Venus Ramey was born Sept. 26, 1924 in Ashland, Kentucky. Ramey passed away on June 17 in Agoura Hills, California, at the age of 92.
Venus Ramey was a native of Paintsville, Kentucky and the daughter of Evalina Brown Ramey and John Ramey. She performed on Huntington radio stations as a child and during her teen years. She later moved to Washington, D. C. to work for the war effort in the nation’s capitol as a page in the House of Representatives. There, she became a Conover Model and was selected to represent the nation's capital in Atlantic City at the Miss America pageant in 1944. With her dancing, singing and comedic talents, she became the first redhead to be crowned Miss America and the first to be photographed in color.
The Enquirer (https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/07/21/our-history-more-venus-ramey-than-being-miss-america/489843001/), on July 17, 2017, the day she died, said, “The outspoken redhead with the hourglass figure popped up in the most unexpected places. In Over-the-Rhine restoring the historic neighborhood. On the ballot for Cincinnati City Council. On a tractor, plowing a sorghum field in Kentucky.”
Pushed into show business by her new fame, Venus performed in vaudeville, which was included in her pageant duties. During this time, she traveled extensively throughout the United States on War Bond and USO tours during World War II. Her war efforts resulted in a Special Citation from the United States Treasury Department. In her honor, her picture was adorned on a B-17 fighter plane. According to a story from the Associated Press, it made 68 sorties over war-torn Germany and never lost a man.
She also worked with Senator Kaper of Kansas and Congressman Somner of Missouri on publishing their bills to get suffrage for Washington D.C. in 1945. The District was able to vote for the first time. The bill was passed in both houses and signed by the president.
In 1947, Venus was sought out by legendary Hollywood producer Milton Sperling of Warner Brothers Studio to star in a major Hollywood film. But disgusted with show business, she returned home to her Kentucky farm, married and raised two sons.
With a grandfather who was a Kentucky State Senator and a father who was a Kentucky State Representative, it only seemed destined that Venus would develop a passion for public service. She ran for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives making her the first Miss America to run for public office. Later, she hosted her own radio show and published her own political newspaper.
Published in U S Legacies Magazine July 2004
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