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. Since 1999, the pageant has been held at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Lynnette "Lynn" 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.
Sydney Grace Young of Clarksville was appointed Miss Tennessee USA 2026 on June 30th, 2026 after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She will represent Tennessee for the title of Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Miss USAs: Lynnette "Lynn" 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), Madison Kunst (2025)
Tennessee holds a record of 37 placements at Miss USA, fourth overall behind Texas, California, and South Carolina.
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 "Lynn" Cole (2000) Best in Evening Gown: Christell Foote (2024)
Winners
Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Sydney Grace Young Clarksville 26 Miss Clarksville 2025 Madison Kunst Nashville 27 Miss Madison County Top 20 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 CostumePreviously 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 2019 Savana Hodge Nashville 25 Miss Davidson County 2018 Alexandra Harper 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 Nashville 23 Miss Greater Nashville 2014 Kristy Landers Niedenfuer 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 2012 Jessica Hibler 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 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 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 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 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 Marie "Lynn" Cole Columbia 21 Miss USA 2000 Best in SwimsuitPreviously 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 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. 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-finalistProducer 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 Lynn Morrow Camden 26 Top 15 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
References
External links Official website