The Road to Miss Tennessee Volunteer Begins

JACKSON — Contestants for the 2023 Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant checked in at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson on Saturday, July 22, officially starting Tennessee’s biggest pageant of the season and its festivities. Pageant rounds begin Wednesday, July 26, and end Saturday, July 29. Four women represent Carroll County at the 2023 pageant.

Emma Martin, a McKenzie native and 2022 Bethel University graduate, is Miss Fall Fest Volunteer, a title she won in Union City. This is Emma’s third try for the Miss Tennessee Volunteer title, and she said she is most looking forward to reuniting with contestants during this year’s pageant week. She is the daughter of Jess Martin, also from McKenzie.

Though Kameshia Moxley is from Mansfield, Ohio, the 2023 Bethel University graduate represents her alma mater as Miss Bethel University Volunteer. The Miss Bethel University Pageant was Kameshia’s first pageant experience, and the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant is her second. She said she is most excited to soak in the moment and not take the opportunity for granted this week.

Addi Poole, a Martin native and a Murray State University graduate, is Miss Carroll County Volunteer. This is Addi’s third year competing in the Miss Tennessee Volunteer organization, and she said she wants to take more time to appreciate the opportunity this year. Addi is the daughter of Greg and Paula Poole, of Martin.

Gracelyn Eaves, a Houston County native and a rising senior at Bethel University, is Miss Tipton County Volunteer. Gracelyn represented Bethel University during last year’s pageant, and she won Miss Congeniality — a title voted by fellow contestants. This year, she said she looks forward to seeing her friends and meeting the new contestants. She is excited to share the learning experience and the stress of competing in the week-long activities.

Contestants are broken into three groups of twelve: Group A, Group B, and Group C. Each group is assigned alternating competitions each night, and contestants within each group compete against each other before the top 16 contestants are announced. Saturday, July 29, is the final pageant day. The 2023 Miss Tennessee Volunteer queen and her court will be announced, along with Miss Congeniality, People’s Choice winner, and the non-finalist Interview Award winner.

Addi is contestant number three, Kameshia is contestant number nine, and Emma is contestant number 11. All three women are in Group A. Group A competes in the talent round Wednesday night, the swimsuit round Thursday night, and the evening wear round Friday night. In the talent round, Addi will sing Miranda Lambert’s “Love Song,” Kameshia will play a classical piece composed by Antonio Vivaldi on the violin, and Emma will sing Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love.”

Gracelyn is contestant number 36, and she is in Group C. Her group competes in the swimsuit portion Wednesday night, the evening wear portion Thursday night, and the talent portion Friday night. Gracelyn will perform a recitation about accomplished women.

For one dollar, the Miss Tennessee Volunteer organization gives supporters the ability to vote on their favorite contestant for People’s Choice. The People’s Choice winner will secure a place in the Top 16 in the Saturday night finals and will be announced at the pageant’s conclusion. To vote for People’s Choice, visit misstennesseevolunteer.net/peoples-choice.

The winner of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant crown will serve as the governor’s spokesperson for character education and receive $25,000 in scholarship money. She will also qualify for the national Miss Volunteer America Pageant held June 19-22, 2024, in Jackson, Tennessee.