Kiah Duggins, Former Miss Kansas contestant and aspiring Howard law professor, Dies in DC plane crash
Kiah Duggins, a former Miss Kansas contestant, was among the victims of the Washington, D.C. plane crash.
Kiah Duggins, a 30-year-old civil rights attorney, Harvard Law graduate, and former Miss Kansas contestant, was one of the victims of the tragic plane crash that occurred in Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025.
She was traveling back to Washington, D.C., after visiting her mother in Wichita, Kansas, who had recently undergone surgery. Her sudden passing has left her family, friends, and colleagues mourning the loss of a promising legal mind dedicated to fighting for civil rights.
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Who was Kiah Duggins, one of the victims in DC plane crash?
Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Kiah Duggins attended Wichita East High School before earning her undergraduate degree from Wichita State University. She later pursued a law degree at Harvard Law School, where she served as President of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to public service.
Known for her passion for justice and advocacy, Duggins was a respected attorney at the Civil Rights Corps, where she worked on cases challenging unconstitutional policing and the money bail system.
“We are coming to terms with the grief associated with the loss of our beautiful and accomplished firstborn. Please respect our family’s privacy at this time,” her father Maurice Duggins said in a statement to the outlet.
Duggins’ sudden passing has deeply impacted those who knew her. Friends, family, and colleagues have expressed their grief, remembering her as a brave, kind-hearted, and determined advocate who worked tirelessly for justice.
"She was a brave and beautiful soul, a light in the fight for civil rights. Her loss is heartbreaking, not only for her family and friends, but for everyone who believes in justice and equality.” added former Sedgwick County Commissioner Lacey Cruse on her Facebook page.
Kiah was a top 10 finalist in 2014 and 2015 at the Miss Kansas Pageant. Photo: NewsNation.
Beauty pageant success in Kansas state
Beyond her academic and legal achievements, Duggins also competed in the Miss Butler County 2014-2015 pageant, where she finished among the top 10 contestants in the Miss Kansas competition. Her participation in pageants reflected her confidence, intelligence, and dedication to representing her community.
Larry Strong, former pageant director, wrote a statement saying that Duggins was flying to DC to"preparing to be a law professor at Howard University in the fall".
“It is with heavy heart that the Miss Augusta and Miss Butler County organization just learned that Kiah Duggins Miss Butler County 2014-2015 was a passenger in the plane that crashed last evening in Washington DC,” he wrote on a Facebook page.
“Keep the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
The cause of the plane crash is still under investigation, and authorities are working to determine what led to the tragedy. As the legal community mourns her loss, many are reflecting on her dedication to equality, her legal brilliance, and the future she had hoped to build.