Jacquelyn Mayer was first crowned 'Miss Vacationland' (representing her native Sandusky and Lake Erie Islands region) in 1962, becoming the first ever winner of the crown. The contest allowed her to be eligible to compete in the Miss Ohio pageant later that year. On September 8, 1962, at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, she was crowned Miss America 1963.
Darryl F. Zanuck had moved to France in 1956 to concentrate on independent producing and would return to control 20th Century-Fox in 1962, making his son, Richard D. Zanuck, head of production.