h even shown her support for #MeToo movement in her book, disclosing that she was sexually abused when she was 12 years old. In her book, she said that inequity with which women have been treated in American culture is startling. "I am so proud of 'Me Too movement' and women who have been brave enough to come forward about male sexual abuse y have suffered, and grateful I have lived long enough to see it," CNN reported. 

(Image: Twitter/ @Missamerica)