Ada Perkins

Pageant titleholder bio
photo=
alias=Ada Perkins
birthname=Ada Cecille Perkins Flores
birth = Sept. 07,1959
death = May 24 1980
height= 5'7
title=Miss San Juan 1978
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 1978
nationalcompetition=Miss Teen International 1978 (3rd place)
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 1978 (winner)
Miss Universe 1978
location=Ponce, Puerto Rico
eye color=Hazel
hair color=Blonde

Ada Perkins (September 7, 1959-May 24, 1980) was a Puerto Rican beauty queen who represented her island in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 1978. She is the only Miss Puerto Rico to die as a result of an automobile accident.

Early years

Perkins (birth name: Ada Cecille Perkins Flores), the oldest of three children, was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She received her primary and secondary education at "St. John's School" in the Condado area of San Juan and later at the "Academia Del Perpetuo Socorro" (Academy of the Perpetual Help) in Miramar. She graduated from high school in 1977 and enrolled at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon (Sacred Heart University) where she was studying to become a journalist.

Model and beauty contestant

Perkins was a model who participated in television commercials for various companies, among them: "Chicklets Adams", "Texaco", Salem cigarette" and for the "Milk Industries of Puerto Rico". In 1978, she represented Puerto Rico in the Miss Teen International beauty pageant held in Oranjestad, Aruba. Perkins came in 3rd place. [ [http://www.jimmyspageantpage.com/intercontinental.html Miss Intercontinental Titleholders] ]

In May of that same year, Perkins represented the city of San Juan in the Miss Puerto Rico contest and won the title. [ [http://www.glosk.com/DR/Santiago/-4781445/pages/Miss_Puerto_Rico/7500_en.htm Miss Puerto Rico] ] Miss Puerto Rico is the official national preliminary to the Miss Universe international pageant. Each year the event is held to select the representative from the island to the contest. In the inbox above, Perkins is pictured with the Miss Puerto Rico sash and crown which she was entitled to wear during her reign.

She then traveled to Acapulco, Mexico where she represented Puerto Rico in the first Miss Universe pageant hosted by that country. Margaret Gardiner from South Africa won the title of Miss Universe that was held on July 21, 1978. [ [http://www.geocities.com/pageantmania2000b/MU1978Delegates.html Miss Universe Delegates 1978] ]

In 1979, Perkins crowned her successor to the title, Audrey Tersa Lopez (Miss Mayaguez) in an event which included the presence of actor Erik Estrada. In 1980, she and her boyfriend, Luis A. Ballester were involved in an automobile accident which occurred while they were heading towards her home in Punta las Marias, San Juan. She died as a result of the injuries sustained. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=p-BVcs679FM&feature=related Related] ]
###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before=María del Mar Rivera
title=Miss Puerto Rico Universe 1978
years=
after=Teresa López

References

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans