Debra Maffett

{{Infobox person

|name = Debra Maffett

|image = MissAmerica1983.jpg

|alt =

|caption = Maffett and Ronald Letterman in 1983

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|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1956|11|09}}

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|education = University of Houston
Sam Houston State University
Lamar University

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|occupation =Television personality, producer, media consultant, speaker, songwriter, singer

|years_active =

|title = Miss California 1982
Miss America 1983

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|predecessor =Elizabeth Ward

|successor =Vanessa Williams

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|spouse = {{marriage| Buster Wilson| |2004|reason=deceased}}

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|children = 2

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|awards = Emmy Nomination Best Host{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

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Debra Sue Maffett (born November 9, 1956) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Cut and Shoot, Texas and was named Miss America 1983.[http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/Miss-America-Winners-List-from-1921-to-2012.php Miss America Fates and Fortunes] Retrieved 2018-04-14.

Early life and education

Maffett graduated from S.P. Waltrip High School in Houston, Texas, in 1975.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0535564/bio IMDB Biography of Debra Sue Maffett]

Pageantry

Although she competed in the Miss Texas pageant several years without winning, she moved to California and was subsequently crowned Miss California 1982.{{cite web |publisher=Miss California |title=Miss California History |url=http://www.misscalifornia.org/miss-california/history/ |access-date=August 21, 2014}} She represented California when she won the Miss America crown. Some controversy arose after it was revealed that Maffett underwent nasal surgery to correct her deviated septum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/09/15/Miss-America-had-surgery-to-correct-nose/8040400910400/|title = Miss America had surgery to correct nose}}

Career

Maffett served as a host on PM Magazine; NBC and CBS pilots; Guinness Book of World Records with David Frost; Alive and Well; TNN Country News; Hot, Hip and Country; Making Healthy Choices; and The Harvest Show.

In 1984, Maffett appeared as a panelist on several episodes of the Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour.

Maffett appeared in the episode of Matlock that aired December 1, 1987, entitled "The Network", as news anchor Terry McNeil.

Personal life

Maffett was married to singer Buster Wilson, until his death in 2004. Wilson had a daughter, Jenny (born 1990), from a previous relationship.{{cite web|first1=Michelle |last1=Tauber |first2=Mike |last2=Neill |first3=Lisa |last3=Russell |first4=Joanne|last4=Fowler |first5=Julie |last5=Dam |first6=Alex |last6=Tresniowski |first7=Samantha |last7=Miller |first8=Steve |last8=Dougherty |first9=Ting |last9=Yu |title= American Beauties: 80 Years |work= People |url=https://people.com/archive/american-beauties-80-years-vol-54-no-16/ |date=October 16, 2000}} Maffett gave birth to a son, Rydder, in 1996.