LNP – Maureen Hingert, first Sri Lankan to reach Miss Universe finals and enter Hollywood, passes away

Maureen Neliya Ballard (née Hingert), professionally known as Jana Davi, has passed away.Â

Born on 9 January 1937, she was a Sri Lankan actress, dancer, model, and beauty pageant titleholder.Â

She gained international recognition after being crowned Miss Ceylon 1955 and becoming the second runner-up at the Miss Universe 1955 pageant — marking the first time a representative from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) received an award at the prestigious international competition.

Her success at Miss Universe was widely celebrated, with many crediting her for “putting Ceylon on the map” and serving as a cultural ambassador during a significant period in the country’s history.

In addition to her pageant accomplishments, Hingert was an accomplished dancer. She gave solo performances at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and at other major venues throughout the city.

Following her success in the pageant, she was signed by Universal International Studios and 20th Century Fox, launching a career in film and television.Â

She appeared in several notable productions, including The King and I, Fort Bowie, Gun Fever, The Adventures of Hiram Holiday, Moroccan Halk Moth, Pillars of the Sky, Dangerous Search, Gunmen from Laredo, The Rawhide Trail, and the British television series Captain David Grief. She was sometimes credited in her acting roles as Jana Davi.

Maureen Hingert’s legacy continues to inspire generations in Sri Lanka and beyond, as a pioneer who represented her nation with grace on the global stage.