Nancy Fleming

Nancy Anne Fleming (born May 20, 1942) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss America 1961 on September 10, 1960.

A native of Montague, Michigan, Fleming competed in the Miss America pageant as Miss Michigan. She competed in Miss Michigan as Miss White Lake.

She later worked in the entertainment industry, as a program host and interviewer for ABC-TV, Cable Health Network (now Lifetime) and PBS. She appeared in an episode of The Love Boat in 1984, along with Jean Bartel, Miss America, 1943; Marian McKnight, Miss America, 1957; and Vanessa Williams, Miss America, 1984.

She was married to radio and television personality Jim Lange (The Dating Game) from 1978 until his death in 2014.

She has two adult children from a previous marriage who share her passion for lifetime education. Her daughter, Ingrid, has a master's degree in psychology (Marriage and Family Counseling) and a law degree from University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and is an attorney practicing Family Law. Her son, Steig, received a Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology from the University of Texas, Austin, teaches at the University of Calgary and does research in Madagascar, Africa for the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments. In addition to her children, Fleming has three grandchildren, three stepchildren (Nick, Romney, and Gavin Lange) and two step-grandsons.

Now retired, Fleming remains active with community and political volunteer activities. Certified as a University of California Master Gardener in 1992, Fleming works on projects involving habitat restoration, school and community gardens and the promotion of non-toxic gardening alternatives. Ms. Fleming interests include hiking, reading, garden design, continuing education programs and travel. In preparation for a vacation in Italy, Fleming began studying Italian language, history and culture.

Fleming graduated from Michigan State University in 1964 and earned a teaching certificate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966. She is listed as one of Michigan State University's "Accomplished Women Graduates." During her freshman year at MSU, she lived in West Landon Hall on the North Campus, a dormitory for women. Her time at the school was sometimes troubled. Later, she said, "I felt like a freak at MSU. I had just been on television three days before and I entered with a lot of fanfare. There was a lot of weirdness and rudeness. I was pointed out and stared at. It was really creepy."