Miss Tennessee Volunteer contestants visit Jackson Rotary Club
JACKSON, Tenn. — 35 new contestants for Miss Tennessee Volunteer were at the First United Methodist Church for lunch Wednesday.
The Jackson Rotary Club’s lunch meeting brought some of the teens that are newly crowned winners along with the new Miss Tennessee Volunteer contestants.
Mayor Scott Conger along with several county commission members were present.
Art Sparks, the CEO of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant, said that this luncheon is to thank members of the community for always supporting the pageant.
He encourages everyone to come out and support the pageant starting Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
“As far as tonight, you’re going to see 12 of them in different categories. You’re going to see fitness, you’re going to see talent and evening gowns,” said Sparks.
He said the pageant is a statewide service-oriented scholarship program that empowers the young ladies through education and opportunity.
“Overall, we’re going to have three nights of preliminary. All of the production numbers will be different each night and they will be different also for the final. I think that if you miss them, you’re going to be really disappointed because we have some great talent that’s going to perform while these girls are getting ready for their next competition,” said Sparks.
Miss Tennessee Volunteer 2024 Jada Brown had the opportunity to speak and encourage the young ladies on their journey.
“I feel like I should be competing again. It just feels so weird to be on the other side of things now,” said Brown.
She said that she can’t wait to pass her crown to the next winner.
“I know I can’t be Miss Tennessee Volunteer forever so I am excited for the next chapter after Miss Tennessee Volunteer. Whatever may happen, I’m very excited and I’m just ready for the new girl to be able to take the reign over and to do what I did and even more,” said Brown.
Each contestant had the opportunity to state their name, where they’re from and what school, if any, they are attending.
“I’ve been telling them all week how important it is to be their most authentic self. Pageantry is supposed to be fun, it’s supposed to be about empowering not only ourselves but others in the audience as well so we can’t empower others if we are not who we truly are. We were all put on this earth and in this pageant for a reason so I just keep telling them to be themselves,” said Brown.
The pageant begins tonight at 7 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center and will conclude on Saturday, July 27.
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