Update! Congratulations to Kiara Young, the new Miss Tennessee USA 2015 and Hannah Faith Greene, the new Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2015! Click their names to view their profiles, and there’s more coverage on my Facebook page.  Full results post will be up soon.

Miss Tennessee USA & Teen USA 2015 will be crowned Saturday afternoon & evening.  Contestant photos can be found here - but scroll down to the end of this post to see contestant names!

In the Miss division contestant numbers have dropped from 53 last year to 36.  The only returning runner-up from 2013 is Devin Grissom (Southern TN), who has also been a runner-up in Alabama, was third runner-up to Stormi Henley at Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2010 and was Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen 2007.  Other past runners-up from Tennessee are Sarah Gross (Queen City) and Tara Zolfagharbik (Williamson Co) from 2013 and 2012.  

There few other contestants this year who have competed in other states: Kiara Young (Greater Nashville) was a runner-up 2013 alongside Devin and a semi-finalist in 2014, Yesenia Quinones (North Chattanooga) was a semi-finalist in Georgia in 2013, and Rachael Turner (Rocky Top) was a non-finalist in Texas in 2011).

Whilst I’m generally less aware of who’s competed in MAO, some name recognition and a little googling has alerted me to the fact that Kaleigh Bullard (Music City) was 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee 2014 a few months ago, and Rachael Turner was a semi-finalist (apologies if I’ve missed any more MAO crossovers!).

Contestants mentioned above - and a couple of others who caught my eye:
Devin Grissom, Sarah Gross, Tara Zolfagharbik, Kiara Young, Yesenia Quinones, Rachael Turner, Kaleigh Bullard, Bailey Piercefield, Mariel Lane

In Teen there are three returning runners-up: Hannah Ann Sluss (TN Iris), second runner-up; Hope Parker (Waverly), third runner-up and Taylor Ramsey (Unite), 4th runner-up.   Kincer Crutchfield (Chattanooga), third runner-up in Virginia Teen USA 2014 and a semi-finalist in 2013, is competing in Tennessee this year.  2014 semi-finalists include Olivia Hale (Greater Knoxville) and Jade Spilka (Hendersonville).

Hannah Ann Sluss, Hope Parker, Taylor Ramsey, Kinser Crutchfield, Olivia Hale, Jade Spilka

Click “read more” to see the full list of contestants with notes of past placements.

MISS CONTESTANTS (36)
Kelsey Long - Anderson Co.
Chelsea Ross Miller - Bluff City
Katie Callaway - Brentwood
Ciara Joyce - Capital City
Kristen Lowe - Carroll Co.
Jennifer Shaughnessy - Chattanooga
Caitlin Hill - Chester Co.
Lauren Collins - Davidson Co.
Katerria Dixon - Dixon Co.
Senzela Atmar - Edgehill
Cat Flynn - Greater Knoxville
Kiara Young - Greater Nashville (SF AL USA 14, 3RU 13, NF 12)
Sarah Yarbrough - Greater TN (SF 14, SF 13, 1RU TN TUSA 11, 1RU TN TUSA 10)
Brittney Clark - Houston Co. (SF 14)
Alexis Anderson - Jackson
Kayla Strayer - Knox Co.
Tara Bowlin - Knoxville
Makinsie Gault - Lincoln Co.
Taylar Robinson - Memphis Belle
Logan Sparkman - Middle TN (NF TN TUSA 11, SF 10)
Kaileigh Bullard - Music City
Erica Meredith - Music Valley
Megan Hale - Nashville
Yesenia Quinones - North Chattanooga (SF GA USA 13)
Jasmine Secrest - Pride of TN
Sarah Gross - Queen City (SF 14, 4RU 13, SF 12)
Bailey Piercefield - River Queen (SF 14)
Rachael Turner - Rocky Top (NF TX USA 11)
Amanda Elise Wilkins - Shelby Co.
Devin Grissom - Southern TN
Haylie Biller - Titan’s State
Holly Hall - Twin Lakes
Mariel Lane - Unite (NF TN TUSA 09)
Madelynne Myers - West Nashville
Bethany Stout - West TN
Tara Zolfagharbik - Williamson Co. (3RU 13, 1RU 12, 4RU TN TUSA 09)

TEEN CONTESTANTS (42)
Chloe Mayenknecht - Brentwood
Emily Byrge - Campbell Co.
Katie Hoskins - Cannon Co.
Kinser Crutchfield - Chattanooga (3RU VA TUSA 14, SF 13)
Alexis Mihalinec - Clarksville
Scarlett Minor - East TN
Allie Corzine - Franklin
Jarisha Shivers - Gibson Co.
Olivia Hale - Greater Knoxville (SF 14)
Karina Medina - Greater Nashville
Hannah Hausman - Greater TN
Jade Spilka - Hendersonville (SF 14)
Aleece Marie Passman - Kentucky Lake
Shawnna Melick - Kingsport
Hannah Kennedy - Knoxville
Grace Greenwell - Lebanon
Sydney Davis - Madison Co.
Lauren Steele - McNairy Co.
Sarah Johnson - Middle TN
Alexis Tinsley - Montgomery Co.
Mackenzie Cox - Morgan Co.
Jordynne Tucker - Music City
Elise Stein - Nashville
Emma Lamons - Northeast
Savannah Trinkle - Northeast TN
Morgan Martin - Obion Co.
Macy Moyer - River Queen
Hannah Faith Greene - Scenic City
Mary Drue Hall - Signal Mountain
Carly Reams - South Fulton
Carsen Rooney - Southwest TN
Alexandria Knowles - Spirit of TN
Hannah Ann Sluss - TN Iris (2RU 14)
Garrow Miles - Union City
Taylor Ramsey - Unite (4RU 14)
Carly Stout - Upper Cumberland
Tristan McIntosh - Volunteer Vocalist
Alexis Mayberry - Watertown
Hope Parker - Waverly (3RU 14)
Sarah Elizabeth Kinnaird - White Co.
Alexandra Cole - Williamson Co.
Hope Alexander - Wilson Co.