Ex-Miss America Leanza Cornett dies at 49 … after suffering head injury earlier this month

Ex-Miss America Leanza Cornett dies at 49 … after suffering head injury earlier this month

  • She suffered a head injury on October 12, according to friends
  • She was in a Jacksonville hospital being treated for the injury 
  • She won the pageant in 1993 after winning Miss Florida the year before  
  • She is survived by two sons: Kai Steines, 18, and Avery Steines, 16 

Former Miss America Leanza Cornett has died at 49 as she was in a Jacksonville hospital being treated for a head injury she suffer less than three weeks ago.

The tragic news came from a Facebook page titled Leanza Cornett’s Circle of Love, which had updated her friends and fans on her health.

Page administrator Sue Roberts wrote, ‘Dear Disney family, I’m here to let you know Leanza passed this afternoon. She was so loved. I don’t feel like writing a lot right now; my heart is broken.’

Tragic: Former Miss America Leanza Cornett has died at 49 as she was in a Jacksonville hospital being treated for a head injury she suffer less than three weeks ago. She was snapped in Atlantic City in 2017

The Miss America Organization subsequently shared an update on its Facebook announcing the death and saying Cornett ‘had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious.’

The organization added: ‘We know she meant so much to so many, including all of you. 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.

‘At the moment, we do not have any further information regarding a service for Leanza and we ask that you please respect her family during this difficult time. Hold on tight to those you love today. Time is certainly precious.’

Cornett injured her head October 12, according to the Circle of Love page.

Dedicated: Cornett was snapped at a fundraiser for Africa in 2015 in LA

Dedicated: Cornett was snapped at a fundraiser for Africa in 2015 in LA 

In her pageant career, Cornett won the Miss America pageant in 1993, a year after winning Miss Florida. She was snapped at the 1994 show

In her pageant career, Cornett won the Miss America pageant in 1993, a year after winning Miss Florida. She was snapped at the 1994 show 

The Miss America Organization subsequently shared an update on its Facebook announcing the death and saying Cornett 'had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious'

The Miss America Organization subsequently shared an update on its Facebook announcing the death and saying Cornett ‘had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious’

In her pageant career, Cornett won the Miss America pageant in 1993, a year after winning Miss Florida.

The previous year, according to NBC affiliate News4Jax, Cornett portrayed Ariel in a live-action production of The Little Mermaid at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort.

She also had appeared as an actress on TV shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Weeds and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

Cornett was wed to Mark Steines from 1995 until 2013. She is survived by two sons, Avery Steines, 16, and Kai Steines, 18.

‘It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of my ex-wife, Leanza the mother to our two extraordinary sons Kai and Avery,’ Mark Steines wrote on Instagram. ‘We will always remember the wonderful times shared during her short time here on earthI find comfort knowing Kai and Avery will forever have the best guardian angel watching over them as they navigate life’s path.

‘I ask that you please keep them as well as Leanza’s parents and her family in your prayers.’

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