Miss America 2005, Deidre Downs

Last night, Alabama's Deidre Downs was crowned Miss America 2005. For a play-by-play of the 50th telecast of the pageant, go to:

Miss America 2005 is Alabama's Deidre Downs, a Twenty-Four Year-Old Pre-Med Student

Who is she?

Deidre Downs is a model of perseverance. A good example of her persistence is that she has competed in the Miss Alabama contest since 2000. Prior to winning the Miss Alabama crown in this year, she was first runner up '03, third runner up '02 and third runner up '01.

Deidre Downs In The Swimsuit Competition

Here is the profile Ms. Downs submitted to the Miss America Organization this past July, the day before her twenty-fourth birthday:

NAME: Deidre Downs

AGE & DATE OF BIRTH: 24 – July 7, 1980

TITLE: Miss Alabama

HOMETOWN: Birmingham, Alabama

EDUCATION:

University of Alabama School of Medicine – deferred admission, 2005; Samford University – Bachelor of Arts, History; University of Virginia; Pelham High School

PLATFORM ISSUE: Curing Childhood Cancer

SCHOLASTIC AMBITION: Obtain a Medical Degree

CAREER AMBITION: Become a Pediatrician

TALENT: Vocal

SCHOLASTIC HONORS:

Rhodes Scholar Finalist;
Magna cum laude graduate;
University of Virginia Echols Scholar and Intermediate Honors

LOCAL COMPETITION SPONSOR:

Miss Leeds Area

STATE COMPETITION SPONSOR:

Miss Alabama Scholarship Pageant, Inc.

THREE NOUNS THAT CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF:

1 Future Pediatrician
2 History Buff
3 Volleyball Player

Downs' first week as Miss America sets the tone for the year ahead, as she will log approximately 20,000 miles each month as she works to raise awareness of her Curing Childhood Cancer before scores of reporters, policymakers, community leaders - and millions of fans and admirers from coast to coast.

MISS AMERICA'S FIRST WEEK'S SCHEDULE

Monday

A live television interview with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer on NBC's Today at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Appearance on ABC's LIVE with Regis & Kelly, which airs at 9:00 a.m. ET.

First press conference in New York City at Hotel InterContinental, The Barclay at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Taping of a segment for The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC (which is slated to air Wednesday, September 22 at 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. ET, and again on Sunday, September 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET).

Tuesday

Live appearance on the CBS Early Show at 8:30 a.m. ET

Live interview on ABC with former Miss America show host, Tony Danza on the new The Tony Danza Show at 10:00 a.m. ET

Appearance at a luncheon for New York City foster children at Planet Hollywood

Traditional reading of the Top Ten List on The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS (which is scheduled to air on Friday night at 11:30 p.m. ET).

Wednesday-Friday

In New York for corporate meetings

This Weekend

Appearances at the NASCAR Weekend at Dover International Speedway in Delaware

Her yearlong reign has the opportunity to net up to $200,000 in appearance fees.

To help her win, she had the support of her family. For instance, her father, David, escorted her during the evening gown competition. In addition to support from other family members and friends, she had an interview coach, a personal trainer, a vocal coach, a wardrobe consultant, a tanning salon, a dentist and a dermatologist.

On Tuesday before the pageant, Downs won the 2004 Quality of Life Award.

Her platform and community service project is fighting against childhood cancer. Among her numerous fund raising efforts was the creation of a Curing Childhood Cancer license plate. She is credited with raising more than $100,000 in the past year. In addition to the $50,000 scholarship she received last night after winning the entire competition, she received an additional $6,000 for having won the Quality of Life Award.

Her passion to help kids with cancer was ignited when she visited Camp Smile-a-Mile, a Birmingham summer camp for children with cancer. That experience inspired her to volunteer at the Children's Hospital of Alabama Cancer Unit. Seeing the positive effect working with the children and families had on herself, she created Making Miracles as a means for high school students to volunteer to work directly with childhood cancer patients.

The more she learned about pediatric cancer, the more she realized that research funding would be the key to making strides in treatment, detection and prevention. This understanding led her to shift the focus on Making Miracles from volunteerism to establishing a permanent funding source for research.

Her creativity and innovation paid off in the form of Alabama's Curing Childhood Cancer license plate. Downs both designed the plate and worked diligently with the health care community, state legislature and the media to bring the program to fruition.

Today, every $50 Curing Childhood Cancer license plate sold in Alabama adds $41.25 to fund research in the fight against childhood cancer.

Downs delayed entering medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for one year so that she could fulfill the duties of Miss Alabama. Now, she has a nationwide role to fill.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful living - with a cause!

~ Jennifer King