Miss Tennessee

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Tennessee USA.

The Miss Tennessee competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss America Scholarship Competition.

Miss Tennessee

Formation	1922
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Nashville
Location	Tennessee
Membership	Miss America
Official language	English
Website	Official website

Carley Jaymes Vogel of Murfreesboro was crowned Miss Tennessee 2024 on June 22, 2024, at the Martin Center for the Arts in Johnson City, Tennessee. She competed for Miss America in January of 2025. She was a preliminary talent winner and was 2nd Runner-Up to Miss America.

History

The Miss Tennessee pageant was first held in 1938, although the winner, Isobel Carter, was unable to compete at Miss America due to illness and so the 1st runner-up became Miss Tennessee. The following year, two winners were chosen to compete for the Miss America title. In 1940 the pageant suffered a repeat of 1938, with the winner resigning through illness and the 1st runner-up representing the state at the national competition. The routine pageant was held in 1941, but from 1942 to 1946 representatives were appointed without a pageant being held, due to World War II. In 1947 twins Jean and Jane Cunningham were both awarded Tennessee titles, with one representing Tennessee and one Chattanooga at the Miss America pageant. The modern era of the pageant can be dated to 1953, when a regular routine of state pageants was instituted.

Barbara Jo Walker was crowned Miss America 1947 and represented the city of Memphis when she won the title. Kellye Cash, Miss America 1987, was the second woman from Tennessee to win the national title. All three Miss Tennessees from 1999 to 2001 later won the similar Miss Tennessee USA pageant, whose delegates represent Tennessee at the Miss USA pageant. Three other Miss Tennessees have won the Miss Tennessee USA title, Jean Harper, Desiree Daniels, and Leah Hulan. Two Miss Tennessees have won the National Sweetheart title, Rita Wilson and Vicki Hurd.

In the fall of 2018, the Miss America Organization terminated the former Miss Tennessee organization's license as well as licenses from Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.^[1][2] On December 22, 2018, Miss America Awarded a new license for Tennessee naming Joe Albright as CEO; Lanna Keck-Smith, Miss Tennessee 1997, as executive director; and Caty Davis, Miss Tennessee 2017, as the Chief People Officer.

Gallery of Winners

• 
  Linda Workman,
  Miss Tennessee 1967
• 
  Kellye Cash,
  Miss Tennessee 1986 and Miss America 1987
• 
  Stefanie Wittler,
  Miss Tennessee 2009

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Tennessee titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements

• Miss Americas: Barbara Jo Walker (Miss Memphis) (1947), Kellye Cash (1987)
• 1st runners-up: Desiree Daniels (1983)
• 2nd runners-up: Vicki Hurd (1967), Dana Brown (1991), Stephanie Culberson (2002), Stefanie Wittler (2010), Carley Jaymes Vogel (2025)
• 3rd runners-up: Martha Truett (1964)
• Top 7: Ellen Carrington (2009), Hannah Robison (2016)
• Top 10: Gerry Johnson (1955), Marion "Mickey" Wayland (1960), Brenda Seal (1969), Deborah Kincaid (1975), Linda Moore (1978), Shelly Mangrum (1985), Erin Hatley (2012), Chandler Lawson (2013), Hayley Lewis (2015), Grace Burgess (2017)
• Top 12: Caty Davis (2018)
• Top 13: Lee Henson (1945)
• Top 15: Georgia Cunningham (1947), Lois Jeanette Welch (1948), Jean Harper (1952)
• Top 16: Grace Gore (2008)

Awards

Preliminary awards

• Preliminary Evening Gown: Stephanie Culberson (2002)
• Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Lee Henson (1945), Linda Moore (1978), Desiree Daniels (1983), Kellye Cash (1987), Stephanie Culberson (2002), Brandee Mills (2024)
• Preliminary Talent: Barbara Jo Walker (Miss Memphis) (1947), Dorothy Free (1948), Deborah Kincaid (1975), Kellye Cash (1987), Grace Burgess (2017) Carly Jaymes Vogel (2025)

