Miss Tennessee

misstennessee.org missamerica.org $20 JUN 29-JUL 1, 2023 CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS MEMPHIS, TN Lauren Dickson Miss Tennessee 2022

Hosts and Sponsors

Event Location

Official Event Photography

Official Auditors

Event Support

Judges

Official Competition

Wardrobe

Custom Jewelers

Official Miss Tennessee and Miss TN OT Rings

Clothing

Headshot Photography

Event Support

Clothing

A Special Thank You to Our Food Hosts: Tennessee Crown Club, Joseph Ozment, and Brian Plunk

Clothing

Official Program Book Printer

Accommodations

Contestant Transportation

Piano Skincare Tanning/Skincare Tanning/Skincare Official Dentist Competition Flowers Skincare

Clothing Makeup Consultation Luggage Skincare Glenn Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen Class of 2023! Good Luck to the

Onstage

Competition Photo Banners

Photo by Liz Courtney Photography

Corporate Board, Corporate Staff, and Working Committees

Joseph W. (Joe) Albright, Chief Executive Officer

Joe Albright is no stranger to pageants having been involved in interview, poise, confidence, and talent coaching and judging for almost 20 years. He has coached interview competition winners for Miss Tennessee Preliminary and the Miss Tennessee Pageants. An integral and significant part of all of his roles over the past 38 years has been focused on mentoring, coaching, and developing leaders. As such, he coaches and mentors corporate and government executives, including military senior leaders. As Chief Operations Officer for the Jackson, MS Public Schools, Joe is responsible for creating and maintaining safe and healthy learning environments and providing all aspects of support to help scholars succeed. Joe holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and Master’s Degrees in both Strategic Studies and Industrial Engineering and has earned post graduate credit in the areas of leadership and organizational management. He is a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a Founding Member of both the Museum of the American Revolution and the Museum of the United States Army. Joe is married to the former Iris Jane (Janie) Evans. They have four children and seven grandchildren. Joe retired from the Army with the rank of Colonel after a distinguished 32+ year career, including 4 years as a senior Army civilian working for the Office of the Secretary of the Army. In addition to his position as CEO and Chair of the Board for the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition, he is a Commissioner for the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and an Adjunct Faculty Member for the University of South Florida MUMA School of Business. His other community and service activities include Chair of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors for Organizations of Hope, Gibson County Election Commissioner, and Member of the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of West Tennessee.

Colene Trent, Executive Director

Dr. Colene Trent serves as the Executive Director of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition. She is a tenured Associate Professor of Economics at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Colene was a two-time First Runner-Up to Miss Alabama and a five-time local titleholder in the Miss Alabama Scholarship Pageant. During her years of competition in Miss Alabama, Colene received over $50,000 in college scholarships which she used in obtaining her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Economics as well as her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Alabama. Colene received a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Mississippi and now teaches classes in microeconomics, international economics, managerial economics, and personal finance. Her research has been published in the Christian Business Academy Review, The Journal of Business, Industry, and Economics, The Journal of Management Information and Decision Sciences, and Economics Research International. While at Union University, Colene has received the McAfee School of Business Teaching Excellence Award and the Newell Innovative Teaching Award and has been nominated for Faculty of the Year. Colene has been a lifelong supporter of the Miss America Organization, first as a fan, then as a contestant, as a mentor and coach, as the Miss Tennessee Princess Program Director, and as a Miss Tennessee Corporate Board Member. She uses her role as Executive Director to ensure that the skills of public speaking, professionalism, mentoring, civic engagement, and community service provided through participation in MAO continue to be available for young women across our great state. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband, David, who is a worship leader and Christian singer-songwriter. Colene’s greatest joys are her three-year-old son, Paxton, and her one-year-old daughter, Etta.

Janie Albright, Chief of Staff

Janie Evans Albright has been active in the pageant world for over 45 years. Her many accomplishments include Miss America Pageant Volunteer of the Year, Director of the Miss Milan Crown and Scepter Scholarship Pageant for over 20 years, mentor for numerous state titleholders from Tennessee and the surrounding region, including Tennessee’s only Miss America, Kellye Cash. Janie holds an advanced degree and has completed post graduate hours in education. She is semi-retired after 45 years as an Educator and Administrator and now provides consulting support to a School District. In addition, Janie is co-owner in a management consulting and leadership development company. Janie is Chair of the City of Milan Housing Authority. She serves as a recruiter for the Metropolitan Modeling Agency headquartered in Paris, France. An avid domestic and international traveler, Janie has toured over 25 countries, but her favorite place is Times Square and Broadway in New York City. Janie’s hobby is music, and she judges marching band contests in the Mid-Central and Mid-South United States. Janie is the mother of four and the grandmother of seven. She is married to retired Colonel, Joseph (Joe) Albright and they reside in Milan, TN.

