Page 10 - MISS TENESSEE VOLUNTEER TEEN.indd

Mary Humphrey
Time has flown since I was crowned Miss Iris Tennessee Teen 2021. I’ll never forget the shock, excitement, and gratitude I felt when my name was called on this stage I grew up performing on. I knew I would have the best year with the most wonderful people in the state of Tennessee. I have had the most amazing year with the Miss Tennessee Volunteer family and am so thankful.
I’m especially grateful for all of the appearances I was able to make at various pageants and events throughout the year. I started my reign with an appearance at the Miss Knoxville Volunteer pageant and enjoyed seeing all of the princess, teen and miss contestants take the stage. I was also able to make a stop with Amelia, Reagan, Scott, and Luis at Cycle Bar of Murfreesboro and enjoyed a sponsored membership from them this year! Next, we attended the Kentucky state pageant to see the crowning of their first ever state titleholders. I was then able to travel to Clarksville for Miss Austin Peay Volunteer and back to Jackson for Miss Jackson Volunteer to celebrate new titleholders. I also made a trip to see the Iris Princesses at Miss Nashville and sent goodies to our teens for Miss Bethel!
Reagan and I had a great start to our Thanksgiving break getting our Christmas headshots with Darren and Gina, and we are so thankful for their sponsorship! I was able to stop by the Jackson LeBonheur Clinic and drop off books for the patient treasure chest. I also loved my visit to Joann’s of Union City and amextremely grateful to Ms. Paige. In December, I was able to speak to a finance class at Covenant High School about college planning and scholarships and enjoyed sharing beautiful greetings from all of Tennessee Volunteer with Amelia and Reagan for Christmas.
2022 started out wonderfully with a trip to Disney in Orlando (and I even ran into a Volunteer sister in Magic Kingdom!). I was blessed to be able to sing the National Anthem at both the Miss Tennessee Iris Festival Volunteer and Miss Alexandria Volunteer pageants. In addition, I was able to travel to the Miss Alabama Volunteer state pageant, where I met lots of other state titleholders.
My spring was filled with community service, first with my Vanderbilt Dance Team for Read Across America week at Ida B. Wells Elementary, then with my sorority for Greeks Read Across Nashville Day at UNA Elementary. I also made an appearance at the Nashville Alumnae Panhellenic Luncheon where I handed out roses to the Greek Women of the Year and helped celebrate the annual high school scholarship recipients.
InMay,IwasabletocheeronbothReaganandAmeliaattheinauguralnationalpageants. Iwasinexamsat Lipscomb during the teen pageant but watched Reagan on-line every night and could not have been more proud of her for winning Preliminary Fitness and 2nd Runner Up to Miss Teen Volunteer America. I finished up school and was able to make it to Jackson for Miss Volunteer America. I had the best time seeing Amelia at visitation each night and watching her capture preliminary wins in both Swimsuit and Talent, in addition to top 5 and 3rd Runner Up. In case you can’t tell, I have some pretty amazing sister queens!
I had the joy of being able to dance in the Miss Volunteer America production each night with Allie and Juliana. It was a true dream come true and something I will never forget; I am so thankful to Allison for that opportunity! I also loved being able to ride as Miss Tennessee Iris Teen in the 84th Annual Strawberry Festival Parade in Humboldt, another moment that I will forever cherish. My dad was able to drive me in the parade and we somehow avoided the rain!
The first people I must thank are my family for supporting me though the year and all of the years leading up to this opportunity. I did not imagine that I would walk away with this crown out of such an impressive group of young women, but I felt their love and support all year.
To Emily Ann, Tammy and our Tennessee Volunteer family, thank you for the messages, meetings, gifts, pictures, and most importantly love that you have shown us all this year. Stacy, how lucky I am to have been your teen team for a second time! We are true family, and you will always be a second mom to me. Love you mean it. Lashonda, thank you for always supporting me and for sharing your sweet Alajah and Aleecia with us! Jerry and Summer, I have loved eating out with you after each event and hope we always will. Darren, you are so talented, and it is such a blessing that you are able to capture such special moments onstage. Thank you for your sponsorship! Mrs. Gina (Gigi), I always love getting to sit in your chair and catch up while you work your magic. I am so thankful to have known you since I was 7 years old! To Paige and the entire Joann’s of Union City staff, thank you for always providing me with my appearance attire and for my beautiful state gown. We would all be lost without your love and rhinestones! I also want to thank Miss Jane, Allison, Amy, Madeline, Ava, and Dylan. All the love and hugs from you all over the last 7 years that I’ve been competing has been pure joy, and I loved spending the week with you at MVA. To our local directors, titleholders, sponsors, and families, thank you for all the support throughout Tennessee. Without you, this competition would not be possible.
Reagan, getting to watch your face light up as you were crowned and take that first walk with you was one of the best moments I have ever experienced. You are so special and talented, and we will always be sisters. You’ll go on to do so many amazing things! Amelia, I loved getting to watch you during Miss Tennessee Volunteer finals and see you crowned that night. You are such a beautiful dancer and it had been a long time coming for a dancer to win! I will always look up to you and am so grateful to have had you as a role model and sister this year. You both served our state so well and represented us all over the United States. This sisterhood is truly like no other<3
Most importantly, thank you to my Lord and Savior for making this all possible. My faith has gotten me through some difficult times and shown me that what is meant for me will never pass me by. With His love in my heart, anything is possible.
To the contestants onstage this evening, I am so proud of each one of you for your passion and courage. You are all so kind, driven, and beautiful and there is no doubt in my mind that each and every one of you have such incredible paths ahead of you. I know that all of the girls crowned this week will be blessed with an amazing year ahead.
To my successor, congratulations! This year is going to be such a blessing in your life while also giving you the opportunity to bless others. Looking back on your year, you will see so much growth and love that will change your life forever. Hold onto every moment and person so tightly and share your passion with our state. You’ll inspire so many young women. I am so proud of you and will always be here to support you!
With love always,
Mary Humphrey
Miss Iris Tennessee Teen 2021