By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing editor
A free concert, presented by the Greater Brewton Area Council on the Arts and the Finlay Foundation, was held on the campus of Jefferson Davis Community College.
Miss Downs was joined by current Miss Alabama, Alexa Jones of Andalusia, former Miss Alabama and Brewton native, Catherine Crosby, as well as several runners-up in the Miss Alabama contest.
Miss Downs has traveled to 35 states to promote her platform, curing childhood cancer.
Miss Downs, who has been accepted to the University of Alabama School of Medicine, has been encouraging individuals to help fund child cancer research. As a way to help fund child cancer research, Miss Downs displayed a new car tag she developed, in which proceeds will go toward pediatric research.
The tags can be purchased at local tag offices.
At the age of 10, Miss Downs was the only female on the baseball team, where she was a third baseman and pitcher. As a child, she said she was very shy and didn't compete in her first pageant until she was a senior in high school.
During a question and answer period, several children gathered on the stage to ask Miss Downs a question.
Miss Downs told audience members her favorite cartoon was &#8221Scooby-Doo,“ her mother has inspired her the most, she does not have a boyfriend but has a guy friend that could possibly become a boyfriend, her most embarrassing moment was when she tripped on stage but redeemed herself and her most memorable experience as Miss America is getting to &#8221visit all the children's hospitals