Miss Tennessee USA

Miss Tennessee USA
Formation	1952
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Collierville
Location	Tennessee ;
Membership	Miss USA
Official language	English
Key people	Kim Greenwood, State Pageant Director
Website	Official website

Last updated July 11, 2025

The Miss Tennessee USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Greenwood Productions under the ownership of Miss Tennessee USA 1989, Kimberly Payne Greenwood, since 1992.^[1] Since 1999, the pageant has been held at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.^[a]^[2]^[3]

Lynnette Cole, Miss Tennessee USA 2000, and Rachel Smith, Miss Tennessee USA 2007, are the only titleholders to win the Miss USA title and both previously won the Miss Tennessee Teen USA title. Six Miss Tennessee USA titleholders have formerly competed at Miss Tennessee Teen USA, and six have competed at Miss America. One of these is Allison Alderson, a "triple crown" winner who has held the Miss Tennessee Teen USA, Miss Tennessee, and Miss Tennessee USA titles, competing at all three major pageants.

Madison Kunst of Nashville was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2025 on June 28, 2025 at the Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She will represent Tennessee for the title of Miss USA 2025.

Gallery of titleholders

Sandra Force, Miss Tennessee USA 1968
Karen Compton, Miss Tennessee USA 1986
Allison Alderson, Miss Tennessee USA 2002 (pictured in 2008)
Stephanie Culberson, Miss Tennessee USA 2004
Rachel Smith, Miss Tennessee USA 2007 and Miss USA 2007
Allee-Sutton Hethcoat, Miss Tennessee USA 2017

Results summary

Miss USAs: Lynnette Cole (2000), Rachel Smith (2007)
1st runners-up: Morgan Tandy High (1999), Ashley Durham (2011)
2nd runners-up: Gail White (1962), Desiree Daniels (1984), Becca Lee (1996), Towanna Stone (1997)
3rd runners-up: Jean Harper (1952), Donna Marie Ford (1970), Christell Foote (2024)
4th runners-up: Beth Hood (2003), Stephanie Culberson (2004)
Top 10/12: Sharon Kay Steakley (1981), Sherly Deanice "Nise" Levy (1982), Stephanie Jane Potts (1988), Charita Moses (1990), Camila "Cammy" Gregory (1993), Leah Hulan (1994), Lisa Tollett (2001), Hailey Laine Brown (2008), Kristen Motil (2009), Tucker Perry (2010), Allee-Sutton Hethcoat (2017), Alexandra Harper (2018), Emily Suttle (2022)
Top 15/16/20: Stella Wilson (1956), Martha Boales (1958), Bobbie Lynn Morrow (1963), Mary Margaret Smith (1966), Nancy Brackhahn (1967), Sandra Force (1968), Lauren Grissom (2006), Jessica Hibler (2012), Kristy Landers Niedenfuer (2014), Elizabeth Pistole (2021)

Tennessee holds a record of 36 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Miss Photogenic: Suzanna Timberlake (1978)
Best State Costume: Pat Kerr (1964), Elizabeth Pistole (2021)
Miss Congeniality: Bonnie Perkins (1965), Martha Browning (1985)
Style Award: Becca Lee (1996)
Best in Swimsuit: Lynnette Cole (2000)
Best in Evening Gown: Christell Foote (2024)

Winners

Color key

Declared as Winner
Ended as runner-up
Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists

