JACKSON, Tn. - One thing is a certainty tonight – there will be a new Miss Tennessee, but when she goes to Miss America is another matter entirely.
It’s not that the Volunteer State’s representative is an unwelcome visitor to the annual extravaganza in Atlantic City, the problem is that for the first time since the pageant was first telecast in 1954, Miss America is without a broadcast home.
Normally, the pageant would take place in September, but barring the unforeseen, instead of strolling on the Boardwalk and rehearsing at Convention Hall, Miss Tennessee will be continuing her statewide tour visiting schools as the Governor’s spokesperson for a Drug Free Tennessee and promoting the State Department of Education’s Character Development program.
Miss America officials have yet to announce a pageant and a telecast date despite their insistence that details will be revealed in the near future.
Thirty-six women from across the state have completed three days of preliminary rounds in preparation for tonight’s finale when the top 10 finishers will compete in talent, swimsuit, casual wear and evening wear before the five finalists are revealed. The finalists will face an on-stage interview before the successor to outgoing titleholder Ashley Eicher is announced to a capacity audience at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
Internet users can go to www.eplustv6.com/misstennessee from 9-11pm to watch the web cast which is a first at Miss Tennessee. Tennessee and Ohio are the only states televising their finals on the internet, but Ohio’s is pay-per-view’s whereas Tennessee’s is for free.
Eleven women with Chattanooga area connections have been on the Perkins stage this week. Last night, Chattanoogan Lindsey Tapper, who is representing Nashville as Miss Capital City, won the swimsuit preliminary. The third time could be the charm for the Chattem sales representative after being second runner-up in 2002 and competing as Miss Memphis in 2003.
The 22-year-old Miss Tapper wants to become a dermatologist and she is a skin cancer awareness advocate. She has her own website, savingskin.com.
The Psychology graduate of Lee University sang “Big Time” during her talent presentation Thursday night.
Miss Chattanooga’s talent was literally one of a kind in Jackson. Ansley Reagan is a harpist and her rendition of “The Little Fountain” yesterday evening was warmly received by the Carl Perkins Civic Center audience. Miss Reagan, who also attends Lee University, is making her first trip to Miss Tennessee stage.
Lindsay Moffett, Miss Scenic City, was second runner-up last year. The Cleveland resident is a sophomore Economics major at Maryville College.
Alisha Williams, Miss Hamilton County and Miss Southeast Tennessee Jessica Heim are making their final appearances at Miss Tennessee because the 24-year-olds age out after this year.
Both Miss Williams and Jessica Heim live in Nashville and are part-time graduate students at Belmont University. Miss Williams, formerly of Chattanooga, is a neonatal intensive care nurse with aspirations of becoming a nurse anesthetist while Miss Heim works at a music publishing company and hopes to become a professional entertainer.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the College of Communications are among the common bonds of Miss Tennessee Valley Cassie Stoffer and Miss Knoxville Rachel Parsons. Miss Stoffer is majoring in broadcasting while Miss Parsons, who is from Jasper and a graduate of Marion County High School, recently obtained her degrees in Journalism and Political Science.
Sara Hammon, Miss Metropolitan, is headed to Carson-Newman College to major in Psychology. She is a graduate of Chattanooga Christian School.
Jaclyn Roe, Miss Foothills Country Fair, will begin her studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she will major in Education. Miss Roe’s baton twirling performance in Thursday’s talent competition was a hit with the audience who enjoyed her error-free routine to “Lazy River”.
Harrison’s Myranda Howland is representing her school, Middle Tennessee State University, as Miss Blue Raider. The junior in Elementary Education played “I’ll Fly Away” on the piano for her talent.
Miss Madison County Kayla Irvan is the home county favorite here in Jackson, but like Miss Roe, she will be attending UTC.
Miss Tennessee 2005 will receive a $17000 scholarship. Each contestant is guaranteed a minimum of a $1000 scholarship with additional funds being awarded to the top 10, five non-finalists and special category recipients.