Miss TN Volunteer organization celebrates 5th year of pageant

Wednesday evening marked the preliminary night of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant as it returns to Jackson for its fifth year.

Thirty-five contestants from across the Volunteer state traveled to the Carl Perkins Civic Center to compete for this year’s title.

Since its genesis in 2019, the MTV pageant has made a diligent effort to increase its scholarship awards, according to CEO Art Sparks. Over $80,000 in scholarship funds are available with all contestants receiving something.

“If you can walk across the stage, you’re going to get a scholarship,” he said.

Working closely with the Miss Volunteer America organization, Sparks says he’s eager to see the pageant’s continued growth and success stories.

More: Miss South Carolina wins Miss Volunteer America crown in pageant’s 3rd year

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“I get re-energized when I hear these young ladies, and I see what they’ve done, what they’re going to, and it makes me feel a lot better about the younger generation and our nation as a whole,” Sparks said.

During the private interview portion of the pageant, each contestant shares with the judges what her respective platform for the competition is. For 2024 MTV titleholder Jada Brown, her focus on character education landed her alongside Gov. Bill Lee as the initiative’s official spokesperson.

During contestant introductions at the Jackson Rotary Club on Wednesday, Brown revealed that the more than $11,000 in scholarship money she won has allowed her to be debt-free since graduating from Lane College.

“I’ve been able to reach over 15,000 students, travel over 20,000 miles, and volunteer at about 170 appearances throughout my year,” she said.

As described by Emily Anne Sparks, executive director of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant, the contestants give to Jackson as mutually as Jackson gives to them.

“These young ladies that are sitting here, they come to Jackson more than once a year,” she said. “They’re in Jackson doing different community service events, they’re eating in Jackson, they’re staying in Jackson, they’re shopping in Jackson, because of what Jackson does for them personally and that’s their scholarships and really growing when they’re here for the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant.”

Mal Matthews, who currently serves the pageant in a community outreach role, has had a foot in Jackson’s pageants since 1981. He began working as a production assistant at the age of 14, later serving on the board of directors, and has seen the pageant sphere’s evolution through the decades.

“We’re having more contestants compete, and that’s what causes the growth. We’re trying to raise more scholarship money to support more contestants and now we’re seeing the growth in the crowd,” he said.

Recalling the last time he saw the Civic Center at capacity for a pageant, Matthews says it was 1987 when Miss Tennessee Kellye Cash, the grand-niece of Johnny Cash, won Miss America.

“It was a full house, every seat was gone,” he said. “But now generally we have well over a thousand each night, especially on the final night we have a lot more people there, so I am seeing the growth of pageant,” Matthews said.

Scoring is based on four categories each worth 25%: fitness and wellness, talent, evening gown, and private interview. The women will compete through the remainder of the week before the final winner is crowned on Saturday night.

Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Miss TN Volunteer organization celebrates 5th year of pageant