Phyllis George

Phyllis Ann George (June 25, 1949 – May 14, 2020) was an American businesswoman, former sportscaster and former Miss America. She was Miss America 1971. From 1979 to 1983 she was the First Lady of the U.S. state of Kentucky.

In August 1971, George traveled to Vietnam with several other contestants from the Miss America 1971 pageant. George and the other contestants participated in a 22-day United Service Organizations tour for American troops there.

In 1985, CBS chose George to be the permanent presenter for its morning news program, CBS Morning News. She interviewed a number of news makers, including then-First Lady Nancy Reagan.

In 2003, George created the company Phyllis George Beauty. The company markets a line of cosmetics and skincare products through the television network the Home Shopping Network. She appeared in the comedy movie Meet the Fockers.

George was born in Denton, Texas. She died of problems caused by a blood cancer in Lexington, Kentucky on May 14, 2020 at the age of 70.