Photography by Rob Metzger Photography by Rob Metzger

Belinda Arender, Chief Financial Officer

A graduate of Belhaven University and the Ole Miss School of Banking, Belinda is a 30 year mortgage veteran. She serves as SVP and Tennessee Market Leader for Primis Bank Mortgage. She has consistently been recognized as her company’s top producer as well as a National top producer by Scotsman’s Guide and Mortgage News. In 2022 and 2023, she was recognized as Nashville’s Community Lender of the Year(s) by NMBA. For 2022, she was a National Mortgage Network, top 50 National Female Originator and recognized as a National Top Producer by Scotsman’s Guide for production, purchase volume and FHA originations. Belinda has been married to her husband Joey for 30 years, and they have two sons. Blake, a computer engineer, who resides in Memphis and Brock, a Freshman Baseball Player at University of Tennessee- Martin. Belinda is active in her community and is a Lifetime Member of Junior Auxiliary and a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Murfreesboro. Belinda currently serves as CFO/Treasurer of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition, the official Miss America Preliminary for the State of Tennessee. She also serves as Chairman of the Scholarship Committee for Miss Tennessee. Additionally, she also serves as Membership Chair for the Grove’s Women Club. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her furbabies.

Tommy Whitwell of Lexington serves the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Organization as Director of Sponsorship. For over 45 years, Tommy has been involved in every aspect of the Miss America Organization starting with being a local director at the young age of 25 after attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. During his tenure, he has served on the Miss Kentucky board and has been a respected local director in Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky. He has been honored with the Prestigious Director of the Year award in 2008 and 2018 from the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition. In addition, Tommy was recognized and awarded the Legacy Award in 2021 for his dedication to the Miss America Competition. He proudly boasts 3 Miss Tennessee winners for whom he served as Executive Director, Grace Gore Sturdivant 2007, Nicole Jordan 2010 and Caty Davis 2017, as well as 2 Miss Tennessee Outstanding Teen Winners Maggie Belew Ricketts 2010 and Allie Privitt 2015. Tommy is passionate about his work with the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Organization.

Kristan Norris Judges Chair Paul Humphrey Legal Counsel Ava Montgomery TriStar Director Phil Shirley Middle TN Field Director and Producer Christina Stapleton TriStar Regional Coordinator Sharon Hopson East Tennessee Field Director Melissa Sheridan TriStar Regional Coordinator Misty Bateman TriStar Regional Coordinator Josh Swaidner Website Support Deborah Patterson Booking Manager David Trent Talent Director Nita Thurman VP of Internal Controls Eli Creasy Program Book Designer Tommy Whitwell, Director of Sponsorship

Local Executive Directors

Simone Wilson Miss Memphis Director Carol Ann Williams Miss Chester County BBQ Festival Director Kristin Girton Miss East Tennessee Director Amber Moore Miss Forest Festival Director Lisa Higgs Miss Forest Festival Director Pam Bennecker Miss Gatlinburg & Miss Smoky Mountains Director Torrey Greer Miss Jackson & Miss Madison County Director Robin Beals Miss Johnson City & Miss Historic Jonesborough Director Kendra Grissom Miss Lexington & Miss Henderson County Director Rachel Wade Miss Lexington & Miss Henderson County Director Susan Burks Miss Middle Tennessee Director Bertha Smith Miss Natchez Trace Director Becky Stafford Miss West Tennessee & Miss Greater Gibson County Director Kestin Watkins Miss Perry County Teen Director Lauren Waycaster Miss Milan Crown & Scepter Director Tina McClellan Miss West Tennessee & Miss Greater Gibson County Director Ashley Cole Miss Music City & Miss Capital City Director Tiffany Partin Miss Nashville & Miss Franklin County Director Yvonne Stewart Miss Nashville & Miss Franklin County Director Beth Bates Miss Perry County Director Mary Hamilton Miss Sullivan County & Miss Kingsport Director Martha Wilkinson Miss Roane County & Miss Greater Knoxville Director Jodi Ballard Miss Robertson County Director Vikki Woodard Miss Robertson County Director

Former Miss Tennessees

Our History

Thank you to the distinguished women who have held the title of Miss Tennessee over the years.