Non-finalist awards

• Non-finalist Interview: Alison Shumate (1996)
• Non-finalist Talent: Mary Cox (1970), Elise Neal (1980), Moira Kaye (1984), Carrie Folks (1989), Beth Hood (2001), Ashley Eicher (2005), Tara Burns (2006)

Other awards

• Miss Congeniality: N/A
• America's Choice: Hannah Robison (2016)
• Intercity Beauty Award Second Prize: Sue Burton (1922)
• Evening Dress Award: Elizabeth Mallory (1923)
• Equity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalists: Brianna Mason (2020)
• Forever Miss America Scholarship: Tally Bevis (2022)
• Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Hannah Robison (2016)
• Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Chandler Lawson (2013)
• Quality of Life Award Finalists: Heather Heath (1999), Grace Gore (2008) Stefanie Wittler (2010), Grace Burgess (2017), Christine Williamson (2019)
• Roller Chair Parade Second Prize: Elizabeth Mallory (1923)
• STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Hannah Robison (2016)
• Top Fundraiser 3rd runner-up: Tally Bevis (2022)
• Waterford Scholarship for Business in Marketing and Management: Allison Alderson (2000)
• Women in Business 2nd runner-up: Tally Bevis (2022)
• Women in Business Scholarship Award Finalists: Christine Williamson (2019)

Winners

•   Declared as winner
•   Ended as a runner-up
•   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist

