Dian Parkinson
Encyclopedia
Dian Parkinson is a former American
model
and hostess on The Price Is Right.
, she won the Miss District of Columbia USA
title and competed as Diana Batts in the Miss USA
1965 pageant, where she placed fourth runner-up. Parkinson won the 1965 Miss World USA contest. She went on to represent the United States in the international Miss World
contest, and was first runner-up to Lesley Langley
of the United Kingdom.
She traveled during 1965 with the Bob Hope
USO Show including performances in Vietnam
during late December 1965 and also served as Queen of the 1965 Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament.
From 1975 to 1993, Parkinson was a Barker's Beauty
model on the U.S. television show The Price Is Right
. Her 18-year tenure on the show was among the longest of any of the models, second to Janice Pennington
, who lasted on the show for 28 years.
announced during her final appearance. At the time there were rumors, particularly in the tabloids, that she had left the show because of an ongoing feud with Janice Pennington.
Although it was reported that they quarreled (production staff seldom paired them together by the early 1990s), it was not the primary reason she departed the show. The following year (1994), Parkinson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court (case no. BC106366) against Barker for sexual harassment
, claiming a three-year sexual relationship was extorted by threats of firing from The Price Is Right. The suit was withdrawn in April 1995, Parkinson claiming it was too costly and had taken a toll on her health.
in December 1991, and again in May 1993, appearing in nude pictorials in both issues. She also appeared in a feature newsstand publication entitled "Playboy Presents Dian Parkinson". Parkinson was featured in her own 1993 Celebrity Centerfold video.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and hostess on The Price Is Right.
Career history
In 1965, while living in Falls Church, VirginiaFalls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, she won the Miss District of Columbia USA
Miss District of Columbia USA
The Miss District of Columbia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the District of Columbia in the Miss USA pageant....
title and competed as Diana Batts in the Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
1965 pageant, where she placed fourth runner-up. Parkinson won the 1965 Miss World USA contest. She went on to represent the United States in the international Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
contest, and was first runner-up to Lesley Langley
Lesley Langley
Lesley Langley from Weymouth, England was Miss United Kingdom and Miss World in 1965. She became the third woman from her country to win the title....
of the United Kingdom.
She traveled during 1965 with the Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
USO Show including performances in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
during late December 1965 and also served as Queen of the 1965 Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament.
From 1975 to 1993, Parkinson was a Barker's Beauty
Barker's Beauties
The American television game show The Price Is Right has, since its 1972 relaunch, had a stable of models to showcase the prizes and items that are given away on the show. From 1972–2007, the group was referred to as Barker's Beauties, a term coined by producer Mark Goodson.-1956–1965:The original...
model on the U.S. television show The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
. Her 18-year tenure on the show was among the longest of any of the models, second to Janice Pennington
Janice Pennington
Janice Marie Pennington was one of the original "Barker's Beauties" models on The Price Is Right, serving as the show's longest-running model to date, from 1972 to 2000. She was also Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the May 1971 issue. She is the older sister of fellow model Ann...
, who lasted on the show for 28 years.
Departure from The Price Is Right
Parkinson left the show in 1993 to "pursue other interests", as host Bob BarkerBob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
announced during her final appearance. At the time there were rumors, particularly in the tabloids, that she had left the show because of an ongoing feud with Janice Pennington.
Although it was reported that they quarreled (production staff seldom paired them together by the early 1990s), it was not the primary reason she departed the show. The following year (1994), Parkinson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court (case no. BC106366) against Barker for sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
, claiming a three-year sexual relationship was extorted by threats of firing from The Price Is Right. The suit was withdrawn in April 1995, Parkinson claiming it was too costly and had taken a toll on her health.
Playboy
Parkinson was the cover girl of PlayboyPlayboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
in December 1991, and again in May 1993, appearing in nude pictorials in both issues. She also appeared in a feature newsstand publication entitled "Playboy Presents Dian Parkinson". Parkinson was featured in her own 1993 Celebrity Centerfold video.