Jackie Loughery

Who is Jackie Loughery?

Jacqueline "Jackie" Loughery is best known as the first Miss New York USA and winner of the first Miss USA beauty pageant, in Long Beach, California. In 1952, she won the title only after a second ballot broke a first-place tie. Loughery, a red head, went on to represent the USA at the very first Miss Universe pageant, where she placed ninth.

Part of her prize package as Miss USA included a contract with Universal Pictures, which led to a career in movies and television. She adopted the stage name Evelyn Avery, but is more often credited with her own name. In 1951 she appeared in the short-lived Variety show Seven at Eleven. In 1954, she was Johnny Carson's assistant in the short lived game show "Earn Your Vacation". She appeared in several films, including "Pardners" with Martin and Lewis and The D.I., with Jack Webb.

In 1956, Loughery co-starred with Edgar Buchanan and Jack Buetel in the syndicated western television series Judge Roy Bean, having appeared as Bean's niece, Letty. Buetel, a star of the 1941 film The Outlaw, was cast in the series as Bean's deputy, Jeff Taggert.