Year	Name	Hometown	Age	Local Title	Miss America Talent	Placement at Miss America	Special scholarships at Miss America	Notes
2024	Carley Jaymes Vogel	Murfreesboro]] / Kennesaw, Georgia	24	Miss Music City	Vocal	2nd Runner-up	Preliminary Talent Award	She is the daughter of Miss Georgia-USA 1985, Amanda Smith Vogel
2023	Brandee Mills	Nashville	25	Miss Middle Tennessee	Dance		Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
2022	Lauren Dickson	Parsons	24	Miss Lexington	Vocal
2021	Tally Bevis[3]	Springfield	24	Miss Nashville	Vocal, Here You Come Again by Dolly Parton, Piano Accompaniment.		Forever Miss America Scholarship Top Fundraiser 4th Place Women in Business 2nd runner-up
2019–20[a]	Brianna Mason[6]	Nashville	23	Miss Greene County	Piano, "Piano Fantasy" by William Joseph		Equity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalist[7]	First African-American to win Miss Tennessee[8]
2018	Christine Electra Williamson[9]	Chattanooga	22	Miss Chattanooga	Vocal, "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman		Quality of Life Award Finalist[10] Women in Business Scholarship Finalist[10]*The First Miss TN to be named a finalist for this award *Only contestant to be named a finalist for 2 Awards at the Miss America National Competition	Cut ties with Miss America Organization but did not formally resign on May 10, 2019. Williamson's statement she released included claiming adverse circumstances, "blatant disregard" for her role as a titleholder, and an "ill-conceived" leadership transition after the state organization was terminated in September 2018. She retained the title she earned as Miss Tennessee 2018 as the change of leadership did not apply to her earning the title.[11] Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee USA 2021
2017	Caty Davis[12]	Knoxville	22	Miss Lexington	Vocal, "I Have Nothing"	Top 12[13]
2016	Grace Burgess[14]	Memphis	22	Miss Mid-South	Vocal, "Desperado" by The Eagles	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award[15] Quality of Life Award Finalist[16]	Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
2015	Hannah Robison[17]	Paris	21	Miss Scenic City	Piano, "El Cumbanchero" by Rafael Hernández Marín	Top 7[18]	America's Choice[19] Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up STEM Scholarship Award	Previously 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2012[citation needed]
2014	Hayley Lewis[20]	Nashville	21	Miss Tennessee Valley	Vocal, "I (Who Have Nothing)"	Top 10
2013	Shelby Thompson	Franklin	23	Miss Capital City	Vocal, "Con te partirò"			1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2008[citation needed]
2012	Chandler Lawson[21]	Tullahoma	22	Miss Chattanooga	Vocal, "Turning Tables"	Top 10[22]	Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up[23]	Contestant at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant
2011	Erin Hatley[24]	Bartlett	20	Miss Collierville	Classical Vocal, "Memory" from Cats	Top 10		1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee USA 2016 and 2017 pageants[citation needed]
2010	Nicole Jordan[25]	Cordova	21	Miss Lexington	Vocal, "All by Myself"
2009	Stefanie Wittler[26]	Soddy-Daisy	22	Miss Hamilton County	Vocal, "I Will Always Love You"	2nd runner-up[27]	Quality of Life Award Finalist
2008	Ellen Carrington	Jackson	21	Miss Scenic City	Vocal, "Vole Mon Ange" from Svengali	Top 7
2007	Grace Gore	Nashville	24	Miss Lexington	Vocal, "What a Wonderful Day"	Top 16	Quality of Life Award Finalist	Previously Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2002[citation needed]
2006	Blaire Pancake	Chattanooga	24	Miss Metropolitan	Vocal, "Attitude"			Previously 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2000[citation needed]
2005	Tara Burns	Nashville	22	Miss Music City	Classical Vocal, "Art Is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress by Victor Herbert		Non-finalist Talent Award
2004	Ashley Eicher		24	Miss Murfreesboro	Vocal, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"		Non-finalist Talent Award
2003	Jamie Watkins	Soddy-Daisy	23	Miss Scenic City	Vocal, "If I Can Dream"			4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2001 pageant
2002	Valli Kugler	Rutherford	22	Miss UT Martin	Vocal, "At Last"
2001	Stephanie Culberson	Knoxville	21	Miss Cleveland	Classical Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu	2nd runner-up	Preliminary Evening Wear Award Preliminary Swimsuit Award	Later Miss Tennessee USA 2004 4th runner-up at Miss USA 2004 pageant
