Two crowned during pageants at UT Martin

Posted: Thursday, January 31, 2013 8:00 pm

Kristen Lackey of Savannah was crowned Miss University of Tennessee at Martin at the combined Miss UT Martin/Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Pageant Saturday night at the Student Life Center on the UT Martin campus.
The UT Martin student won the 2013 title and the opportunity to compete in the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant this summer in Jackson.
Also headed to the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant is Madison Hardy of Nashville, who won the Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival title. She is a graduate of Belmont University.
“(It feels) absolutely incredible,” Miss Lackey said following her win. “As an athlete at the school, this is something that I did not expect.”
Miss Lackey is a softball player at UT Martin and said she decided to compete in the pageant to combat pageant stereotypes.
“I just wanted to show people that nobody can define me. I define myself,” she said.
Miss Lackey’s philanthropy is modern day slavery and human trafficking, and she said she loves to compete and is ready for the Miss Tennessee pageant.
“I’m still in shock. I can’t believe it,” Miss Hardy said after winning the Soybean title. “I really want to go to Miss Tennessee. That’s just a goal that I’ve set.”
Miss Hardy’s philanthropy, “Tennessee: Get Up and Go” is an initiative she started to encourage Tennesseans to get out and be active in their communities. She said she is looking forward to having a great time at the Miss Tennessee pageant.
Runners-up for the Miss UT Martin crown were Jordan Gunn of Dyersburg, first maid; and Jerrie Carrington of Woodland Mills, second maid. All members of the Miss UT Martin court must be UT Martin students.
Runners-up for Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival were Kendall Schulz, a student at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, first maid; and Sarah Gross of Clarksburg, a student at Austin Peay State University, second maid.
The winners led a field of 13 contestants and a total of $4,400 was awarded to the titleholders and runners-up. Miss UT Martin 2012 Bethany Meeks of Jackson crowned Miss Lackey. Miss Hardy was crowned by 2012 Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Ginny Hankins of Ripley.
Miss Meeks and Miss Hankins were hostesses for the evening and entertained the audience with piano and vocal selections.
Hollie Holt of Martin directed the pageant.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with two talented, bright and beautiful young ladies. They are both competitive and ready to start their year of service.” Ms. Holt said.
“They will prepare and train for the next six months for competition in fitness, talent, interview and evening gown. They will work to raise donations and awareness for the Children’s Miracle Network and children’s hospitals as well as their own personal platforms.”

Published in The Messenger 1.31.13

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