The Miss Tennessee competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss America Scholarship Competition.
Makalyn Heaslett of Nashville was crowned Miss Tennessee on June 20, 2026, at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2027.
History The Miss Tennessee pageant was first held in 1938, although the winner, Isobel Carter, was unable to compete at Miss America due to illness and so the 1st runner-up became Miss Tennessee. The following year, two winners were chosen to compete for the Miss America title. In 1940 the pageant suffered a repeat of 1938, with the winner resigning through illness and the 1st runner-up representing the state at the national competition. The routine pageant was held in 1941, but from 1942 to 1946 representatives were appointed without a pageant being held, due to World War II. In 1947 twins Jean and Jane Cunningham were both awarded Tennessee titles, with one representing Tennessee and one Chattanooga at the Miss America pageant. The modern era of the pageant can be dated to 1953, when a regular routine of state pageants was instituted.
Barbara Jo Walker was crowned Miss America 1947 and represented the city of Memphis when she won the title. Kellye Cash, Miss America 1987, was the second woman from Tennessee to win the national title. All three Miss Tennessees from 1999 to 2001 later won the similar Miss Tennessee USA pageant, whose delegates represent Tennessee at the Miss USA pageant. Three other Miss Tennessees have won the Miss Tennessee USA title, Jean Harper, Desiree Daniels, and Leah Hulan. Two Miss Tennessees have won the National Sweetheart title, Rita Wilson and Vicki Hurd.
In the fall of 2018, the Miss America Organization terminated the former Miss Tennessee organization's license as well as licenses from Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. On December 22, 2018, Miss America Awarded a new license for Tennessee naming Joe Albright as CEO; Lanna Keck-Smith, Miss Tennessee 1997, as executive director; and Caty Davis, Miss Tennessee 2017, as the Chief People Officer.
Gallery of Winners
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Tennessee titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements Miss Americas: Barbara Jo Walker (Miss Memphis) (1947), Kellye Cash (1987) 1st runners-up: Desiree Daniels (1983) 2nd runners-up: Vicki Hurd (1967), Dana Brown (1991), Stephanie Culberson (2002), Stefanie Wittler (2010), Carley Jaymes Vogel (2025) 3rd runners-up: Martha Truett (1964) Top 7: Ellen Carrington (2009), Hannah Robison (2016) Top 10: Gerry Johnson (1955), Marion "Mickey" Wayland (1960), Brenda Seal (1969), Deborah Kincaid (1975), Linda Moore (1978), Shelly Mangrum (1985), Erin Hatley (2012), Chandler Lawson (2013), Hayley Lewis (2015), Grace Burgess (2017) Top 11: Zoe Schielderich (2026) Top 12: Caty Davis (2018) Top 13: Lee Henson (1945) Top 15: Georgia Cunningham (1947), Lois Jeanette Welch (1948), Jean Harper (1952) Top 16: Grace Gore (2008)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Evening Gown: Stephanie Culberson (2002) Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Lee Henson (1945), Linda Moore (1978), Desiree Daniels (1983), Kellye Cash (1987), Stephanie Culberson (2002), Brandee Mills (2024), Zoe Scheiderich (2026) Preliminary Talent: Barbara Jo Walker (Miss Memphis) (1947), Dorothy Free (1948), Deborah Kincaid (1975), Kellye Cash (1987), Grace Burgess (2017) Carly Jaymes Vogel (2025)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Interview: Alison Shumate (1996) Non-finalist Talent: Mary Cox (1970), Elise Neal (1980), Moira Kaye (1984), Carrie Folks (1989), Beth Hood (2001), Ashley Eicher (2005), Tara Burns (2006)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: N/A America's Choice: Hannah Robison (2016) Intercity Beauty Award Second Prize: Sue Burton (1922) Evening Dress Award: Elizabeth Mallory (1923) Equity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalists: Brianna Mason (2020) Forever Miss America Scholarship: Tally Bevis (2022) Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Hannah Robison (2016) Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Chandler Lawson (2013) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Heather Heath (1999), Grace Gore (2008) Stefanie Wittler (2010), Grace Burgess (2017), Christine Williamson (2019), Makalyn Heaslett (2027) Roller Chair Parade Second Prize: Elizabeth Mallory (1923) STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Hannah Robison (2016) Top Fundraiser 3rd runner-up: Tally Bevis (2022) Waterford Scholarship for Business in Marketing and Management: Allison Alderson (2000) Women in Business 2nd runner-up: Tally Bevis (2022) Women in Business Scholarship Award Finalists: Christine Williamson (2019)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Makalyn HeaslettNashville27Miss NashvilleTap DanceQuality of Life Award Finalist2025Zoe ScheiderichNashville 22Miss Music City Dance Top 11 Preliminary Fitness Award2024 Carley Jaymes VogelMurfreesboro / Kennesaw, Georgia24Miss Music CityClassical Vocal, "Climb Every Mountain"2nd Runner-upPreliminary Talent AwardDaughter of Miss Georgia USA 1985, Amanda Smith Vogel2023Brandee MillsNashville 25Miss Middle Tennessee Dance Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award2022Lauren DicksonParsons24Miss LexingtonVocal2021Tally BevisSpringfield24Miss NashvilleVocal, Here You Come Again by Dolly Parton, Piano Accompaniment.Forever Miss America Scholarship
