Night 1 of Miss Volunteer America Pageant kicks off in the Hub City

June 18, 2025

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff,

JACKSON, Tenn. — A night of glitz and glam returns to the Hub City as contestants from all over America compete for the crown.

The Miss Volunteer America Pageant is back at the Carl Perkins Civic Center with night one of the preliminary rounds.

“Miss Volunteer America is a nationwide service-oriented scholarship program that really does seek to empower young women through educational scholarships, and extraordinary opportunities that I had throughout this entire year,” said Current Miss Volunteer America title holder, Berkley Bryant.

For the next three nights, 51 contestants will compete in three categories all equaling 25% of their score.

On Tuesday, and part of Wednesday, contestants completed their interview portions.

For the next three nights, contestants will be judged on their fitness and wellness attire, evening gown and talent.

“Talent is one of my favorite phases of competition, you really do get to see the versatility of our talent holders. I’m actually a dancer, so I am a tap dancer, and you’ll see a lot of tap dancing tonight. You’ll see some Irish step dancing, you’ll see ventriloquism–you’ll see every talent in the book,” said Bryant.

Bryant shares she was able to pay off her college debt because of the scholarship she won from Miss Volunteer America.

But that’s not the only perk to the crown, she has also been able to travel from state to state.

“It really does provide you the opportunity to not only serve your community, but serve your state and your country and we’re so excited to celebrate that volunteerism on the stage tonight,” said Bryant.

Along with serving the community, Bryant shares three important qualities the next Miss Volunteer America winner will have.

“I would love to see our next title holder approach this year with grit and with heart and with passion. This is something that i worked so hard to do growing this program throughout our entire country,” said Bryant.

Bryant leaves Wednesday night’s contestants with a piece of advice.

“I think my biggest piece of advice is to ‘Let the light within you shine brighter than the light that shines on you.’ That’s one of my favorite quotes. [I] Actually went to Clemson University and, if you’re familiar with football, you might have heard Dabo Swinney say that to the football team a time or two. I couldn’t think it was more true especially for a moment like this,” said Bryant.

Thursday night the pageant magic continues beginning at 7 p.m. to kick off night two of the preliminary rounds.