Ada Perkins
Encyclopedia
Ada Perkins was a Puerto Rican beauty queen who represented her island in the Miss Universe
beauty pageant in 1978. In 1980, Puerto Rico was moved by the media news coverage of her tragic death which resulted from the injuries sustained in an automobile accident in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
to Oswald Evan Perkins from San Juan and Ada Flores Sanchez. She received her primary and secondary education at St. John's School in the Condado area 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 journalism.
", 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.
In May of that same year, Perkins represented the city of San Juan in the Miss Puerto Rico
contest and won the title. 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.
In 1979, Perkins crowned her successor to the title, Audrey Teresa López (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.
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
beauty pageant in 1978. In 1980, Puerto Rico was moved by the media news coverage of her tragic death which resulted from the injuries sustained in an automobile accident in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Early years
Perkins (birth name: Ada Cecille Perkins Flores), the oldest of three siblings, was born in Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
to Oswald Evan Perkins from San Juan and Ada Flores Sanchez. She received her primary and secondary education at St. John's School in the Condado area 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 journalism.
Model and beauty contestant
Perkins was a model who participated in television commercials for various companies, among them: "Chicklets Adams", "TexacoTexaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
", Salem
Salem (cigarette)
Salem is a brand of cigarettes introduced in 1956 by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as the first filter-tipped menthol cigarette. Its name derives from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the city where RJR was founded and headquartered...
cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
" and for the "Milk Industries of Puerto Rico". In 1978, she represented Puerto Rico in the Miss Teen International
Miss Teen International
Miss Teen International is an annual beauty pageant for teen aged girls from the Americas and other regions of the world.The current titleholder will be crowned Miss Teen International 2010 by Nazareth Cascante of Costa Rica on Sunday 21st,2010 ....
beauty pageant held in Oranjestad, Aruba
Oranjestad, Aruba
Oranjestad is the capital and largest city of Aruba, which is in the Caribbean north of Venezuela. Oranjestad is located on the southern coast near the western end of the island country...
. Perkins came in 3rd place.
In May of that same year, Perkins represented the city of San Juan in the Miss Puerto Rico
Miss Puerto Rico
Miss Puerto Rico is the common name or sash used to identify a Puerto Rican representative in an international pageant. Currently, Miss Universe Puerto Rico, Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico and Miss Earth Puerto Rico are the official national preliminaries to the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth...
contest and won the title. 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
Sash
A sash is a cloth belt used to hold a robe together, and is usually tied about the waist. The Japanese equivalent of a sash, obi, serves to hold a kimono or yukata together. Decorative sashes may pass from the shoulder to the hip rather than around the waist...
and crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
which she was entitled to wear during her reign.
She then traveled to Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where she represented Puerto Rico in the first Miss Universe pageant hosted by that country. Margaret Gardiner
Margaret Gardiner
Margaret Gardiner, from Woodstock, South Africa is the winner of the Miss Universe pageant in 1978. She was 18 years old when she won the pageant.. , Palm Beach Post . , St...
from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
won the title of Miss Universe that was held on July 21, 1978.
In 1979, Perkins crowned her successor to the title, Audrey Teresa López (Miss Mayaguez) in an event which included the presence of actor Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
. 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.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Irish immigration to Puerto RicoIrish immigration to Puerto RicoFrom the 16th to the 19th century, there was considerable Irish immigration to Puerto Rico, for a number of reasons. During the 16th century many Irishmen, who were known as "Wild Geese," fled the English Army and joined the Spanish Army. Some of these men were stationed in Puerto Rico and...