News Summary
Madison Kunst from Madison County was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2025 at the annual pageant held at Austin Peay State University. Aniston Barnette was also crowned Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2025. The event featured competitive finalists, including winners of various awards like People’s Choice and Miss Congeniality. This marked the 25th anniversary of the pageant’s hosting in Clarksville. The event is directed by Greenwood Productions, affiliated with the Miss Universe Organization.
CLARKSVILLE – Madison Kunst, representing Madison County, was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2025 during the annual pageant held on Saturday at Austin Peay State University. Kunst will go on to represent Tennessee at the prestigious Miss USA pageant this coming fall.
The event also saw the crowning of Aniston Barnette, Miss Bristol, as Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2025. Barnette, too, will represent the state at the upcoming Miss Teen USA pageant later this year.
The Miss Tennessee USA pageant featured a highly competitive field, with the top five finalists showcasing talent and poise. Malory Williams, representing Miss Memphis Metro USA, won the People’s Choice Award, while Kelsi Walters, Miss Secret City USA, was honored as Miss Congeniality. Kelsey Craft, representing Miss Music City USA, claimed the title of Most Photogenic.
The evening’s pageant was hosted by a team of prominent figures, including Asya Branch, Alle-Sutton Heathcoat, and Shelly Moore Bartholomew. A distinguished panel of judges comprised of Kevin Blue, Brenna Mader Perkins, Eddie Edwards, Jr., Holly Firfer, and Jason Rader evaluated the contestants.
In the Teen USA competition, Lexi Hensley (Miss Knoxville Teen) achieved a double win by securing both the Miss Congeniality and Most Photogenic awards. Additionally, Presley Cavender (Miss Hendersonville Teen) took home the People’s Choice Award among the teen contestants.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Miss Tennessee USA pageant being hosted in Clarksville, specifically at the University’s George & Sharon Mabry Concert Hall. Since 1999, the event has been a staple in the community, showcasing young women from across the state.
The pageant is directed by Greenwood Productions, Inc., which is affiliated with the renowned Miss Universe Organization. Kimberly Payne Greenwood, who was crowned Miss Tennessee USA in 1989 and is married to country music star Lee Greenwood, leads the organization and its activities.
In addition to the Miss Tennessee USA pagent, the same weekend also saw the hosting of the Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia Teen USA pageants in Clarksville. Reigning of the Miss Georgia USA, Emmaline Farmer, was present and advocated for Cardiac Emergency Response Plans during her platform speech.
The past year was significant for previous winners, with Christell Foote (Miss Tennessee USA) and Townsend Blackwell (Miss Tennessee Teen USA) both achieving notable success as Third Runners Up in their respective competitions: Miss USA 2024 and Miss Teen USA 2024.
In related news, the Clarksville-Montgomery County area is currently anticipating potential showers and thunderstorms early in the upcoming work week. Additionally, nominations for Clarksville’s Best contest have commenced, drawing interest from local residents.
Information about the delegates and the pageant can be found on the official Miss Tennessee USA website.
Highlighting community achievements, West Creek High’s Brock Budesheim received recognition as the TSSAA Girls’ Wrestling Coach of the Year after a remarkable season.
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Additional Resources
- Clarksville Now: Miss Tennessee USA 2025 Pageant Winners
- Wikipedia: Miss Tennessee USA
- WKRN: Delegates Competing in Clarksville for Miss Tennessee USA
- Google Search: Miss Tennessee USA 2025
- Clarksville Online: Crowning of 2025 Miss Tennessee and Miss Georgia USA
- Google Scholar: Miss USA Pageant
- Clarksville Now: Miss Tennessee USA 2025 Pageant Events
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Miss Tennessee USA 2025
- WKRN: Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2025 Competition
- Google News: Miss Tennessee USA 2025
Author: STAFF HERE BRISTOL WRITTER
The BRISTOL STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBristol.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bristol, Sullivan County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Border Bash concert series, and the Hot Bristol Night Car Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Believe in Bristol, and the Birthplace of Country Music, plus leading businesses in healthcare, manufacturing, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Ballad Health, Strongwell, and Bristol Motor Speedway. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREChattanooga.com, HEREKnoxville.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