Adelyn Summer Mays Sarah Maxine Beard Nicks Christine Webb Gregory Marian Weller Brickell Georgia Cunningham Sterchi Dorothy Cunningham Browning Victoria Anne Motlow McLean Martha McKinney Pesci Lee Harriet Henson Dorothy Free Thurmond Judy Jones Hinton Frances Eakes Valadez Wilda Bowman Sloan Shelby Bailey Spraggins Martha Truett Noe Carol Ferrante Rasberry Linda Faye Moore Greta Graham Hollingsworth Amanda Whitman Henry Rita Munsey Doss Marsha McDonald Jill Beshears Fant Jean Harper Drumwright Patricia Eaves McAnally Marcia Murray Moss Debbie Cathey Burger Elise Neal Davis Gloria Williams Ermer Mickey Weyland Vicki Hurd Bartholomew Anne Randle Galloway Sarah Leonard Vaughn Ruth Ann Barker Smith Jenny Thomas Oakes Linda Workman Shumate Deborah Kincaid Gooch Angelina Johnson Cole Gerry Johnson Huffine Rita Wilson Howard Brenda Seal Kemp MarionFlanniganBurgess Desiree Daniels Patty Williams Woodmansee Margaret Petty Denny Mary Cox Ward Terry Jean Alden

1949 1956 1963 1970 1977 1950 1957 1964 1971 1978 1951 1958 1965 1972 1979 1952 1959 1966 1973 1980 1953 1960 1967 1974 1981 1954 1961 1968 1975 1982 1955 1962 1969 1976 1982 1935 1938 1939 1940 1941 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948

Moira Kaye Ely

Shelley Mangrum Dana Brown Shaffer Lanna Keck Smith Ashley Eicher Erin Hatley Christine Williamson Sonya Pleasant Roth Jill Horn Mulrooney Heather Heath Ryan Tara Burns Chandler Lawson Flynn Brianna Mason Broady Tally Bevis Lauren Dickson Kris Beasley Leventhal Leah Hulan Allison Alderson DeMarcus Blaire Pancake ShelbyKuitemsThompson Kellye Cash Sheppard Miss America 1987 Kathleen Brang Mesmer Beth Hood Fromm Grace Gore Sturdivant Hayley Lewis Regina Athnos Lori Smith Lankford StephanieStrandCulberson EllenSheltonCarrington Hannah Robison Shellnut Carrie Folks Strang Ali Shumate Fowler Valli Kugler Kelly Stefanie Wittler-Beavers Grace Burgess Allen Lisa Robertson Jeni Stephens Jamie Watkins Davenport Nicole Jordan Lay

1984 1990 1997 2004 2011 2018 1985 1991 1998 2005 2012 2019 2021 2022 1986 1992 1999 2006 2013 1986 1993 2000 2007 2014 1987 1994 2001 2008 2015 1988 1995 2002 2009 2016 1989 1996 2003 2010 2017

Caty Davis

Thank you to Byrd Fitness and Gary Byrd for helping Lauren be in the best shape for Miss America! 16590 Hwy 104 N Lexington, TN 38351 (731) 249-5145 BYRD FITNESS

Official Ring Sponsor for Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen Mark Manning Designer and Jeweler Thank you Mark for providing gorgeous custom rings for our titleholders! 5009 South First St Milan, Tennessee (731)686-0101 customjewelers1@gmail.com Custom Jewelers

2023 Miss TennesseeScholarships and Cash Awards 2023

Scholarships

Express Feedback for Good Top Fundraisers: ($250 - 1st, $150 -2nd, $100 – 3rd) $500 Public Relations Winner $1,000 People’s Choice Award Winner $500 Miss Tennessee Academic Award (sponsored by David and Colene Trent) $500 Servant Leader Overall Community Service Award $500 Spotfund Fundraiser Award Ring from Custon Jewelers Ad Sales Rebates Congeniality Award $500 Patricia Holmes Overall Interview Award (sponsored by Diana Holmes Levaton) $500 Preliminary Talent Awards (2 @ $500 each) $1,000 Onstage Conversation Prelim (2 @ $500 each) $1,000 Non-Finalists (17) $8,500 Top 12 Finalists (7) $7,000 Non-Finalist Interview Award $300 Non-Finalist Talent Award $300 Fourth Alternate $2,000 Third Alternate $2,500 Second Alternate $5,000 First Alternate $7,500 Miss Tennessee $16,000 Express Feedback for Good Top Fundraisers: ($200 - 1st, $100 -2nd, $100 - 3rd) $400 Public Relations Winner $1,000 People’s Choice Award Winner $100 Miss Tennessee’s Teen Academic Award (sponsored by David and Colene Trent) $100 Servant Leader Overall Community Service Award $100 Spotfund Fundraiser Award Ring from Custom Jewelers Ad Sales Rebates Congeniality Award $100 Miss TN Store Preliminary Talent Awards (2 @ $500 each) $250 Onstage Conversation Prelim (2 @ $500 each) $250 Fourth Alternate $250 Third Alternate $500 Second Alternate $1,000 First Alternate $1,500 Miss Tennessee’s Teen $3,500 Total Scholarships and Cash Awards for Miss Candidates Total Scholarships and Cash Awards for Teen Candidates $55,100 $8,950