2000	Beth Hood	Cleveland	21	Miss Cleveland	Vocal, "Desperado"		Non-finalist Talent Award	Later Miss Tennessee USA 2003 4th runner-up at Miss USA 2003 pageant
1999	Allison Alderson	Jackson	22	Miss Memphis	Piano / Vocal Medley, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" & "River Deep – Mountain High"		Waterford Scholarship for Business Marketing & Management	Triple Crown winner Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1994 Top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1994 pageant Later Miss Tennessee USA 2002 Married to Rascal Flatts musician, Jay DeMarcus[citation needed] Sister of Miss District of Columbia USA 1999, Amy Alderson
1998	Heather Heath	Nashville	21	Miss Heart of Tennessee	Vocal, "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera		Quality of Life Award Finalist	Previously Missouri's Junior Miss 1995
1997	Lanna Keck	Knoxville	23	Miss Milan No-Till	Gospel Vocal, "Go Light Your World"
1996	Jeni Stephens	Memphis	23	Miss Memphis	Popular Vocal, "Operator"
1995	Alison Shumate	Union City	21	Miss Knoxville	Vocal Medley, "Crazy for You" & "I Got Rhythm"		Non-finalist Interview Award	Daughter of Miss Tennessee 1967, Linda Workman
1994	Lori Smith	Ocoee	21	Miss Tennessee Tech	Piano, "The Firefly" by Anton Bilotti
1993	Kathleen Brang	Greeneville	24	Miss Historic Jonesborough	Popular Vocal, "Dare to Dream"
1992	Leah Hulan	Murfreesboro	24	Miss Knoxville	Clogging, "Can't Stop Now"			Later Miss Tennessee USA 1994
1991	Jill Horn	Memphis	23	Miss Memphis	Vocal, "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever"
1990	Dana Brown	Memphis	25	Miss Frontier Days	Vocal & Piano, "The Glory of Love" & "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby"	2nd runner-up
1989	Lisa Robertson	Collegedale	23	Miss Cleveland	Violin, "Orange Blossom Special"
1988	Carrie Folks	New Johnsonville	20	Miss Bluegrass Festival	A capella Vocal, "Sweet Dreams"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1987	Regina Athnos	Clarksville	23	Miss Tennessee Peach Festival	Flute Medley, "I'll Fly Away" & "Amazing Grace"
1986	Kris Beasley	Memphis		Miss Memphis		Did not compete; later assumed the title after Cash won Miss America 1987
	Kellye Cash	Milan	21	Miss Milan Crown and Scepter	Piano / Vocal, "I'll Be Home"	Winner	Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award	Mother of Miss Virginia 2021, Tatum Shepard[28]
1985	Sonya Pleasant	Mountain City	22	Miss Wautauga Valley	Vocal, "I Fall to Pieces"
1984	Shelly Mangrum	Nashville	23	Miss West Tennessee State Fair	Vocal, "And the World Goes 'Round"	Top 10
1983	Moira Alice Kaye	Oak Ridge	23	Miss Roane County	Vocal, "Memory" from Cats		Non-finalist Talent Award
1982	Desiree Daniels	Chattanooga	22	Miss Hamilton County	Popular Vocal, "Don't Cry Out Loud"	1st runner-up	Preliminary Swimsuit Award	Later Miss Tennessee USA 1984, 2nd runner-up at Miss USA 1984 pageant
1981	Angelina Johnson	Jackson	20	Miss Madison	Ventriloquism, "Laverne & Shirley"
1980	Sarah Leonard	Jonesborough	20	Miss Historic Jonesborough	Popular Vocal, "We Could Have Had it All"
1979	Elise Neal	Paris	21	Miss Okra	Piano, "Prelude in C minor" by Rachmaninoff		Non-finalist Talent Award
1978	Jill Beshears	Memphis	22	Miss Memphis State University	Vocal Medley, "You'll Never Walk Alone" & "Climb Ev'ry Mountain"
1977	Linda Moore	Madison	22	Miss Nashville	Vocal, "Evening Gowns Are not for Children"	Top 10	Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1976	Terry Alden	Memphis	21	Miss Memphis	Classical Piano, "Toccata"
1975	Marion Burgess		21	Miss Bells	Tap Dance, "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die"
1974	Deborah Kincaid	Memphis	21	Miss Memphis State University	Vocal Medley, "Once in a Lifetime," "In my own Lifetime," & "This Is My Life"	Top 10	Preliminary Talent Award
1973	Anne Randle Galloway	Knoxville	20	Miss Memphis	Piano, Rhapsody in Blue
1972	Debbie Cathey	Nashville	20	Miss Nashville	Semi-classical Vocal, "Amazing Grace"
1971	Marsha McDonald		21	Miss Memphis State University	Ballet, "Over and Over Again"
1970	Carol Ferrante	Memphis	21	Miss Memphis	Vocal
1969	Mary Cox	Johnson City	20	Miss Johnson City	Semi-classical Vocal, "One Kiss" from The New Moon		Non-finalist Talent Award
1968	Brenda Seal	Kingsport	19	Miss East Tennessee State University	Popular Vocal, "What Now My Love"	Top 10		Contestant at National Sweetheart 1967 pageant
1967	Linda Workman	Martin	18	Miss UT Martin	Vocal, "I Don't Care"			Mother of Miss Tennessee 1995, Alison Shumate[citation needed]
