Allyn Rose, who will represent Washington, D.C. next year in the Miss America pageant, will undergo a preventative double mastectomy.
Rose learned that she carries the same rare chromosomal disease her mother passed away from, reports People.
"The idea that I could wake up one day and not have the same body that I did the day before is very scary. But I also realize my mom was diagnosed at 27. That's three years away from me. I'm not going to let my fear of losing this part of my femininity stop me from living," she explained to People.
Rose is not the only famous person to undergo this procedure. According to E! News, Sharon Osbourne, actress Kathy Bates and E!'s Giuliana Rancic all had a double mastectomy this year.
If Rose were to win the pageant she says the procedure will have to wait until January 2014 after her duties are completed but if she doesn't win she plans on having the procedure next June once she completes her local duties.
"Title holders across the country get an opportunity to speak to their generation and have something they can advocate. Being in the industry and competing in the most iconic swimsuit competition in the world, I thought to myself, 'If I were to win and have this surgery a year from now, would I be a different Miss America because I lost my breast?' No," Rose revealed.
The Miss America pageant will air on January 12 live on ABC.
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