Former Miss Kansas Contestant And Aspiring Howard University Law Professor Identified As Victim In D.C Plane Crash!

Noir Nation, please join us in sending our deepest condolences and prayers to the family and friends of former Miss Kansas contestant and attorney Kiah Duggins!

According to a statement from Howard University, Kiah was identified as one of the American Airlines and Black Hawk helicopter midair collision victims in Washington, D.C. Kiah had been traveling from Witcha, “preparing to be a law professor at Howard University in the fall,” reads a statement from her pageant director, Larry Strong in a published Facebook post.

“It is with heavy heart that the Miss Augusta and Miss Butler County organization just learned that Kiah Duggins Miss Butler County 2014 (and) 2015 was a passenger in the plane that crashed last evening in Washington DC.”

“Keep the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”

According to reports from the NY Post, Kiah was a civil rights attorney with the non-profit Civil Rights Corp.

Kiah earned her law degree from Harvard University, “where she served as the president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau,” reports the NY Post.

She also received multiple bachelor’s degrees from Wichita State University and “completed a Fulbright grant in Taiwan” before work in the nation’s capital as an intern for the Obama administration.

“It is with profound sadness that the Howard University School of Law and the broader Howard University community have learned of the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins, who was among those lost in the the mid-air plane collision at Reagan National Airport,” reads a statement from Howard University shared on Instagram.

“Professor Duggins was set to begin a new chapter as a professor at Howard University School of Law this fall.”

The statement continues, “As a civil rights lawyer, she dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C.”

“We ask for privacy and respect for Professor Duggins’ family. students. and colleagues during this difficult time.”