Deidre Downs

Deidre Downs
Deidre Downs at the Jimmy Carter Work Project June, 2005
Born	July 7, 1980 Alabama, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Virginia Samford University University of Alabama School of Medicine
Occupation	Resident physician in obstetrics and gynecology
Employer	University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center
Title	Miss Alabama 2004, Miss America 2005
Term	September 18, 2004 - January 21, 2006
Predecessor	Ericka Dunlap
Successor	Jennifer Berry

Deidre Downs (born July 7, 1980) is an American physician and former beauty pageant titleholder. Downs was Miss America 2005 and Miss Alabama 2004.^[1][2][3]

Downs initially attended the University of Virginia on a volleyball scholarship. She later attended Samford University^[4] and earned scholarship money through pageants. After her term as Miss America, she began medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. She changed her name to Deidre Downs Gunn when she married Andrew Gunn, a high school teacher in 2008.^[5] "She is currently a chief resident physician in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alabama Medical Center."^[6]

Downs is the only titleholder to reign for part of three calendar years. The pageant, traditionally held in September, was delayed four months to allow the Miss America Organization to secure a TV deal. Her successor, Jennifer Berry of Oklahoma, was crowned as Miss America 2006 on January 21, 2006.

References

1. "Downs wins Miss Alabama, Camper first runner-up". The Gadsden Times (Gadsden, AL). June 13, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
2. "Miss Alabama Deidre Downs wins Miss America". USA Today. September 18, 2014.
3. "Miss Alabama". Miss America. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
4. Deidre Downs: Samford's Miss America Charts Medical Future
5. Official website
6. The 2014 Miss America National Judges Panel Announced

External links