Two young women from Tennessee have been crowned Miss Tennessee USA and Miss Tennessee Teen USA, following a three-day competition at Austin Peay State University. Christell Foote was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2024, taking over the title from Regan Ringler. Townsend Blackwell was crowned Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2024, succeeding Blye Allen. The competitions included a swimsuit portion, evening gown portion, and on-stage interviews. Both Foote and Blackwell will go on to represent Tennessee at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants in Hollywood in August. The pageants, which have been hosted in Clarksville since 1999, are affiliated with the Miss Universe Organization. This year’s pageants marked a significant change, as the organization eliminated age limits for contestants over 18 years old, as well as restrictions on contestants who are married, divorced, and pregnant. Foote shared that her journey to competing at Miss USA began seven years ago, leading her to become the confident and determined young woman she is today. The Miss Tennessee USA competition had 57 contestants, with Madison Kunst as first runner-up. The Miss Tennessee Teen USA competition featured 25 contestants, with Ruthie Richey as first runner-up. Both events highlighted the importance of mental and physical health, with Blackwell emphasizing the need to disconnect from technology and spend time outdoors.
Source
Photo credit www.wkrn.com