Desiree Washington is a former beauty pageant contestant who became a household name in 1991 after accusing world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson of sexual assault. Her accusation led to Tyson's conviction and a prison sentence. Desiree has lived privately ever since.
Coventry High School; Providence College (psychology)
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Desiree Washington was born in 1973 in Coventry, Rhode Island. Her parents are Donald Washington and Mary Belle Silva Washington. Donald worked as a bookkeeper, and Mary as a personnel specialist.
She grew up in Rhode Island with her two siblings, Don Jr. Washington and Dorrae Washington. At school, her classmates voted her the friendliest and most talkative in her class.
For secondary school, she attended Coventry High School. She went on to study psychology at Providence College. She dreamed of becoming an attorney or politician after graduating.
Washington showed an early passion for modelling and beauty pageants. In 1991, aged 18, she won the Miss Black Rhode Island title, which qualified her to compete in the Miss Black America pageant. That year's Miss Black America winner was Sharmell Sullivan from Gary, Indiana.
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