The Heartbreaking Death Of HSN Star Marilyn Miglin
Fans of the Home Shopping Network (HSN) are mourning the loss of Marilyn Miglin, who passed away from undisclosed causes at the age of 83. "We are heartbroken to share the very sad news that Marilyn passed away yesterday, Monday, March 14, 2022," her family shared on her website. "She was at home and surrounded by her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her but her spirit will stay with all of us."
Born in the Czech Republic in 1938, Miglin moved to the United States as an adult, and was a model and dancer before launching her own Chicago-based beauty company with signature products in 1963 (via the Daily Mail). Marilyn Miglin Cosmetics boasted 36 fragrances and perfumes, and was eventually valued at $50 million. She also served as a host on HSN for more than 25 years, earning her the nickname "The Queen of Makeovers," according to TMZ.
Miglin married her real estate developer husband, Lee Miglin, when she was 20 years old. Tragedy struck, however, when he was murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan on May 4, 1997, with Cunanan's killing spree also claiming the life of fashion designer Gianni Versace. "I don't think you heal — you never close up that gaping wound — but you adjust," Miglin told the Chicago Tribune one year after her husband's death. "I lived the life of a fairy princess and I had a prince for 38 years, and then one day my prince went to war and didn't come back."
Marilyn Miglin stayed strong even after a heartbreaking loss
While Marilyn Miglin is best known for her beauty empire and HSN hosting duties, she was also an activist who served on Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's special committee on tourism, as an officer of the Chicago Convention, on the State of Illinois Board of Economic Development, and on the board of directors of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to her website. Under her leadership, the Oak Street Council in Chicago raised more than $1 million to preserve and promote the area, leading the city to rename its shopping district "Marilyn Miglin Way." In addition, she advocated for burn survivors, and the Raoul Wallenberg Pediatric Day Hospital in Jerusalem dedicated a burn and disfigurement unit to her in June 1998.
Miglin leaves behind two children, Duke and Marlena (via the Daily Mail). And even when she and her kids suffered the unimaginable loss of her husband, Lee Miglin, Miglin was determined to be a source of strength for her family. "I know that there is a beginning and an end for everyone," she told the Chicago Tribune. "Now, why this way? Why us? That I don't know... But I am grateful for what we had. We lived life to the fullest, we climbed all the mountains. We didn't just talk about it, we did it — and that is what has sustained me."