Heartbreaking news has reached us that former Miss America Leanza Cornett has passed away. She was just forty-nine-years-old.
Now, more details have emerged about her cause of death.
The news of her tragic death was confirmed by the Miss America Organization on Wednesday.
Praying for you @LeanzaCornett and your family. Love you.— Jeni (@Jeni)1603941817.0
They continued:
Now she is an angel for real and I know she didn't look back once. God bless you Leanza, I hope you are watching an… https://t.co/9rJeoXTwOO— J.T. Johnson (@J.T. Johnson)1603932612.0
Shortly after, the news of her sudden death was then confirmed by her ex-husband, former Home and Family host Mark Steines.
via: Twitter
In an emotional Instagram post, the star wrote: "It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of my ex-wife, Leanza the mother to our 2 extraordinary sons Kai and Avery."He continued:
@kateshindle @LeanzaCornett @MissAmerica I lived in Orlando when she was at Disney and became Miss Florida and Miss… https://t.co/PbfDmMkYYG— Diane Riley (@Diane Riley)1603931015.0
As the news reached social media...
@people 😭😭😭— Arnold May II (@Arnold May II)1603945595.0
My condolences to the friends & family of Leanza Cornett. May she rest in peace and may Avery & Kai find solace in… https://t.co/9Hzdt8l7Nf— Michelle (@Michelle)1603932796.0
@kateshindle @LeanzaCornett @MissAmerica This is by far the saddest news of the year. This woman stood up for AIDS… https://t.co/NtRYEZMvXS— alphaeta@guilloluisito (@alphaeta@guilloluisito)1603957238.0
@enews So sad..rip..😣— Nancy (@Nancy)1603944499.0
@kateshindle @LeanzaCornett @MissAmerica Went to school with her, she was such a sweetheart. Heartbreaking.— David Moore (@David Moore)1603929941.0
@people This is heartbreaking 🙏🙏🙏— McKenzie Lowe (@McKenzie Lowe)1603944770.0
@kateshindle @LeanzaCornett @MissAmerica I am so sorry to hear about this. I remember her using her being the first… https://t.co/N9uj8fJGtM— Shoshana ~ Constitutional Lawyer (@Shoshana ~ Constitutional Lawyer)1603927856.0
@enews What a great loss— Erica Patterson (@Erica Patterson)1603945951.0
@people I remember watching the Miss America Pageant in 1993. Leanza Cornett's platform was to raise awareness abo… https://t.co/QWvIweHQi9— Steve Holzer (@Steve Holzer)1603945434.0
@people I worked in the casino that she stayed in during her pageant! She was so sweet and kind...RIP— Karla (@Karla)1603947705.0
My deepest sympathy and prayers for all family & friends of Leanza Cornett, who passed today in Jacksonville after… https://t.co/9nUfiXrckQ— David Moore (@David Moore)1603929853.0
Heartbroken to hear about the loss of @LeanzaCornett. A trailblazer, an amazing talent, a human who fought for the… https://t.co/4jhRzGPoml— kate shindle (@kate shindle)1603927791.0
The star had a lustrous pageant career...
via: Getty Images
And it saw her win the lucrative Miss America pageant in 1993, just a year after being crowned Miss Florida.Her talents didn't end on the pageant stage, though.
via: Getty Images
She also had appeared as an actress on TV shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Weeds, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.But, Cornett has been significantly praised for using her platform to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.
via: Getty Images
And, as you can see from many of the tributes, this will be one of her huge lasting legacies.The star went on to marry former Home and Family host Mark Steines in 1995.
via: Getty Images
But, the pair sadly split in 2013 after seventeen years of marriage.The couple share 2 sons together, Kai and Avery.
via: Getty Images
Steines announced the news of Cornett's sudden death on Instagram, asking fans to please keep their sons "as well as Leanza’s parents and her family in your prayers."A Facebook group called Leanza's Circle of Love has now shed more light on her cause of death.
I am heartbroken to report that my friend Leanza Cornett Miss America 1993 has passed away at 49, from a brain inju… https://t.co/6ck7pMxUpF— Michael La Rocca (@Michael La Rocca)1603928554.0
Though an official cause of death has not been given...
It has been widely reported that the pageant queen tragically succumbed to these injuries.Rest in Peace Leanza.
via: Getty Images
Our thoughts go out to her friends and family at this unimaginable time. For more on stars we've sadly lost this year, scroll on.