2016 Miss Tennessee Grace Burgess is officially on duty
JACKSON, Tenn. — For the second year in a row, the newly crowned Miss Tennessee calls West Tennessee home.
Grace Burgess
“Miss Tennessee — I’m Miss Tennessee. I had to tell myself that in the mirror about four times this morning because it still doesn’t feel real,” Grace Burgess said excitedly.
Less than 24 hours after being crowned Miss Tennessee 2016, Miss Mid-South Grace Burgess says she’s thankful she has finally captured the crown.
“Six years I’ve been working toward this goal, and it’s here — I did it,” Burgess said.
Burgess began competing as a teenager in Memphis while implementing her literacy platform across the state.
“Six years ago is when I began working on my platform ‘Ready, Set, Read,’ encouraging a love for reading,” Burgess said. “Since then I’ve worked tirelessly to expand my platform to reach as many children across our state as I could.”
Over the past two years, the now 22-year-old has traveled over 7,000 miles to deliver more than $10,000 worth of books in support of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Books from Birth program.
Burgess says reading and education is something her parents pushed, and by competing in scholarship pageants she has been able to earn $27,000 toward her own education.
Burgess said she is graduating debt free.
“It’s a great program, and there’s so many benefits that come from it,” Burgess said. “I’m just thankful for all of the city of Jackson and everyone that contributes.”
According to pageant organizers, the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Foundation gave $92,000 in scholarships this year, with a lot of donations coming from supporters in Jackson. Burgess said she wants to make them proud as she starts on her Miss Tennessee journey.
“Building up to this, I thought I never worked so hard in my entire life, but I know I will be proven wrong in getting ready for Miss America and taking on this job and this role of Miss Tennessee,” Burgess said. “I could not be more thrilled and more grateful for this opportunity.”
As Miss Tennessee, Burgess will speak to 50,000 school kids across the state as character education spokeswoman. She also receives a $13,000 scholarship and will represent Tennessee in September for the Miss America Scholarship Pageant in Atlantic City.