Year	Name	Hometown	Age^[b]	Local title	Placement at Miss USA	Special awards at Miss USA	Notes
2025	Madison Kunst	Nashville	26	Miss Madison County	TBA
2024	Christell Foote	Rocky Top	23	Miss Rocky Top	3rd runner-up	Best in Evening Gown
2023	Regan Ringler	Nashville	25	Miss Downtown Nashville
2022	Emily Suttle	Franklin	25	Miss Franklin	Top 12		Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2013 Top 16 semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 2013
2021	Elizabeth Graham Pistole	Franklin	20	Miss Historic Franklin	Top 16	Best State Costume	Previously both 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2017 and Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2019
2020	Justice Enlow	Nashville	26	Miss Belle Meade			Longest reigning Miss Tennessee USA at 1 year, 5 months and 1 day
2019	Savana Hodge	Nashville	25	Miss Davidson County
2018	Alexandra Harper^[4]	Brentwood	25	Miss Williamson County	Top 10		Daughter of Sharon Kay Steakley, Miss Tennessee USA 1981
2017	Allee-Sutton Hethcoat	Franklin	25	Miss Williamson County	Top 10
2016	Hope Stephens	Livingston	20	Miss Upper Cumberland			Previously 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2014
2015	Kiara Young^[5]	Nashville	23	Miss Greater Nashville
2014	Kristy Landers Niedenfuer^[6]	Nashville	22	Miss Nashville	Top 20		Daughter of Major League Baseball pitcher Tom Niedenfuer and actress Judy Landers Later Miss Louisiana World 2015 3rd runner-up at Miss World America 2015
2013	Brenna Mader	Nashville	25	Miss Davidson County			Previously Miss Wyoming Teen USA 2005 Sister of Jamie Mader, Miss Wyoming Teen USA 2002 ^[7]
2012	Jessica Hibler^[8]	Brentwood	22	Miss Middle Tennessee State University	Top 16
2011	Ashley Durham	Adamsville	20	Miss East Memphis	1st runner-up		Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2006
2010	Tucker Perry	Franklin	20	Miss Tennessee Valley	Top 10		Daughter of Kathi Tucker, Miss Washington USA 1983
2009	Kristen Motil^[9]	Franklin	24	Miss Williamson County	Top 10
2008	Hailey Laine Brown	Franklin	25	Miss South Fulton	Top 10		Previously 4th runner-up at Miss Tennessee 2003
2007	Rachel Smith ^[10]	Clarksville	21	Miss Clarksville	Miss USA 2007		Born in Panama Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2002 Top 10 Semi-Finalist & Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2002 4th runner-up at Miss Universe 2007 Host ABC's On the Red Carpet
2006	Lauren Grissom	Shelbyville	21	Miss Shelbyville	Top 15		Previously dating country singer Jake Owen ^[11] Participant on VH1's You're Cut Off!
2005	Amy Colley	Jonesborough	21				Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee 2008
2004	Stephanie Culberson	Knoxville	24		4th runner-up		Previously Miss Tennessee 2001 2nd runner-up at Miss America 2002
2003	Beth Hood	Cleveland	24		4th runner-up		Previously Miss Tennessee 2000
2002	Allison Alderson ^[2]	Nashville	25				Triple crown winner Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1994 Top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1994 Previously Miss Tennessee 1999 Sister of Miss District of Columbia USA 1999, Amy Alderson
2001	Lisa Tollett	Crossville	24		Top 10		Previously engaged with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Elliott Sadler
2000	Lynnette Cole	Columbia	21		Miss USA 2000	Best in Swimsuit	Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1995 3rd runner-up & Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 1995 3rd runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1998 Miss Teen All American 1997 Top 5 finalist at Miss Universe 2000
1999	Morgan Tandy High	Nashville	25		1st runner-up
1998	Amy Neely	Lafayette				Honorable Mention
1997	Towanna Stone	Morristown	24		2nd runner-up		First Black woman to win Miss Tennessee USA
1996	Becca Lee	Memphis	24		2nd runner-up	Finesse Style Award
1995	Lee Ann Huey	Obion
1994	Leah Hulan	Murfreesboro	25		Top 12		Previously Miss Tennessee 1992
1993	Camila "Cammy" Gregory	Paris	25		Top 12		The Kentucky native died on January 3, 2003, of a sudden brain aneurysm in Jackson, Tennessee
1992	Natalie Bray
1991	Angela Johnson
1990	Charita Moses	Memphis	23		Top 12
1989	Kimberly Payne	Nashville	21				Previously Tennessee's Junior Miss 1985 Current director of Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee (both Miss & Teen) pageants under her married name, Kim Greenwood^[1]
1988	Stephanie Jane Potts	Memphis	23		Semi-finalist
1987	Molly Brown	Loretto					Previously Miss Tennessee Teen USA 1984 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1984
1986	Karen Compton	Lawrenceburg
1985	Martha Browning	Chattanooga	24			Miss Congeniality	First deaf Miss USA contestant.^[12]
1984	Desiree Daniels	Chattanooga	24		2nd runner-up		Previously Miss Tennessee 1982 Finished 1st runner up to Miss America 1983
1983	Ladonna Friday	Jonesborough
1982	Sherly Deanice "Nise" Levy	Nashville	21		Semi-finalist		Producer of I'm Not Ashamed Appeared on Australian series of The World's Strictest Parents
1981	Sharon Kay Steakley	Nashville	24		Semi-finalist		Mother of Alexandra Harper, Miss Tennessee USA 2018
1980	Diane Hunt	Etowah
1979	Sandy Nuismer	Nashville
1978	Suzanna Timberlake	Chattanooga				Miss Photogenic	Semifinalist in Miss World USA 1980
1977	Rene Smith	Cookeville
1976	Jana Kerr	Savannah
1975	Shelly Smith	Memphis					Previously Miss Memphis State 1975
1974	Brin Hendrix	Counce
1973	Tommye Hooker	Memphis
1972	Linda Thompson	Memphis	21				Placed 3rd runner-up at Miss Tennessee 1970 Actress and songwriter Married (and then divorced) to Bruce Jenner and David Foster Mother of Brandon and Brody Jenner
1971	Sue Collins	Strawberry Plains
1970	Donna Marie Ford	Trenton	23		3rd runner-up
1969	Suzie Richardson	Jackson
1968	Sandra Force	Memphis	23		Semi-finalist
1967	Nancy Brackhahn	Nashville	21		Semi-finalist
1966	Mary Margaret Smith	Nashville	20		Semi-finalist
1965	Bonnie Perkins	Nashville	23			Miss Congeniality
1964	Pat Kerr	Nashville	19			Best State Costume
1963	Bobbie Morrow	Memphis	26		Semi-finalist
1962	Gail White	Chattanooga	21		2nd runner-up
1961	Anita Atkins	Nashville	25
1960	Christine McSwain	Memphis	21
1959	Marcia Daniels	Memphis	20
1958	Martha Boales	Memphis	23	Miss Memphis	Semi-finalist		1st runner-up in the 1959 Miss Dixie Pageant
1957	Patricia Prather	Memphis	18
1956	Stella Wilson	Memphis	22		Semi-finalist
1955	Barbara Gurley	Memphis	24
1954	Barbara Holly	Nashville	21
1953	No representative
1952	Jean Harper	Memphis	18		3rd runner-up		Previously Miss Tennessee 1951

