Actress and Former Miss USA Contestant Kimmarie Johnson Dies at 50

Model and actress Kimmarie Johnson, 50, died on Nov. 4 after suffering a heart event at her Los Angeles home on Oct. 27. Paramedics took her to Cedars‑Sinai Hospital, where doctors said she had a heart aneurysm condition. Her niece Rhonda Scott told People that Johnson "radiated a light so strong and bright" and that anyone who met her felt only positive energy. Johnson was born on April 8, 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied elementary education and child psychology at California University of Pennsylvania before moving to New York City to model. Her modeling work included campaigns for Vidal Sassoon, Oscar de la Renta and United Colors of Benetton. She won Miss Pennsylvania and, with no prior pageant experience, placed in the top five of the Miss USA 1993 competition. In 1996 she relocated to Los Angeles to keep modeling and start acting. She landed a guest spot on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 and played "Alien Jumpsuit Chick #5" in the 2000 comedy Dude, Where's My Car?. Later roles included Carman: The Champion, The Summer of Massacre, VIP and Wanda at Large. In 2011 Johnson founded the skin‑care line SkinGlow by Kimmarie.

Context

Heart aneurysms are abnormal bulges in a blood vessel that can cause sudden cardiac problems. Winning a state beauty title often opens doors to national pageants and modeling work in the United States.