1966	Vicki Hurd	Kingsport	19	Miss Carter County	Original Vocal, "I'm in a Pageant"	2nd runner-up		Previously National Sweetheart 1966
1965	Marcia Murray	Paris	19	Miss Paris	Popular Vocal, "Spellbound"
1964	Rita Munsey	New Tazewell	20	Miss Knoxville	Vocal Medley & Accordion, "You Don't Know Me" & "Walkin' After Midnight"			Rita Munsey Doss died at age 71 on Oct. 15, 2015 in Nashville, Tenn.
1963	Martha Truett	Tiptonville		Miss Bells	Piano, Rhapsody In Blue	3rd runner-up
1962	Margaret Petty	Nashville	19	Miss Nashville	Vocal, "Something Wonderful"
1961	Rita Wilson	Humboldt	20	Miss Bells	Vocal, "I'm Doing Alright for a Mountain Gal"			Previously National Sweetheart 1959
1960	Jenny Thomas	Nashville	19	Miss Nashville	Modern Ballet, Porgy and Bess
1959	Marion "Mickey" Wayland	Knoxville	18	Miss Knoxville	Piano / Vocal, "Près des remparts de Séville" from Carmen & "I Cain't Say No"	Top 10
1958	Patricia Eaves	Cookeville		Miss Putnam County	Dramatic Monologue, "Viola's Ring Scene" from Twelfth Night
1957	Amanda Lee Whitman	Nashville		Miss Davidson County	Trampoline / Tumbling, "The Third Man Theme"			Performed the first trampoline talent act in the Miss America competition. Amanda Whitman Henry died at age 72 on June 8, 2012, in Hixon, Tennessee.
1956	Shelby Bailey	Humboldt		Miss Gadsden	Vocal, "It Takes Two to Tango"
1955	Patty Williams	Jackson		Miss Lambuth College	Vocal, "The Student Prince"
1954	Gerry Johnson	Nashville		Miss Nashville	Vocal / Character Pantomime, "The Deadwood Stage"	Top 10
1953	Ruth Ann Barker	Trenton		Miss Gibson County	Vocal
1952	Gloria Williams	Chattanooga		Miss Chattanooga	Vocal, "Lover, When You're Near Me"
1951	Jean Harper	Memphis		Miss Shelby County	Vocal, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"	Top 15		Later Miss Tennessee USA 1952 3rd runner-up at Miss USA 1952 pageant
1950	Greta Graham	Memphis		Miss Memphis	Organ, "Tico-Tico no Fubá"
1949	Adelyn Sumner	Knoxville			Modeling / Speech
1948	Lois Jeanette Welch	Memphis		Miss Memphis	Vocal & Fashion Design, "Gianni Mia"	Top 15		Multiple Tennessee representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
	Dorothy Free	Chattanooga		Miss Tennessee	Vocal Medley, "Let my Song Fill Your Heart" & "Embraceable You"		Preliminary Talent Award
1947	Dorothy Cunningham			Miss Chattanooga	Tap Dance
	Barbara Jo Walker	Memphis	21	Miss Memphis	Art Display & Vocal Medley, "One Kiss" & "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly	Winner	Preliminary Talent Award
	Georgia Cunningham			Miss Tennessee	Tap Dance	Top 15
1946	Wilda Bowman	Chattanooga
1945	Lee Henson	Chattanooga			Vocal Medley, "Dreams" & "I Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded"	Top 13	Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1944	Marian Weller	Chattanooga			Vocal, "Some Day I'll Find You"
1943	Frances Eakes			Miss Chattanooga
1942	No Tennessee representative at Miss America pageant[29]
1941	Katherine Gammon	Knoxville		Miss Knoxville				Multiple Tennessee representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
	Martha McKinney	Nashville		Miss Tennessee	Acrobatic / Tap Dance
1940	Thelma McGhee	Knoxville		Miss Knoxville
	Christine Webb	Centerville		Miss Tennessee	Dramatic Monologue, "The Waltz"
1939	Judy Jones	Tracy City			Vocal Medley, "I Surrender" & "Come True"
	Louise Bussart	Etowah		Miss West Tennessee
1938	Victoria Ann Motlow	Mulberry		Miss Fayetteville	Vocal, "You Turned the Tables on Me"			Original winner, Isobel Carter, resigned due to illness[citation needed]
1937	No Tennessee representative at Miss America pageant[30][31]
1936
1935	Sarah Beard	Dickson
1934	No national pageant was held[32]
1933	No Tennessee representative at Miss America pageant[33]
1932	No national pageants were held[32]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927	No Tennessee representative at Miss America pageant[34][35][36]
1926
1925
1924	Ann Elizabeth Warner			Miss Nashville	N/A[37]			Competed under local title at national pageant
1923	Elizabeth Mallory[38]	Memphis		Miss Memphis			Evening Dress Award[39] Roller Chair Parade Second Prize[40]
1922	Ruth Doughty[41]							Multiple Tennessee representatives Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
	Sue Burton[42]	Nashville		Miss Nashville			Intercity Beauty Award Second Prize[43]
1921	No Tennessee representative at Miss America pageant[44]

Notes

1. Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic^[4][5]