1. Deidre Downs's transfer resulted in her losing her scholarship, so she began competing in local pageants to earn scholarship money.
16 Facts About Deidre Downs
1. 2.
Deidre Downs was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in 2002.
3.
Deidre Downs received her Doctor of Medicine in 2010 and then completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the UAB Medical Center in 2014.
4.
Deidre Downs continued her education at the UAB Medical Center and completed her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility in 2017.
5.
Deidre Downs competed in her high school's pageants and won her senior year.
6.
Deidre Downs first entered the Miss Alabama pageant scene in 2000 and was named third runner-up at the 2001 and 2002 pageants and first runner-up at Miss Alabama 2003 pageant.
7.
Deidre Downs was named Miss Leeds Area 2004, making her eligible to compete at the Miss Alabama 2004 pageant.
8.
Deidre Downs won the competition in June 2004, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Alabama titleholder, Catherine Crosby.
9.
Deidre Downs was Alabama's representative at the Miss America 2005 competition held in Atlantic City, New Jersey in September 2004.
10.
Deidre Downs then beat out Dupont after a head-to-head talent competition for the 2005 title and was crowned by Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, on September 18,2004.
11.
Deidre Downs was the third Miss Alabama titleholder to win the Miss America title.
12.
Deidre Downs later stated that she received nearly $110,000 in scholarship money during the five years she competed in the Miss Alabama and Miss America organizations.
13.
Deidre Downs is the only titleholder to reign for part of three calendar years.
14.
Deidre Downs remarried in 2018 in a private ceremony at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama.
15.
Deidre Downs's wife, Abbott Jones, is an attorney and writer.
16.
Deidre Downs is the first former Miss America national titleholder to enter a same-sex marriage.