photo by Earl Neikirk
Miss Scenic City Hannah Robison is a chemistry student and she struck the right formula with the judges when she was named Miss Tennessee 2015 late Saturday in Jackson in becoming the third area titleholder in four years to win the state crown.
Miss Chattanooga Stephanie McKain was fourth runner-up while Miss Rocky Top and recent Brigham Young University graduate MerylAnne Dexter of Signal Mountain was a top 10 finalist. Miss East Tennessee Lexi White from Harrison and Miss Tennessee Valley Sydney Shadrix finished in the top 16.
Miss Robison, who receives an $18,000 scholarship and will represent the state at the Miss America Pageant in September along with serving as the Governor’s Official Spokesperson for Character Education, was crowned by 2014 winner Hayley Lewis who herself was Miss Tennessee Valley a year ago before becoming Miss Tennessee. The Paris resident and senior at the University of Tennessee at Martin was the only double preliminary winner among the 36 contestants winning talent on Thursday for her piano performance of “El Cumbanchero” and taking top honors in swimsuit on Friday.
She also became the first Miss Tennessee contestant to receive the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Medal for outstanding leadership, fitness and community service and was also honored with the Miss Tennessee State Community Service Award for her platform of the “Campaign Against Pain” which focuses on arthritis awareness since several of her relatives have been diagnosed with the disease.
The win was also the seventh for the Scenic City Pageants franchise in the preliminary program’s 14 year history led by Executive Directors Rodney Hullender, Keith Brown and Bobbie Nation. Third-year University of Tennessee Law student Chandler Lawson was Miss Chattanooga prior to becoming Miss Tennessee 2012. The franchise sponsors the Chattanooga, Scenic City and Tennessee Valley titles and the annual competition attracts contestants from across the state. The 2016 pageant will be held on July 15th at Chattanooga State.
photo by Earl Neikirk