Miss America in 1949 (1931–1982)

Jacquelyn Joy Mercer (January 7, 1931 – February 2, 1982) was Miss America in 1949.

Biography

Mercer was born in Thatcher, Arizona. In 1949, she won the *le of Miss America. She is mentioned (usually by *le, once by name) several times in the 1997 Philip Roth novel, American Pastoral.

She married and divorced her high school sweetheart, Douglas Cook, during her reign as Miss America. After this, a rule was enacted which requires Miss America contestants to sign a pledge vowing they have never been married or pregnant. On February 2, 1982, Mercer died in Los Angeles, California

References

External links

• Jacque Mercer profile from the Miss America Organization
• Arizona Archives Online