Miss Tennessee’s Teen

and Cash Awards

Overflow Hotel Sponsor Overflow Hotel Sponsor 300 North Second Street Memphis, TN 38105 855-516-1090 40 NORTH FRONT ST MEMPHIS, TN, US 888-591-6870

Former Miss Tennessee’s Teen Titleholders

Elizabeth Wood 2004 Madeline Littrell 2005 Leah Beth Bolton 2006 Devin Grissom 2007 Madyson Foster 2008 Victoria Calton 2009 Maggie Belew 2010 Madison Snipes 2011 Haley Butler 2012 Chandler Booth 2013 Lexie Perry 2014 Allie Privett 2015 Leah Humble 2016 Autumn Arsenalt 2017 Mary Humphrey 2018 Taylor Parsons 2019 Taylor Black Jane Marie Franks 2021 2022

THANK YOU Jane Marie Franks!

Custom facials and peels Hydrodermabrasion Lash and Brow Services 220 CHURCH ST, LEXINGTON, TN 731-249-9404 Thank you to Nastia’s for providing skincare for Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen! Come see us! Where you can dress like a WINNER!

American Tuxedo 3499 Riverdale Rd Memphis, TN 38115 (901) 753-8897 americantuxedomemphis.com

Thank you, Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsors:

Joe & Janie Albright

Belinda Arender

HundredX, Inc.

The Peabody, Memphis

JoAnn’s

Presenting Sponsors:

Cannon Center

Guest House at Graceland

Kristy Belcher Photography

Renasant Convention Center

Diamond Sponsors:

Amro Music

Brentwood Dentistry

Changes Medical Spa

Custom Jewelers

Devoted Creations

David & Colene Trent

Phil Shirley & Nita Thurman

Tom & Sharon Hopson

Gold Sponsors:

Brothers Printing

The Encounter

Re:Defined Boutique

Riley Rules

Sidney Clark Design

Suntan City

Sparks Printing

TriStar Princess Program

Silver Sponsors:

Deep Southern Class

Downtown Memphis Commission

My Best Friend Jenna

Photo by Liz Courtney Photography Photo by Liz Courtney Photography Photo by Liz Courtney Photography

2023 Prize Package for Miss Tennessee

Scholarship and Monthly Stipend ($16,000 total value)

Official MAO Miss Tennessee Crown

Official MAO Miss Tennessee Sash

Official MAO Scepter sponsored by Tommy Whitwell

Miss America Competition Wardrobe sponsored by JoAnn’s of Tennessee

Travel including Airline Tickets sponsored by Belinda Arender and Hotel Accommodations to Miss America and Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition

Official Photography sponsored by Kristy Belcher with Hair and Makeup Session from Kimberly Stinchcomb

Official Crown Couture Crown Box sponsored by Colene Trent

Cosmetic Dentistry and Whitening sponsored by Brentwood

Aesthetic and Family Dentistry

Skincare provided by Changes Medical Spa, Clarity Skincare

Studio, Merle Norman Cosmetics and Local Esthetics by Anastasiya Bryant

Appearance and Daywear Wardrobe sponsored by the

Encounter, Re:Defined Boutique, Delta Designs, My Best Friend

Jenna, The Clothes Tree, Glamour Formals, Sidney Clark, Deep Southern Class, Belinda Arender

Jewelry sponsored by Custom Jewelers, Kendra Scott

Makeup and tutorials: MDH Cosmetics and Madison Hardy Dennis

One year of Tanning Services sponsored by SunTan City

Appearances including professional sporting events, photo shoots, interviews, and social impact-related engagements

Luggage by Samsonite Store #385 Opry Mills

2023 Prize Package for Miss Tennessee’s Teen

Scholarship ($3,500 value)

