Deidre Downs (born July 7, 1980), Miss America 2005, is an aspiring physician from Birmingham, Alabama. As part of her year of service as Miss America, she campaigned for Curing Childhood Cancer. For her talent, she sang a rendition of the ballad "I'm Afraid This Must Be Love". Downs succeeded Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap.

Downs attended Pelham High School in Pelham, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. She started as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia (where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority), becoming a member of the prestigious Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, before transferring to Samford University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history. She was a Rhodes Scholar finalist, and played volleyball while at Virginia. She plans to attend medical school at the University of Alabama after completing her reign.

External links

• "America Supports You: Miss America Breaks Bread With Soldiers", By Spc. Jonathan Montgomery, USA, American Forces Press Service

1980 births | Living people | Miss America winners | People from Birmingham, Alabama | Samford University people