Miss Tennessee brings tourism to the Hub City

JACKSON, Tenn. — Thirty-six women are hoping to take home the crown as Miss Tennessee 2016.

“It’s an exciting week. It’s a week these girls will remember for the rest of their lives,” Pageant Director Jimmy Exum said.

As the women prepare to make their debut Wednesday night, the City of Jackson has been preparing long before the contestants arrived.

“We’re very excited to welcome them back to Jackson. They’ve been here for 64 years, and the history with the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant actually goes back over 70 years,” Jackson Chamber’s Director of Tourism Lori Nunnery said.

“When you have 36 contestants and then you take their family members, followers, and then people that follow the pageant system, it’s a great influx of people into our community. We figure the economic impact is over $2 million directly,” Nunnery said.

The chamber explained this money is coming in through hotel bookings, fueling up at the pump, and dining out.

Exum said he looks forward to seeing all their hard work pay off. “I look forward to Wednesday night because it is the first night, and it is a chance to see if all of our work comes together.”

Hotels will also be booked up for the coming weekend as events such as the Rockabilly Gran Prix and a baseball tournament will take place at the same time a new Miss Tennessee will be crowned.