Official MAO Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen Crown

Official MAO Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen Sash

Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition Wardrobe sponsored by JoAnn’s of Tennessee

Travel including Airline Tickets to Miss America’s Teen sponsored by Belinda Arender and Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition

Official Photography sponsored by Kristy Belcher with Hair and Makeup Session from Kimberly Stinchcomb

Official Crown Couture Crown Box sponsored by Colene Trent

Skincare provided by Changes Medical Spa, Merle Norman

Cosmetics and Local Esthetics by Anastasiya Bryant

Appearance and Daywear Wardrobe sponsored by

Re:Defined Boutique, Glamour Formals, Belinda Arender

Jewelry sponsored by Custom Jewelers, Kendra Scott

Makeup and tutorials: MDH Cosmetics and Madison Hardy Dennis

One year of Tanning Services sponsored by SunTan City

Appearances including professional sporting events, photo shoots, interviews, and social impact-related engagements

Thank you to My Best Friend Jenna and Johnathan Kayne for dressing Lauren for a special event this year.

Providing tanning services for Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen

Together in spirit and soul, Kevin Kane, Memphis Tourism President & CEO Beale Street Management https://www.bealestreet.com 203 Beale Street, Suite 300, Memphis, TN 38103 Phone: (901) 526-0115 BBKings Blues Club 143 Beale Street Memphis, TN, 38103 Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital www.lebonheur.org/locations/hospital 848 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38103 Stax Museum of American Soul Music staxmuseum.com 926 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN 38106 (901) 942-7685 45 Riverside Drive Memphis, TN 38103

CONTESTANT 2843 Farrisview Blvd, Memphis, TN 38118 Thanks for serving us so well, Lauren! C ontestant

B K , i t h a s b e e n m y h o n o r t o h a v e y o u r i d e t h e w a v e w i t h m e t h r o u g h t h i s c r a z y

j o u r n e y . Y o u h a v e b e e n a c o n s t a n t r e m i n d e r o f t h e p o w e r o f a d r e a m , p e r s e v e r a n c e a n d h o p e . T h a n k y o u f o r b e i n g m y s i d e k i c k d u r i n g t h e u p s a n d d o w n s . Y o u c a n d o A N Y T H I N G y o u s e t y o u r m i n d t o w i t h J e s u s b y y o u r s i d e .

I l o v e y o u , m y g i r l !

- L a u r e n

A Y L O R K A T E T I P P S M I S S T E N N E S S E E ' S T R I S T A R P R I N C E S S

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@ T H E C L O T H E S T R E E B I R M I N G H A M , A L A B A M A | 2 0 5 - 8 2 2 - 1 9 0 2 @ T H E C L O T H E S T R E E N A S H V I L L E B R E N T W O O D , T E N N E S S E E | 6 1 5 - 4 3 2 - 2 1 9 1 W W W . T H E C L O T H E S T R E E B Y D E B O R A H . C O M T H E C L O T H E S T R E E B Y D E B O R A H I S T H E E X C L U S I V E J O V A N I C O U T U R E P R O V I D E R F O R T E N N E S S E E A N D A L A B A M A . M E E T T O P D E S I G N E R , J U L I E D U R O C H E R , T O C R E A T E Y O U R D R E A M G O W N A T O N E O F O U R T R U N K S H O W S A T E I T H E R L O C A T I O N !

photos by Rob Metzger

Patty's Restaurant 591 W Church Street Lexington TN 38351 (731)-249-5854 20630 Highway 22 North (731)-967-1955 "Our Family Serving Yours Since 1978" (731) 968 3654

Todd Singleton -Owner 24 Hr. towing dons@donsbodyshop.org 861 West Church Street Lexington, Tennessee 38361 Phone: (731 968 3531 or (731) 968 2487 Lexington's Hometown Clothing Store Since 1935 562 W. Church Street Lexington, TN (731) 968-3551 DAVISCLOTHING1935 DAVISMENWOMENCHILDREN

Having Problems? Disappointed? With your present Medicare Health Plan. Contact Bobby at (731)-798-6992. I only represent 5 STAR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS. That means you can change your current plan to a 5 Star Plan year round. I stand ready to help you. MY ONLY CONTACT IS (731)-798-6992 or email me at bobbycogdell14@gmail.com My office is located at 41 N. Main St., Lexington TN "YOU CAN'T BEAT MY SERVICE" Bobby Cogdell 3rd house behind the Dodge Store Call or text: (731)-798-6922

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