Miss Tennessee: Her journey from Memphis to the crown
Christine Williamson grew up watching Miss America pageants in the living room with her family.
As she gazed at the television screen, Williamson noticed the confidence and talent radiating from the young women on stage. In 2011, the native Memphian saw 17-year-old Teresa Scanlan become Miss America. Williamson looked at the screen in awe, and her dad turned to her and said, “Why don’t you try that?” So she did. After competing in the state pageant for five years without much success in the first four years’ preliminaries, the 22-year-old was crowned Miss Tennessee on June 23 in Jackson while representing Chattanooga.
“It’s been huge to see what I’ve been able to do at 22 because of the opportunities Miss America has awarded me,” she said.
Williamson said she’s received $47,000 in scholarships from participating. She graduated debt-free from the University of Mississippi with a broadcast journalism degree and is pursuing a master’s in business administration at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
In addition to her academics, Williamson represents the state as Tennessee’s appointed congressional advocate and serves as a national Alzheimer’s Association ambassador. She also volunteers and is a local ambassador and speaker on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
But, before being named the state representative for Miss America, Williamson said she faced bullying at school and difficulty focusing in class.
“I was struggling socially and academically, and I was looking for something positive to empower me and I found it,” she said.
Through the years, Williamson along with her mother and sister have competed in more than 30 pageants collectively. Her sister, Christal, won the Miss Collierville Outstanding Teen crown in 2015 and her mother, Carol, represented Memphis in Mrs. Tennessee America 2015.
Through their time in pageantry, Williamson’s mother and sister said they realized the hard work and dedication it takes to continue participating in such roles. Christal Williamson commends her sister committing to her goals and being named Miss Tennessee 2018.
“This is something she’s wanted more than anything. She’s worked so hard for it, and I couldn’t be happier,” Christal Williamson said.
People unfamiliar with pageants criticize organizations like Miss America for degrading and objectifying women, Carol Williamson said. But she wants people to know it’s been a positive factor in her daughter’s development.
Pageants teach women the importance of physical fitness, having confidence in public speaking and showcasing their talents, she said. In addition, it’s taught them the importance of failing graciously.
“It’s widened their horizons and made them better people,” Carol Williamson said.
Christine Williamson will move on to represent the state in Miss America 2019 on Sept. 9 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The national event will be televised on ABC.
Recently, Miss America Organization Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson announced the contest will no longer judge the participants on outward appearance. That includes the elimination of the swimsuit portion of Miss America.
“It’s bittersweet,” Christine Williamson said. “I understand we have to eliminate it to get rid of outside perceptions of women being objectified.”
She added she’s never felt objectified, rather she learned more about fitness and nutrition.
“Ultimately I believe my purpose is to make a difference and I’ve been given the tools and the assets that I have to make that difference, and I don’t want to take that for granted,” she said.