Dorothy Dell

Dorothy Dell was an American film actress. She is best remembered for her tragically short life. Her death in an auto accident at ageended what appeared to be a promising Hollywood career.

Born Dorothy Dell Goff in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to entertainers, she moved with the family to New Orleans, Louisiana, at age 13. She was born into a socially prominent family, and her mother was a descendant of Jefferson Davis. Initially desiring to become a singer, she was discovered by composer Wesley Lord, and soon signed a radio contract. She began entering and winning beauty pageants and at the age ofwon the title of Miss New Orleans in 1930. That same year she attended the International Pageant of Pulchritude in Galveston, Texas, and won. With this success. she established a successful vaudeville act. Although she had received better offers, she decided to enter the vaudeville circuit, because she believed it would enable her to help her friend Dorothy Lamour rise to fame, a promise she had made shortly before winning the Miss Universe title at the Pageant .

Source: Wikipedia