Note to the Contestants and Readers

As you prepare to leave for the Civic Center to make your mark in the Miss Tennessee 2011 pageant, please be honored that among the many thousands of young women who competed in locals and didn't get the opportunity to do the things you've done all week. Soak up every single moment! Tonight's bus ride will make you feel like Princess Kate! The crowd to greet you will be ENORMOUS!!! Embrace it!! Remember that only one of you will wear that "sparkly little hat" but you have a choice to either leave angry and bitter or you can use the things that you have learned about yourself and implement these things in not only pageantry but life as well. Be Sure to thank your hostesses for taking a week away from their homes and families to ensure that you have had everything you need at all times. Special thanks to Captain Bowls, Chis Long and all of the security staff that have helped keep you safe all week. Special gratitude to Mrs. Jane and Allison for being such positive encouragement to each of you. All of these people helped contribute to the woman I am today. For some of you this will be your "final curtain" as you will age out or move on. Regret nothing, be thankful for everything and everyone who has helped you on this journey. I am so excited for you all! GOOD LUCK!!! 

Night 2! Part One of Three(Jackson Sun Post)

It's night two of the pageant and I could not be more thrilled! We
have an amazing set of judges and skilled on all things pageant!
Allison even said that our former Miss New Mexico on the panel used
her "pretty feet" in a photo as all of us formers generally do :). We
are so excited to see who will be chosen as our new queen!
As a former contestant in this amazing organization it fills my heart
to see so many contestants who have come to compete regardless of
their current life situations(more on this topic in the online blog).
I'm so impressed with this particular class because aside from the
hard work they did to make it on this coveted stage, some went above
and beyond the call of "duty". This a job that requires a strong
desire to serve others unselfishly.Tonight and the remaining two
nights is not only a showcase of who you are, but who one of you will
be called upon to be. There are some amazing choices in
wardrobe,unique gown choices and great talents! All thirty six
contestants are apart of very special sisterhood that reflects the
four point of our crown. For those of you unfamiliar of the importance
of these four points: Style,Scholarship, Success and Service, I will
be honored to explain them. The new Miss Tennessee must embody all of
the the critical four points.Also, I would like to thank my Miss
Tennessee Family who sacrifice so much to make this week fun and
enjoyable for not only the contestants but, those of you attending or
following coverage as well.

One night down, three to go!

Let the games begin! Our thirty six representatives have come to Jackson to vie for the "Championship Crown"! Tonight we were joined by our Governor Bill Haslam who announced some amazing news for our next Miss Tennessee and the organization.
For those of you not familiar with the sport of pageantry, let me proudly introduce you to one of the most rewarding sports of them all! Wednesday night started with a patriotic bang inclusive of high fashion, rocking production numbers, comedy, elegance and talent. I will give you more details later inclusive of photos and video! Right now I'm preparing to host some pretty special people at my home, I'll let you in on that on in a few hours as well :) Thank you for reading and if you have questions or comments, please feel free too contact me or post. I am honored to be a blogger for The Jackson Sun and overwhelmed with those of you who have sought me out to speak with me about my coverage. Until then.....

You're always someone's Queen :)

Now all days leading up to preliminaries are a bit crazy for the amazing volunteers in the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Organization, local directors, families of these amazing women, contestants and even me. Today was extremely crazy for me,the staff (I witness first hand) and pretty nerve wrecking for some contestants as they faced the judges in their private interview. A quick note to the ladies in group C, no matter what you may have "heard" from the contestants who've had their interview today I advise you not to listen. Your time with the judges will come tomorrow and each interview is different. To all ladies, don't discuss your interview with your, roommate, buddy or pageant sister. I promise it will not do one bit of good. Now back to saluting our board and staff.... For 4 years I had the honor of working with these beyond amazing people. Many of you have no clue how hard everyone works to make this week an amazing adventure for not only the contestants, but the supporters and pageant attendees as well. We are the Volunteer state and the Miss Tennessee family as well all of our 36 local titleholders are a perfect definition of why. There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. I've stated this before, but I will reiterate it a few more times during my coverage of the pageant; Saturday night there will only be one to wear the crown. I want all of you ladies to know that you are ALWAYS the queen of someone. I was reminded of that when my husband sent me a beautiful arrangement of two dozen roses as in his heart I am his queen(yes me, five years aged out of the pageant!). I am SO excited to began tomorrow's first night of preliminary competition! Good luck to all of the contestants, my heart is with you! Welcome to my new followers and thank you!(this includes my supportive husband!).... Tune in tomorrow and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you all. Until next time......

