Miss Knoxville

A decade of memories. A lifetime of lessons. 🥹👑

Ten years of crowns, curls, rehearsals, rhinestones, road trips, interviews, friendships, growth, and becoming.

My journey through pageantry has played such a pivotal role in my life, and looking back at these photos reminds me of the heart of it all: the friendships and mentors, the lessons learned, the confidence gained, and countless moments that have shaped my experience as a young woman navigating the world.

What a gift it has been to be raised by the Miss America Opportunity! 🤍✨

Which Meghan era is your favorite? 🤭

“To remember, honor, educate, and inspire.” 🇺🇸

Before many of us were awake this morning, volunteers gathered at sunrise, in the rain, to begin reading aloud more than 6,400 names engraved into the granite pillars of the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial here in Knoxville.

The names are shared in chronological order by conflict and county, honoring East Tennesseans who lost their lives in military service. Following the Reading of the Names (4 hours), five newly engraved names were dedicated, alongside the annual Memorial Day service hosted by American Legion Post 2.

The East Tennessee Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 2008, holds the names of 6,316 fallen heroes from 35 East Tennessee counties and stands as a place for reflection, education, and remembrance. The memorial also honors East Tennessee’s 15 Medal of Honor recipients and reminds visitors of the sacrifices made to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.

Each name represents a life, a family, and a legacy of service worth remembering. Today, Knoxville honored them with reverence and humility.

Grateful today for those who gave everything, and for the communities committed to ensuring their stories continue to be told.

T-minus ONE MONTH until Miss Tennessee!

Treating every rehearsal, workout, mock interview, and early morning as a gift in these final weeks. How lucky am I to have this opportunity and to grow because of it every single day. 🤍👑

It’s been a busy few weeks since wrapped up: finishing my Master’s coursework and finals while diving straight into the final stretch of Miss Tennessee preparations 🤍✨

Earlier last month, I had the opportunity to meet with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ office to share the vision behind DSTN. As the launch community for our campaign, I was deeply honored when the Mayor offered to sign an official proclamation recognizing Knox County and celebrating May 1 as Do Something Tennessee Day!Today I finally had the chance to pick up that proclamation at City Hall, a keepsake I’ll treasure alongside the Tennessee Senate Joint Resolution that should be arriving in the mail soon. Thank you and your team for believing in this mission!

I continue to be in awe of all that we accomplished together, and I’m just feeling incredibly lucky for the ways has pushed me to grow, dream bigger, and become an even better steward of this opportunity to serve others.

Lots of prep content coming soon… Stay tuned 👑💪🏾

Nashville is about to be FULL of crowning moments 👑

Competition week for Miss Tennessee Organization is officially getting closer, which means it’s time to grab your tickets for an unforgettable week at Belmont University!

Not only can you experience the excitement of competition on the beautiful stage, but we are thrilled to welcome Cassie Donegan to Nashville for a full week of special events you won’t want to miss!

🎟️ Competition Tickets
Come cheer on the incredible young women competing for the titles of Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen! Witness talent, on-stage interviews, fitness, gown, sisterhood and impact come to life, live and in-action!

And beyond the competition:

🫖 Miss Tennessee Par-Tea
Floral fashions, fascinators, light lunch, and an enchanting afternoon with Miss America Cassie Donegan, Miss Tennessee Zoe Scheiderich, and Miss Tennessee’s Teen Analee Shaver 🌸

🥂 VIP Reception with Miss America
Hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a professional photo opportunity with Cassie before Thursday night preliminaries!

🎶 Back to Belmont: Stories and Songs with Miss America
A full-circle celebration at her alma mater, Belmont University, featuring stories, music, and memories from Cassie’s incredible year as Miss America

✨ Want the full experience? Attend all three special events with the Miss America Package!

Miss America event tickets must be purchased by June 5, so don’t wait!

🎟️ Secure your competition tickets + special event tickets now at misstennessee.org/tickets

Some lessons are taught in conversations. Others are taught simply by watching someone love people well every single day. 🤍

This Mother’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on the things my mom has quietly poured into me over the years: strength wrapped in gentleness, unwavering faith, intentional kindness, and the reminder that character will always matter more than perception.

So much of who I am is rooted in the example she’s set for me, not just in the big moments, but in the ordinary, everyday ways she shows up for the people she loves.

These are a few of the things I carry with me every day because of her. ✨

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!