Gage died of heart failure Tuesday

Los Angeles – Leona Gage, who in 1957 was named Miss USA but had the title stripped the next day when pageant officials learned she was married and a mother of two, has died in Los Angeles, her son said Saturday. She was 71.
Gage died of heart failure Tuesday after spending several weeks at a Sherman Oaks hospital.

Born Mary Leona Gage in Texas, she appeared as Miss Maryland USA in the competition in Long Beach, Calif. Gage also lied about her age – telling pageant officials she was 21 when she was 18. She told reporters after winning that she didn’t even have a boyfriend.