Jayne Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Jayne Kennedy is an NAACP Image Award
-winning American
actress, model and sportscaster
.
in 1970 (she was the first African American
woman to win the title), and was one of the 15 semi-finalists in the 1970 Miss USA
pageant. It was rare for an African American woman at that time to be in the contest. While starting her modeling career, she met Leon Isaac Kennedy, who was a DJ
and a struggling actor/writer. They fell in love and married in 1970. Motown's Smokey Robinson
served as best man at the wedding.
to pursue careers in acting. In 1978
, she was one of the first women to infiltrate the male-dominated world of sports announcing with a role on The NFL Today
. She has been on the cover of Ebony
and Jet
magazines numerous times. In July 1981 she became the first African American actress to grace the cover of Playboy
magazine. She and Leon Isaac posed together for a pictorial in the same issue, but none of the pictures showed her nude. The cover and pictorial was photographed by Ken Marcus
.
Since the 1990s, Kennedy has remained busy away from the limelight, spending more time with her family. For many years, she worked for the Children's Miracle Network
, where she raised millions of dollars for a lot of hospitals. She occasionally appears on various Christian Television Network shows.
's Tab
and Diet Coke
; however, she was later diagnosed with endometriosis
. She and Kennedy were divorced in 1982. In 1985 she married actor Bill Overton. They have three daughters, Savannah Re (b. November 20, 1985), Kopper Joi (b. May 17, 1989) and Zaire Ollyea (b. September 15, 1995).
According to a report in the Village Voice, a home movie featuring Kennedy and her then-husband Leon engaging in intercourse was one of the earliest known example of a "celebrity sex tape". The tape was apparently released to the public by Leon after the two had divorced.
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
-winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, model and sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
.
Miss Ohio USA
Born as Jayne Harrison, she was crowned Miss Ohio USAMiss Ohio USA
The Miss Ohio USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Ohio in the Miss USA pageant.Ohio achieved success in the first decades of the Miss USA competition but has not done as well in recent years...
in 1970 (she was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman to win the title), and was one of the 15 semi-finalists in the 1970 Miss USA
Miss USA 1970
Miss USA 1970, the 19th Miss USA pageant, was televised live by CBS from Miami Beach, Florida on May 16, 1970.The pageant was won by Deborah Shelton of Virginia, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Wendy Dascomb, also of Virginia – the first time in Miss USA history that a state won back...
pageant. It was rare for an African American woman at that time to be in the contest. While starting her modeling career, she met Leon Isaac Kennedy, who was a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and a struggling actor/writer. They fell in love and married in 1970. Motown's Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
served as best man at the wedding.
Career
They moved to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to pursue careers in acting. In 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
, she was one of the first women to infiltrate the male-dominated world of sports announcing with a role on The NFL Today
The NFL Today
The NFL Today is an American sports series that precedes the American football program The NFL on CBS on CBS Sports. The program usually airs at noon on Sundays of the National Football League regular season...
. She has been on the cover of Ebony
Ebony (magazine)
Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
and Jet
Jet (magazine)
Jet is an American weekly marketed toward African-American readers, founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois...
magazines numerous times. In July 1981 she became the first African American actress to grace the cover of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine. She and Leon Isaac posed together for a pictorial in the same issue, but none of the pictures showed her nude. The cover and pictorial was photographed by Ken Marcus
Ken Marcus
Ken Marcus is an American photographer, known for his glamour photography with Penthouse and Playboy magazines. For over 30 years he has produced hundreds of centerfolds, editorials, album covers, and advertisements. His work is shown in galleries, published in books and magazines...
.
Since the 1990s, Kennedy has remained busy away from the limelight, spending more time with her family. For many years, she worked for the Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network
The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...
, where she raised millions of dollars for a lot of hospitals. She occasionally appears on various Christian Television Network shows.
Personal life
In the early 1980s she produced exercise videos, at the same time, she also had a contract with both Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
's Tab
Tab
Tab or tabs may refer to:* Tab, a British Army term for a loaded march* Tab , by Monster Magnet* Tab , a small protective covering for the fingers* Tab , the mechanism for opening a beverage can...
and Diet Coke
Diet Coke
Diet Coke is a sugar-free soft drink produced and distributed by The Coca-Cola Company. It was first introduced in the United States on August 9, 1982, as the first new brand since 1886 to use the Coca-Cola trademark...
; however, she was later diagnosed with endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
. She and Kennedy were divorced in 1982. In 1985 she married actor Bill Overton. They have three daughters, Savannah Re (b. November 20, 1985), Kopper Joi (b. May 17, 1989) and Zaire Ollyea (b. September 15, 1995).
According to a report in the Village Voice, a home movie featuring Kennedy and her then-husband Leon engaging in intercourse was one of the earliest known example of a "celebrity sex tape". The tape was apparently released to the public by Leon after the two had divorced.