JACKSON, Tenn. — The Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant wrapped up last weekend with a newly-crowned winner.
Saturday, 2024 Miss Tennessee Volunteer Jada Brown placed the crown on 22-year-old Hannah McKay from Seymour, Tennessee.
“It has been a journey from 11-year-old Hannah to 22-year-old Hannah,” McKay said. “I have grown immensely. I truly believe in the power of pageantry, and what it does for young women. The benefits ,the opportunity, and the growth. Pageantry truly sets women up to be the next generation of leaders.”
This year’s winner explains what her initiative will be going forward.
“As Miss Tennessee Volunteer, I definitely want to keep advocating with my platform ‘Music in Memories.’ it means the word to me,” McKay said. “So, ‘Music in Memories’ is all about using the power of music and human connection to connect with senior adults, specifically Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.”
McKay says it all started because of her great grandmother, who was the first person she saw experience full effects of dementia and the toll took on her health.
“I only do it because I love my nanny and she means the world to me,” said McKay. “But, she is one of the nearly 130,000 Tennesseans that suffer from this disease. So I really want to focus on my platform, but also the character traits that speaks to me from my platform, and who I am as a person is compassion. It is so important to remember to give back and to serve others.”
Most contestants describe the relationships they’ve made throughout the pageant journey as adding new faces to their family.
“I’ve learned that it’s not just about the competition, but it’s about making lifelong friends, and I know through pageants I have made so many friends from all over Tennessee,” she said.
Scoring was judged on four categories, each worth 25%: fitness and wellness, talent, evening gown, and private interview.
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