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Miss Tennessee USA

Beauty contest

Beauty contest

FieldValue
nameMiss Tennessee USA
formation1952
typeBeauty pageant
headquartersCollierville
locationTennessee
membershipMiss USA
languageEnglish
key_peopleKim Greenwood, State Pageant Director
websiteOfficial website

The ** Miss Tennessee USA **competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Greenwood Productions under the ownership of Miss Tennessee USA 1989, Kimberly Payne Greenwood, since 1992. Since 1999, the pageant has been held at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Lynnette Cole, Miss Tennessee USA 2000, and Rachel Smith, Miss Tennessee USA 2007, are the only titleholders to win the Miss USA title and both previously won the Miss Tennessee Teen USA title. Six Miss Tennessee USA titleholders have formerly competed at Miss Tennessee Teen USA, and six have competed at Miss America. One of these is Allison Alderson, a "triple crown" winner who has held the Miss Tennessee Teen USA, Miss Tennessee, and Miss Tennessee USA titles, competing at all three major pageants.

Madison Kunst of Nashville was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2025 on June 28, 2025 at the Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She represented Tennessee for the title of Miss USA 2025.

Results summary

  • Miss USAs: Lynnette Cole (2000), Rachel Smith (2007)
  • 1st runners-up: Morgan Tandy High (1999), Ashley Durham (2011)
  • 2nd runners-up: Gail White (1962), Desiree Daniels (1984), Becca Lee (1996), Towanna Stone (1997)
  • 3rd runners-up: Jean Harper (1952), Donna Marie Ford (1970), Christell Foote (2024)
  • 4th runners-up: Beth Hood (2003), Stephanie Culberson (2004)
  • Top 10/12: Sharon Kay Steakley (1981), Sherly Deanice "Nise" Levy (1982), Stephanie Jane Potts (1988), Charita Moses (1990), Camila "Cammy" Gregory (1993), Leah Hulan (1994), Lisa Tollett (2001), Hailey Laine Brown (2008), Kristen Motil (2009), Tucker Perry (2010), Allee-Sutton Hethcoat (2017), Alexandra Harper (2018), Emily Suttle (2022)
  • Top 15/16/20: Stella Wilson (1956), Martha Boales (1958), Bobbie Lynn Morrow (1963), Mary Margaret Smith (1966), Nancy Brackhahn (1967), Sandra Force (1968), Lauren Grissom (2006), Jessica Hibler (2012), Kristy Landers Niedenfuer (2014), Elizabeth Pistole (2021), Madison Kunst (2025)

Tennessee holds a record of 37 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Photogenic: Suzanna Timberlake (1978)
  • Best State Costume: Pat Kerr (1964), Elizabeth Pistole (2021)
  • Miss Congeniality: Bonnie Perkins (1965), Martha Browning (1985)
  • Style Award: Becca Lee (1996)
  • Best in Swimsuit: Lynnette Cole (2000)
  • Best in Evening Gown: Christell Foote (2024)

