After being crowned Miss U.S.A. in 1957, Mary Leona Gage trumpeted her pristine past, telling reporters she "wanted to wait until I'm 26 before I become seriously interested in the opposite sex." Within hours, the facade had crumbled. It turned out that Gage was only 18, not 21 as she had claimed on her application. It was also revealed that Gage had twice been married — the first time, to an older man, at age 14 — and had given birth to two children. Both were violations of pageant rules. Stripped of her crown, Gage made bids at becoming a Hollywood showgirl, actress and nightclub performer, but her star had dimmed. Her peripatetic life has since been marred by multiple divorces, allegations of child abuse and suicide attempts.