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Debbye Turner | |
|---|---|
 Turner in 1990 | |
| Born | (1965-09-19)September 19, 1965 (age 60) Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Alma mater | Arkansas State University University of Missouri |
| Occupation(s) | Veterinarian, talk show host, pastor |
| Title | Miss Missouri 1989 Miss America 1990 |
| Predecessor | Gretchen Carlson |
| Successor | Marjorie Vincent |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Debrah Lynn 'Debbye' Turner Bell (born September 19, 1965 inHonolulu, Hawaii) is an Americantelevision anchor,veterinarian,talk show host, former beauty queen and winner of the 1990Miss America pageant.
Turner was born inHonolulu, Hawaii and raised inJonesboro, Arkansas. Turner earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture fromArkansas State University, and attended theUniversity of Missouri. She is a member ofAlpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Turner also spent a couple of years honing her public service skills working for Safeway Stores.
In 1991, she received herDoctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.[1] She became a spokesperson for Purina and pursued a career in veterinary medicine before going into television.
Turner was the first runner-up at the Miss Arkansas Pageant, a state preliminary competition for the Miss America program in 1988.
In the summer of 1989, she won theMiss Missouri title and went on to win the 1990Miss America crown. Turner is a singer, pianist, and skilled percussionist, evidenced by her marimba rendition of '"Flight of the Bumblebee"' in the talent portion of the 1990 Miss America contest. Turner was the thirdAfrican-American national titleholder and the first—and as of 2019, the only—Miss Missouri to be crowned Miss America.[2]
Turner's first hosting job came at theSt. LouisNBC affiliateKSDK, on a show calledShow Me St. Louis in 1995.[3]
Six years later, Turner joinedCBS News as a feature correspondent then became their "resident veterinarian" and a fill-in anchor. Turner was also a fill-in anchor on theCBS Morning News. Turner left CBS in 2012. She has appeared onAnimal Planet'sCats 101 andDogs 101 series. She was the host ofArise America, onArise News. She is currently the Leadership and discipleship leader[4] at Kentwood Community Church, located in Grand Rapids Michigan.
Turner is the daughter ofFrederick C. Turner, Jr. and Gussie Turner.[5] Turner married Gerald Bell in 2008. The couple has a daughter.[6]
Turner's older sister, Suzette, is married tomegachurch pastor,Kirbyjon Caldwell.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Miss America 1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Heather Smith | Miss Missouri 1989 | Succeeded by Pat Meusburger |
| Preceded by Melissa Aggeles | National Sweetheart 1988 | Succeeded by Mairead O'Connor |