Maureen Hingert
Maureen Neliya Ballard, also professionally known as Jana Davi, was a Sri Lankan actress, dancer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned [Miss Universe Sri Lanka|Miss Ceylon 1955] and represented her country at Miss Universe 1955 where she placed 2nd Runner-Up.
Life and career
Hingert was born in Colombo, Ceylon on 9 January 1937. Her parents, Lionel Hingert and Lorna Mabel del Run, were of Dutch Burgher ancestry. Her father was an employee of the Bank of Ceylon with extensive tea holdings. Hingert attended school at the Holy Family Convent in Bambalapitiya, Colombo until she was eighteen and continued her college education in Los Angeles, California in the United States.In 1955, Hingert was crowned Miss Ceylon and subsequently selected as a contestant in Miss Universe 1955 pageant. She was the first Ceylonese representative to win an award at the Miss Universe pageant, after finishing as the second runner-up. Due to her high placement in the contest, she was revered as "putting Ceylon on the map" and being an ambassador for her country, Ceylon.
She was also a dancer, and gave solo performances at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and other major Los Angeles venues.
Personal life and death
Hingert married an American designer and artist Mario Armond Zamparelli in 1958. Zamparelli was best known for his work as designer of Howard Hughes's empire. The couple had three daughters, one of whom – Gina Zamparelli – achieved fame in arts and entertainment and was active in the field of historic preservation.In July 1970, Hingert divorced Zamparelli, and in 1976 she married William J. Ballard in Los Angeles, United States. Ballard died in 2012.
Hingert died of liver failure in Pasadena, California, on 29 June 2025, at the age of 88.