Notes

↑ Except 2021, where it was held alternatively in Tunica, Mississippi due to off-campus event restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee.
↑ Age at the time of crowning

References

1 2 "Producers". Miss Tennessee USA/Teen USA Pageants. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
1 2 Butterfield, Fox (2001-10-15). "Next Door to Army Base, Pageant Proudly Goes On". New York Times.
↑ Dexter, Jamie (2008-10-01). "Clarksville to host pageants". The Leaf Chronicle.
↑ Brechtelsbauer, Erica (14 October 2017). "Alexandra Harper, Miss Williamson Co., wins Miss Tennessee USA". The Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
↑ "Miss Greater Nashville Kiara Young Crowned Miss Tennessee USA". The Chattanoogan. October 5, 2014.
↑ June, Nicole (October 6, 2013). "Kristy Landers Niedenfuer Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2014". Clarksville Now.
↑ Schmoldt, Eric (June 15, 2007). "CNFR: More than just a cowgirl". The Star Tribune. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
↑ "Jessica Hibler Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2012". Clarksville Online. October 9, 2011.
↑ Dexter, Jamie (2008-10-05). "Dream comes true for one contestant". The Leaf Chronicle.
↑ Veiga, Alex (2007-03-24). "Dream comes true for one contestant". Washington Post.
↑ Bierly, Mandi (2009-02-27). "Jake Owen: The EW Pop Culture Personality Test". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
↑ "New Language". The Times-News. 1985-04-27.

External links

Official website

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[2] Except 2021, where it was held alternatively in Tunica, Mississippi due to off-campus event restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee.

[5] Age at the time of crowning

[Producers-1] 1 2 "Producers". Miss Tennessee USA/Teen USA Pageants. Retrieved July 10, 2010.

[alderson-3] 1 2 Butterfield, Fox (2001-10-15). "Next Door to Army Base, Pageant Proudly Goes On". New York Times.

[4] Dexter, Jamie (2008-10-01). "Clarksville to host pageants". The Leaf Chronicle.

[:0-6] Brechtelsbauer, Erica (14 October 2017). "Alexandra Harper, Miss Williamson Co., wins Miss Tennessee USA". The Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

[TN2015-7] "Miss Greater Nashville Kiara Young Crowned Miss Tennessee USA". The Chattanoogan. October 5, 2014.

[TN2014-8] June, Nicole (October 6, 2013). "Kristy Landers Niedenfuer Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2014". Clarksville Now.

[9] Schmoldt, Eric (June 15, 2007). "CNFR: More than just a cowgirl". The Star Tribune. Retrieved July 10, 2021.

[Hibler_Win-10] "Jessica Hibler Crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2012". Clarksville Online. October 9, 2011.

[11] Dexter, Jamie (2008-10-05). "Dream comes true for one contestant". The Leaf Chronicle.

[12] Veiga, Alex (2007-03-24). "Dream comes true for one contestant". Washington Post.

[13] Bierly, Mandi (2009-02-27). "Jake Owen: The EW Pop Culture Personality Test". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-02-28.

[14] "New Language". The Times-News. 1985-04-27.

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v t e Tennessee pageant winners
Miss Tennessee	Barbara Jo Walker (1947) Kellye Cash (1986) Allison Alderson (1999) Ashley Eicher (2004) Blaire Pancake (2006) Grace Gore (2007) Stefanie Wittler (2009) Nicole Jordan (2010) Erin Hatley (2011) Chandler Lawson (2012) Hayley Lewis (2014) Hannah Robison (2015)
Miss Tennessee USA	Sandra Force (1968) Linda Thompson (1972) Lynnette Cole (2000) Allison Alderson (2002) Rachel Smith (2007) Ashley Durham (2011)
Miss Tennessee Teen USA	Allison Alderson (1994) Lynnette Cole (1995) Shelly Moore (1997) Rachel Boston (1999) Rachel Smith (2002) Ashley Durham (2006) Stormi Henley (2009)