Miss Volunteer America pageant returns to Jackson for second year, all states participate

As the preliminaries began, one contestant from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia competed in the second annual Miss Volunteer America pageant as night one commenced on Wednesday at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.

A total of 1,205 tickets were sold for the first night of the event as both locals and families and friends of contestants alike traveled from every corner of the country to watch the budding annual competition.

Local educator Mal Matthews kicked off the night promptly at 7 p.m. with the singing of the National Anthem before co-hosts Allison Alderson DeMarcus and her husband Jay took to the stage to introduce the contestants.

Scores are equally based out of 25% each on the following competition phases: Talent, Interview, Evening Gown, and Fitness and Wellness, though the interview portion is not conducted in front of the audience. Contestants are divided into Groups A, B, and C with a different groups performing in different categories every night until the overall winner is announced on Saturday.

To be eligible to compete in the national competition, contestants must have won local and state pageants.

A familiar face for many, Knoxville native Paige Clark, who was crowned as Miss Volunteer Tennessee in 2022, is competing in the pageant. Clark, who is pursuing a degree in the medical field, performed a clogging routine on Wednesday during the Talent competition.

More: 'Won the judges' heart': Miss Knoxville Paige Clark is crowned Miss Tennessee Volunteer 2022

Two contestants take the win on Day 1

Miss Indiana Volunteer Stevie Griffin took home the honor for Fitness and Health, an award she described as "the most incredible feeling ever." The Fitness and Health component of the pageant allows contestants to show health and confidence through the swimsuit competition.

Griffin said her focus on fitness also helped to improve her mental health through working out.

"A lot of it was discipline but also just staying dedicated to myself because I knew how I wanted to feel on stage," Griffin said. "It wasn't as much about a physical physique that I was trying to achieve as it was just an emotional feeling. I started working out because I struggled with mental health and being able to work out is like my medicine."

A recent college graduate with a degree in vocal performance, Miss Georgia Volunteer Victoria Hill won the Talent portion of the evening with her performance of Georges Bizet's 1875 "Habanera" from the opera "Carmen."

"I love Carmen because she is a free-spirited woman, and she's confident," Hill said. "I love her confidence because for the longest time, I feel like I've been more of a people-pleaser and now that I'm older I'm like if people don't like me, that's okay, and I'm going to let it roll off my back."

Group B will perform on Thursday night, followed by Group C on Friday night, culminating with the crowning of one of the 15 semi-finalists on Saturday along with the People's Choice winner.

Major tourism driver for Jackson

Darren Lykes, who serves as the Director for Diversity and Inclusion on the national staff for Miss Volunteer America, explained that pageant season is a major tourism driver in Jackson.

"People are coming here, they're staying at AirBnB's, they're staying at hotels, they're eating in our restaurants and there definitely is a huge economic impact on Jackson," Lykes said. "It's one of the largest events in town like this, and it's substantial for our economy in Jackson."

Jackson local pageant visionary Jane Alderson has helped build the foundation of Miss Volunteer America over the past two years as the event draws more and more participants. Last year, drawing participation from over 45 states, the pageant this year includes all states and the District of Columbia.

In 2017, she was named as Jackson Rotary Woman of the Year because of her volunteerism in the community and with Union University.

A renowned figure in the pageant world, Alderson completed the first night without a hitch as the contest moves forward to name its next Miss Volunteer America on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Miss Volunteer America pageant kicks off for 2nd year in Jackson