Winners

;Color key

  • Declared as Winner
  • Ended as runner-up
  • Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
YearNameHometownAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Madison KunstNashville27Miss Madison CountyTop 20
2024Christell FooteRocky Top23Miss Rocky Top3rd runner-upBest in Evening Gown
2023Regan RinglerNashville25Miss Downtown Nashville
2022Emily SuttleFranklin25Miss FranklinTop 12
2021Elizabeth Graham PistoleFranklin20Miss Historic FranklinTop 16Best State Costume
2020Justice EnlowNashville26Miss Belle MeadeLongest reigning Miss Tennessee USA at
2019Savana HodgeNashville25Miss Davidson County
2018url=http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/entertainment/2017/10/14/alexandra-harper-miss-williamson-co-wins-miss-tennessee-usa/764131001/title=Alexandra Harper, Miss Williamson Co., wins Miss Tennessee USAlast=Brechtelsbauerfirst=Ericadate=14 October 2017work=The Leaf Chronicleaccess-date=15 October 2017}}Brentwood25Miss Williamson CountyTop 10Daughter of Sharon Kay Steakley, Miss Tennessee USA 1981
2017Allee-Sutton HethcoatFranklin25Miss Williamson CountyTop 10
2016Hope StephensLivingston20Miss Upper CumberlandPreviously 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2014
2015url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/10/5/285767/Miss-Greater-Nashville-Kiara-Young.aspxpublisher= The Chattanoogantitle=Miss Greater Nashville Kiara Young Crowned Miss Tennessee USAdate= October 5, 2014}}Nashville23Miss Greater Nashville
2014first= Nicolelast= Juneurl=http://clarksvillenow.com/local/kristy-landers-niedenfuer-crowned-miss-tennessee-usa-2014/publisher= Clarksville Nowtitle=Kristy Landers Niedenfuer Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2014date= October 6, 2013}}Nashville22Miss NashvilleTop 20
2013Brenna MaderNashville25Miss Davidson County
2012publisher= Clarksville Onlinetitle=Jessica Hibler Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2012url=http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2011/10/09/jessica-hibler-crowned-miss-tennessee-usa-2012/date=October 9, 2011}}Brentwood22Miss Middle Tennessee State UniversityTop 16
2011Ashley DurhamAdamsville20Miss East Memphis1st runner-up
2010Tucker PerryFranklin20Miss Tennessee ValleyTop 10Daughter of Kathi Tucker, Miss Washington USA 1983
2009Kristen MotilFranklin24Miss Williamson CountyTop 10
2008Hailey Laine BrownFranklin25Miss South FultonTop 10Previously 4th runner-up at Miss Tennessee 2003
2007Rachel SmithClarksville21Miss ClarksvilleMiss USA 2007
2006Lauren GrissomShelbyville21Miss ShelbyvilleTop 15
2005Amy ColleyJonesborough21Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee 2008
2004Stephanie CulbersonKnoxville244th runner-up
2003Beth HoodCleveland244th runner-up
2002Allison AldersonNashville25Triple crown winner
2001Lisa TollettCrossville24Top 10Previously engaged with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Elliott Sadler
2000Lynnette ColeColumbia21Miss USA 2000Best in Swimsuit
1999Morgan Tandy HighNashville251st runner-up
1998Amy NeelyLafayetteHonorable Mention
1997Towanna StoneMorristown242nd runner-upFirst Black woman to win Miss Tennessee USA
1996Becca LeeMemphis242nd runner-upFinesse Style Award
1995Lee Ann HueyObion
1994Leah HulanMurfreesboro25Top 12
1993Camila "Cammy" GregoryParis25Top 12The Kentucky native died on January 3, 2003, of a sudden brain aneurysm in Jackson, Tennessee
1992Natalie Bray
1991Angela Johnson
1990Charita MosesMemphis23Top 12
1989Kimberly PayneNashville21
1988Stephanie Jane PottsMemphis23Semi-finalist
1987Molly BrownLoretto
1986Karen ComptonLawrenceburg
1985Martha BrowningChattanooga24Miss CongenialityFirst deaf Miss USA contestant.
1984Desiree DanielsChattanooga242nd runner-up
1983Ladonna FridayJonesborough
1982Sherly Deanice "Nise" LevyNashville21Semi-finalist
1981Sharon Kay SteakleyNashville24Semi-finalistMother of Alexandra Harper, Miss Tennessee USA 2018
1980Diane HuntEtowah
1979Sandy NuismerNashville
1978Suzanna TimberlakeChattanoogaMiss PhotogenicSemifinalist in Miss World USA 1980
1977Rene SmithCookeville
1976Jana KerrSavannah
1975Shelly SmithMemphis
1974Brin HendrixCounce
1973Tommye HookerMemphis
1972Linda ThompsonMemphis21
1971Sue CollinsStrawberry Plains
1970Donna Marie FordTrenton233rd runner-up
1969Suzie RichardsonJackson
1968Sandra ForceMemphis23Semi-finalistTop 15 Best in Swimsuit
1967Nancy BrackhahnNashville21Semi-finalist
1966Mary Margaret SmithNashville20Semi-finalist
1965Bonnie PerkinsNashville23Miss Congeniality
1964Pat KerrNashville19Best State Costume
1963Bobbie Lynn MorrowCamden26Top 15
1962Gail WhiteChattanooga212nd runner-up
1961Anita AtkinsNashville25
1960Christine McSwainMemphis21
1959Marcia DanielsMemphis20
1958Martha BoalesMemphis23Miss MemphisSemi-finalist1st runner-up in the 1959 Miss Dixie Pageant
1957Patricia PratherMemphis18
1956Stella WilsonMemphis22Semi-finalist
1955Barbara GurleyMemphis24
1954Barbara HollyNashville21
1953No representative
1952Jean HarperMemphis183rd runner-up

Notes

References

References

  1. "Producers". Miss Tennessee USA/Teen USA Pageants.
  2. Butterfield, Fox. (2001-10-15). "Next Door to Army Base, Pageant Proudly Goes On". New York Times.
  3. Dexter, Jamie. (2008-10-01). "Clarksville to host pageants". The Leaf Chronicle.
  4. Brechtelsbauer, Erica. (14 October 2017). "Alexandra Harper, Miss Williamson Co., wins Miss Tennessee USA". The Leaf Chronicle.
  5. (October 5, 2014). "Miss Greater Nashville Kiara Young Crowned Miss Tennessee USA". The Chattanoogan.
  6. June, Nicole. (October 6, 2013). "Kristy Landers Niedenfuer Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2014". Clarksville Now.
  7. Schmoldt, Eric. (June 15, 2007). "CNFR: More than just a cowgirl". The Star Tribune.
  8. (October 9, 2011). "Jessica Hibler Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2012". Clarksville Online.
  9. Dexter, Jamie. (2008-10-05). "Dream comes true for one contestant". The Leaf Chronicle.
  10. Veiga, Alex. (2007-03-24). "Dream comes true for one contestant". Washington Post.
  11. Bierly, Mandi. (2009-02-27). "Jake Owen: The EW Pop Culture Personality Test". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. (8 February 1988). "HOPEFUL QUEENS". [[The Press of Atlantic City]].
  13. (1985-04-27). "New Language". The Times-News.
  14. (16 May 1968). "SWIMSUIT WINNERS". [[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]].
  15. (18 July 1963). "MISS U.S.A. AND 14 RUNNERS-UP". [[Iowa City Press-Citizen]].
  16. (12 July 1962). "BEAUTIES GALORE". [[The Macon News]].
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