Debbye Turner

Not to be confused with Debbie Turner.

Debbye Turner
File:Debbye Turner headshot.png
Born	(1965-09-19) September 19, 1965 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Ethnicity	African American
Alma mater	Arkansas State University University of Missouri
Occupation	Veterinarian and talk show host
Title	Miss Missouri 1989 Miss America 1990
Predecessor	Gretchen Carlson
Successor	Marjorie Vincent
Website	www.debbyeturner.com

Debbye Turner Bell (born September 19, 1965 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is an American TV anchor, veterinarian, talk show host, former beauty queen and winner of the 1990 Miss America pageant three days before her 24th birthday.

Debbye Turner, raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas, was 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 the Miss Missouri title and went on to win the 1990 Miss America crown. Turner was the third African-American national titleholder and the first, and only (as of July 1, 2013) Miss Missouri to be crowned Miss America.

Turner earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree from Arkansas State University, and attended the University of Missouri. Turner also spent a couple of years honing her public service skills working for Safeway Stores. In 1991, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. She became a spokesperson for Purina and pursued a career in veterinary medicine before going into television.

Turner's first hosting job came at St. Louis' NBC affiliate KSDK, on a show called Show Me St. Louis in 1995. Six years later, Turner joined CBS News as a feature correspondent then became their "resident veterinarian" and a fill-in anchor. Turner was also a fill-in anchor on the CBS Morning News. Turner left CBS in 2012. She's currently the host of Arise America, on Arise News.

She has also appeared on Animal Planet's Cats 101 and Dogs 101 series.

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. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Debbye Turner's older sister, Suzette Turner, is married to Houston megachurch pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell.

External links

• Turner's official website
• Debbye's Arise News Twitter
• Turner biography at The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Gretchen Carlson	Miss America 1990	Succeeded by Marjorie Vincent
Preceded by Heather Smith	Miss Missouri 1989	Succeeded by Pat Meusburger
Preceded by Melissa Aggeles	National Sweetheart 1988	Succeeded by Mairead O'Connor