Top Fundraiser 4th Place
Women in Business 2nd runner-up 2019–20 Brianna Mason Nashville 23 Miss Greene County Piano, "Piano Fantasy" by William Joseph Equity & Justice Scholarship Award Finalist First African-American to win Miss Tennessee 2018 Christine Electra WilliamsonChattanooga 22 Miss Chattanooga Vocal, "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman Quality of Life Award FinalistWomen in Business Scholarship Finalist*The First Miss TN to be named a finalist for this award *Only contestant to be named a finalist for 2 Awards at the Miss America National Competition Cut ties with Miss America Organization but did not formally resign on May 10, 2019. Williamson's statement she released included claiming adverse circumstances, "blatant disregard" for her role as a titleholder, and an "ill-conceived" leadership transition after the state organization was terminated in September 2018. She retained the title she earned as Miss Tennessee 2018 as the change of leadership did not apply to her earning the title. Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee USA 20212017 Caty Davis Knoxville 22 Miss Lexington Vocal, "I Have Nothing" Top 12 2016 Grace Burgess Memphis 22 Miss Mid-South Vocal, "Desperado" by The Eagles Top 10 Preliminary Talent AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant 2015 Hannah Robison Paris 21 Miss Scenic City Piano, "El Cumbanchero" by Rafael Hernández Marín Top 7 America's ChoiceQuality of Life Award 1st runner-upSTEM Scholarship Award Previously 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2012 2014 Hayley Lewis Nashville 21 Miss Tennessee Valley Vocal, "I (Who Have Nothing)" Top 10 2013 Shelby Thompson Franklin 23 Miss Capital City Vocal, "Con te partirò" 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2008 2012 Chandler Lawson Tullahoma 22 Miss Chattanooga Vocal, "Turning Tables" Top 10 Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up Contestant at National Sweetheart 2011 pageant 2011 Erin Hatley Bartlett 20 Miss Collierville Classical Vocal, "Memory" from Cats 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee USA 2016 and 2017 pageants 2010 Nicole Jordan Cordova 21 Miss Lexington Vocal, "All by Myself" 2009 Stefanie Wittler Soddy-Daisy 22 Miss Hamilton County Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" 2nd runner-up Quality of Life Award Finalist 2008 Ellen Carrington Jackson 21 Miss Scenic City Vocal, "Vole Mon Ange" from Svengali Top 7 2007 Grace Gore Nashville 24 Miss Lexington Vocal, "What a Wonderful Day" Top 16 Quality of Life Award Finalist Previously Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2002 2006 Blaire Pancake Chattanooga 24 Miss Metropolitan Vocal, "Attitude" Previously 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2000 2005 Tara BurnsNashville 22 Miss Music City Classical Vocal, "Art Is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress by Victor Herbert Non-finalist Talent Award 2004 Ashley Eicher 24 Miss Murfreesboro Vocal, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" Non-finalist Talent Award 2003 Jamie Watkins Soddy-Daisy 23 Miss Scenic City Vocal, "If I Can Dream" 4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2001 pageant 2002 Valli Kugler Rutherford 22 Miss UT Martin Vocal, "At Last" 2001 Stephanie Culberson Knoxville 21 Miss Cleveland Classical Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu 2nd runner-up Preliminary Evening Wear AwardPreliminary Swimsuit Award Later Miss Tennessee USA 20044th runner-up at Miss USA 2004 pageant 2000 Beth Hood Cleveland 21 Miss Cleveland Vocal, "Desperado" Non-finalist Talent Award Later Miss Tennessee USA 20034th runner-up at Miss USA 2003 pageant 1999 Allison Alderson Jackson 22 Miss Memphis Piano / Vocal Medley, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" & "River Deep – Mountain High" Waterford Scholarship for Business Marketing & Management Triple Crown winner Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1994Top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1994 pageant Later Miss Tennessee USA 2002 Married to Rascal Flatts musician, Jay DeMarcus