The honored crowns of Miss University of Tennessee at Martin and Miss Soybean Festival now gracefully rest upon the heads of two new queens: Amanda Mayo and Tera Townsend.
Mayo and Townsend were crowned at the annual scholarship pageant on Sunday, Nov. 11.
Mayo, a junior double major in Biology and Geology from Lilburn, Georgia, said, “I don’t even know how I feel about winning. It feels like pop rocks going off inside me. And due to my concussion, it felt like I couldn’t walk right.”
Mayo’s platform is “Return to Learn: A Concussion Awareness Initiative.” She encourages students to know that head injuries are important and if someone suffers a concussion, to talk to a neurologist or practitioner.
Mayo has competed in the four previous Miss UTM pageants before earning her position in the state competition. The Miss Tennessee pageant members past and present are like family to Mayo and have taught her many life lessons.
“I loved getting to meet the new girls and girls who have competed before,” Mayo said. “Getting to know each girl and their story really shows you why this pageant is important. We all cheer each other on, no matter if who wins.”
Townsend is a senior Audio Engineer at SAE Institute of Technology in Nashville and previously held the 2018 Miss Jackson title.
Townsend’s platform is “Sing a Note – Through Music Building a Better You,” and as someone who is an overcomer of a speaking disability, she never let that disability define her. She is excited about bringing her story and platform across Tennessee to encourage others.
“So many great friendships came out of tonight and everyone who wants to do pageants just remember work towards your goal just as every girl in this pageant did,” Townsend said.
Runner-up for the Miss UTM title was Kailey Duffy, and second runner-up was Rachael Friedrich. Kara Smith was the first runner-up for the Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival and Miranda Colegrove was the second runner-up.
Katrina Cobb, assistant station manager for Public Television Station WLJT, is also the Executive Director of the Miss UTM and Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival Scholarship Pageant. “Several weeks of promotions for the pageants, writing scripts, lining up judges and picking up gifts up from the community for our winners are just a few things that have went into planning this event,” Cobb said. “It is long and tedious, but it is worth it.” Cobb encourages pageant participants to work on their platform and interview skills above all else.
The judges of the pageant were Kurt Brown, Kiara Castleman, Hannah Powell East, Karaleigh Holmes, Katelin Turner Holmes and Brad Thompson.
“Every single one of these girls is so passionate and all the work they are doing for their platforms is so amazing,” said Castleman, interim assistant registrar at UTM. “It was a tough choice between all the girls, but both Amanda and Tara are amazing young women and have so much work in what they want to do, and in their platforms and you could see it in every part of the pageant including the interview.”
The judges made their decision based on lifestyle and fitness swimsuit competition which was worth lifestyle 15 percent, talent competition for 35 percent, evening gown competition for 20 percent, answered an onstage question for 5 percent, and a private interview that accounts for 25 percent of the final score.
Mayo as the new Miss UTM will receive a $1,500 scholarship and Townsend will receive a $500 scholarship.
This was the 56th year for the Miss UTM competition and the 20th Miss Tennessee Soybean Festival pageant.
