Five year old Ema McLaughen from Ooltewah holds Miss Tennessee 2014 Hayley Lewis' hand after receiving her Iris Princess crown at Saturday's 2015 Miss Tennessee's Outstanding Teen and Teen Princess Pageant in Jackson.
photo by Rodney Murray, Rodney Murray Photography
Five year old Ema McLaughen from Ooltewah held Miss Tennessee 2014 Hayley Lewis' hand after receiving her Iris Princess crown at Saturday's 2015 Miss Tennessee's Outstanding Teen and Teen Princess Pageant in Jackson.
Ema, who has had nine brain surgeries since being diagnosed with hydrocephalus at birth, became a media sensation last June when she was invited to the Miss Tennessee Pageant by Miss Metropolitan 2014 Darby Schumacher.
Both Miss Lewis and Miss Tennessee's Outstanding Teen 2014 Lexie Perry have made several trips to Chattanooga to visit Ema and Miss Lewis has also appeared in a PSA for the national headquarters of the Hydrocephalus Association.
The Iris Princesses support both the Miss Tennessee and Outstanding Teen contestants during competition and at appearances throughout the state.
Ema's pink dress was a gift from Paige Dennis from JoAnn's in Union City and the Silverdale Baptist Academy kindergartner received two standing ovations from the audience at the Carl Perkins Civic Center where she also participated in the crowning ceremonies.
Miss Lewis and several of the Miss Tennessee 2015 contestants will be in Chattanooga next month to support Ema and the Hydrocephalus Association at the first Miss America National Day of Service.