ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Deidre Downs, a Rhodes Scholar finalist who put off medical school for a year to fulfill the duties of Miss Alabama, won a talent showdown Saturday night to be crowned Miss America 2005.
In a dramatic face-off between the top two contestants, Miss Alabama sang her way to the title over dancer Jennifer Dupont, Miss Louisiana.
Wearing a midriff-baring white formal gown, Downs smiled and waved her way down the runway — carrying roses and balancing her new crown — as Clay Aiken sang "There She Is, Miss America."
The new Miss America is a 24-year-old graduate of Samford University who wants to be a pediatrician. She has been accepted to the University of Alabama School of Medicine.
"Singing has always been a hobby," she said, while her professional goal has been to practice medicine. Her secret wish is to become U.S. surgeon general.
Seeking the suspense of an "American Idol," the last two surviving contestants faced off in the talent showdown. But the seven judges said the outcome was determined by an array of factors — everything from "poise" and "fitness" in a bathing suit to eloquence in impromptu interviews.
"Miss America might not be tops in any single category, but scores very, very high in all of them," explained judge Kellye Cash, Miss America 1987.
Despite the culling of Miss Georgia and Miss Texas from the Top Ten, the Final Five had a definite Southern accent — consisting of Misses Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Arkansas. Only Miss California was from outside of Dixie.
Utah was represented by Amy Davis.
In an attempt to bolster viewership, the show was cut back this year. Most of the 52 contestants became props shortly after their introductions, as the top 10 were quickly announced in a program that lasted two hours rather than the traditional three.
And bikinis were considerably skimpier than in past years for the finalists who were chosen to show skin, smile and sashay before the national TV audience. Despite winning a preliminary swimsuit competition, Miss Louisiana had earlier said she was embarrassed at first having to model the skimpy bikini in front of her father.
"Ladies, the reality of this situation — for 42 of you, this competition is about to end," said host Chris Harrison.
During a commercial break, the contestants jumped up and down nervously and hugged each other as they awaited their fate. The 42 who didn't make the cut would reappear later in the background of the swimsuit competition.
While Aiken, an "American Idol" runner-up, provided musical entertainment, the master of ceremonies was Harrison, normally host of a reality series, "The Bachelor."
Saturday night's broadcast marked the 50th live crowning of Miss America. In one of the highest TV ratings ever achieved at the time, about 27 million viewers watched California's Lee Meriwether win the 1955 title in that initial broadcast. Last year, however, only about 10.3 million viewers tuned in to the Miss America contest.
Harrison said the pageant is the "longest-running special event in television history."