"We would rather the girls be intelligent and talented and not just a pretty face," she added. "They've been very careful to brand this as a 'competition' because 'pageant' has a lot of stereotypes," said Miss Tennessee executive director Colene Trent, 36, a five-time Miss Alabama contender and Union University associate professor who has a Ph.D in economics to go along with her beauty queen titles. It helps a lot.”Ĭatie Wegman is TCPalm's community and real estate reporter. You can keep up with Catie on Twitter on Facebook email her more of Catie's stories, and support her work with a TCPalm subscription.These title-holders will join such easier-to-place competitors as Miss Nashville, Miss Kingsport and Miss Bluff City Fair as 30 young women from across the Volunteer State gather in Memphis at the end of this month for the 82nd edition of what is now officially known as the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition. "This is just my first year of pageants, and I’m already seeing an improvement in my confidence levels and how well I speak. It gives you more confidence, you think more, talk better," Anya said. “Pageants build such a good relationship with yourself.
Pageantry has helped Anya develop invaluable skills and friendships, she said, adding that she looks forward to continuing competitions in the future. While wearing the "Junior Miss of America" crown would be great, Anya said she hopes the national title would help her spread awareness and reach more people. She said her daughter overcame a vision impairment which impacted her reading ability which affected her grades and led to bullying from peers. It's a cause close to Anya's heart, Annone said. "It’s definitely the best part."Īnya's biggest passion is her "Readers are Leaders" platform, she said, helping elementary-aged students struggling with literacy at local schools and public libraries. "I can really get out in the community and help the best way I can, and I love doing it," she said. The organization has not specified how many others are competing, but Annone estimated at least 50 others are.Īs a titleholder, Anya boasts academic excellence and community involvement, volunteering with organizations such as 4 Paw’s Sake, a homeless pet rescue service, and a law enforcement program called CERT, or Community Emergency Response Team, educating residents about emergency preparedness. There are optional bonus sessions in which Anya also is partaking including the casual wear, sportswear, photogenic and state achiever rounds - a round in which contestants represent a prominent figure hailing from their home state.Īnya will dress up as Minnie Mouse, a nod to Walt Disney's influence in Florida.Ĭurrently, Anya holds the regional title of "Junior Miss of the Southern States," Annone said, which catapulted her to the national competition.
The American Pageants national competition features an interview, evening gown and "fun fashion" or runway round, Annone said. She decided pageantry would best help the teen prepare for her future. Lucie County in the Miss Florida pageants when she was a teenager.Īnya, a varsity cheerleader at John Carroll and has a black belt in taekwondo, wanted to explore other extracurricular activities.
Annone, a Fort Pierce native, represented St. This is Anya's first year participating in pageants, she said, taking after her mother, Stacy Annone, who also used to compete.
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