Marie “The Body” McDonald, right, with Mrs. Danny Bordett, arriving at Lexington’s Blue Grass Field in April 1948. She was en route to visit relatives in Burgin, her hometown. McDonald was born Cora Marie Frye in Burgin, and after her parents divorced, she moved with her mother and stepfather to Yonkers, N.Y. At 15, she began competing in numerous beauty pageants and was named “The Queen of Coney Island,” “Miss Yonkers” and “Miss Loew’s Paradise.” At age 15, she dropped out of school and began modeling. In 1939, McDonald was named “Miss New York State.” She landed a showgirl role on Broadway at age 17 and shortly thereafter moved to Hollywood. She appeared in films and on stage until her death in 1965 at age 42. Published in the Lexington Leader on April 27, 1948. Herald-Leader Archive Photo