Miss Alabama Deidre Downs walked the runway as Miss America 2005 Saturday night in Atlantic City's historic Boardwalk Hall. Her walk down the runway marked her first steps on a journey that will take her from spotlight to spotlight, coast to coast, traveling approximately 20,000 miles each month during her upcoming year of service.

Downs, 24, a resident of Birmingham, will begin medical studies at the University of Alabama School of Medicine next year. She was a Rhodes Scholar Finalist and an Echols Scholar at University of Virginia, from which she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's in history.

An aspiring pediatrician, she will spend the next year working towards increasing awareness and community action towards her Miss America Platform, Curing Childhood Cancer.

With the title, Downs won a $50,000 scholarship to continue her education. She was crowned Miss America during final competition, airing live from Atlantic City on ABC television. She took the crown after a dramatic head-to-head talent competition, showcasing tonight's top two finalists. Downs performed the ballad "I'm Afraid This Must Be Love," to clinch victory - after a full week of preliminary competition in Atlantic City.

The other finalist was Miss Louisiana Jennifer Dupont, who earned a $40,000 scholarship as first runner-up after a jazz dance performance to "Life of the Party." Dupont is an elementary education graduate of Louisiana State University planning to pursue a master's in education.

Second runner-up honors and a $30,000 award went to Miss North Carolina Kirstin Elrod of Cary. Miss Arkansas Lacy Fleming of Hampton took home a $25,000 award as third runner-up. Miss California Veena Goel of Laguna Hills earned a $20,000 scholarship as fourth runner-up.

Downs was also honored earlier in the week when she won the 2004 Quality of Life Award and a $6,000 scholarship for her work creating Alabama's Making Miracles Program, designed to raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer in children.

Deidre Downs came to Atlantic City a hopeful contestant representing the state of Alabama. Her life has taken a dramatic change as she begins her term as Miss America 2005 with a series of events and public appearances in New York.

Her 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.

An aspiring pediatrician, Downs has already spent many hours on her platform issue in her home state, creating the Making Miracles Program to raise awareness and research funds in the fight against cancer in children.