Now and Then, Let's Begin

The time has come, Miss Tennessee week has officially started! For those of you who don't follow our amazing sport of pageantry, various" teams"    Have come from across the great state of Tennessee to begin the playoff rounds that will inevitable narrow down to one official Champion on Saturday night. I used the word official because all thirty six women competing are Champions in my sight. This afternoon I attended Meet and Greet for the first time since I took my final curtain in the Miss America Organization in 2005 .  I took a look at the time capsule in my head when the contestants began to take the stage I started to notice a trend that took me back to Miss Tennessee 2003(we were told to chose a fashion forward outfit for a runway style opening number production)where in my and a few other contestant's competition wardrobe was; one shoulder chiffon. Granted the majority had a very modern twist to them  I was quite amazed at how fast fashion recycled and refreshed! There were some beautiful choices! I do not have pictures to post, but the Jackson Sun has a video of all the contestants in a highlight reel. I am pleasantly pleased with 12 of your fashion choices! Bold, elegant and VERY fitting for the wardrobe a queen! I am going to be completely silent on pointing out particular names in events leading up to preliminaries because everyone has their own style and idea of what stood out and what stood still.In other words I will not be playing the role of the fashion police to my fellow TNMAO sisters. I will however open up to private inquiries in my inbox on my favorites of the day ;) (I know, I know....). Ladies, continue to carry yourselves with confidence! Stand proud and though you may be nervous, please remember why you are here. This was a great preview to what we will see throughout the week and I challenge you as I write this blog to leave your legacy in the class of Miss Tennessee 2011. Stay true to who you are and share it with us. Remember, everyone alive has something beautiful they can celebrate about their self, beginning on the inside. Whether you are a fashion hit or miss in the eyes of one individual or the next, this was just a show of fashion and introduction to the public. It is who you are within that will radiate through this week as the judges decide who our ultimate"  Champion"  will be. Thank you for your service to our organization and  I am so excited to share more insight with you and my treasured followers all week.I enjoyed meeting all of you today and humbly thank you for your kind words. Until next time....
(yes,above is me in 2003 filled with excitement in a one shoulder chiffon dress)

Twas the Night before Miss Tennessee Week....And it's Storming like crazy

Ladies, it is my hope that every rhinestone is attached, every single thing is packed and ready to check in. Tonight, I don't want to relay but one message to you. Everything you've done up to this point will be shown this week. Be confident, calm and fully self assured. Get your last GOOD night's rest to be prepared for this week! Stay true to who you are and soak up every moment! Best of luck to you all :) I will continue to have various topics daily.

Sleep tight! I'll see you all tomorrow!

Let it go......and have "The Time of Your Life"

So, you're almost packed(hopefully...) double checking everything, working on last minute preparation and trying to master the production number dances. Am I correct? I'm eighty percent sure I'm right(having done it 4 years in a row). Here's a little insight; First and far most  do not worry or second guess yourself because at this stage in the game it's pointless. Secondly, rid yourself of all negativity and bad energy that you may have had surrounding you until this point(it will do nothing but harm your mindset), and lastly remember to take a few hours before you leave from your various areas across our great state to do something non pageant related. Do something relaxing, fun, comforting, and fulfilling. You will need this time for yourself before you arrive to the big game(aka the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant 2011). Your accomplishments thus far have been amazing, you made it to the Miss Tennessee stage and that's something a lot of women would relish the opportunity to do. This experience will be what you make it. I encourage you to let all gossip, nit picking, and doubting your abilities go clean out of the door never to return after reading this. For most of you tomorrow is your final day home. Take advantage of it! Thank the people who have helped you along the way and step into Jackson confident that you are prepared and ready to compete for this job. I wish you all the best of luck! Enjoy the journey the next week holds, if you heed the above advice I promise this experience will be "the time of your life"! Rest up and I look forward to seeing you all Sunday at Meet and Greet :)

The "Divine Secrets" of the Miss Tennessee Sisterhood

I have always been one to refer to the Miss America Organization and the Miss Universe Organizations as a sisterhood. You compete with your fellow contestants, but you if you allow yourself you can build friendships that last a lifetime. I'm blessed to be apart of these sisterhoods filled with some of the most thoughtful, kind, loving, beautiful and intelligent women across the nation. Though we haven't competed together in years, there are some I talk with daily or at least weekly. We've shared joys, losses, weddings, babies and sometimes vacations together. As Miss Tennessee approaches within the next two weeks aside from the crown(which I'm sure you all want and are working your hardest for) what do you want to take away from this experience? Whether it's your first time or your fifth, give it your all. Leave everything you have on that stage, but make sure you take something away as a souvenir. I took a ton of life lessons, fashion tips, communication skills, etc(the list could truly go on and on). Looking back and reading the comment below makes me realize that the friendships I made that are still with me are what I value the most.(well, they are parallel to the things I spoke about in my pageant legacy blog posted last week) Good luck in your preparations these next 4 and a half days and I can't WAIT to see my MAO sisters coming to Jackson for the pageant! Also Miss Tennessee Class of 2011, if you aren't prepared and at your best self now there is not much you can change about that so focus on your positives. If you are coming to Jackson for the pageant please be sure to message me on the day you are arriving and your address. I have a few surprises in store!

" Whoever doubts the special relationships you can make at Miss TN obviously never had the honor of meeting someone like you. I just went to my mailbox and found the sweetest card!! I have read it 5 times and each time I cry!! You have no ...idea how much that meant to me. You are wonderful Paige and I'm so lucky to be able to call you friend. I am going to need some advice on how to decorate and dress a little boy without making him look too girly!!! So start writing down tips!! :) I love you so much and can't wait to see your beautiful smile at Miss TN!!!! Thank you so much again. You are a precious jewel to be treasured!!!" From a Tennessee MAO sister

Gowns, Confidence, and THE CROWN :)

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”
-Yves Saint Laurent

Now those of us who've been there before know how important it is to find what we feel is the PERFECT gown, the gown that we have dreamed of being serenaded to "This is The Moment" on the final night of The Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant. Headed to Miss America! But, do you wear the gown or does the gown wear you? No matter who designed the dress, how much it cost, and how "one of a kind" it may be are you wearing your gown? Your wardrobe style should reflect you. As I am in the audience during preliminary nights of competition I am always drawn to the beauty of the gown, but I also take a long look at the contestant to observe key factors; is she truly confident in her choice, is she confident, graceful, naturally elegant,stylish(one of the four points of the crown), is she owning the stage and also is she in her ""moment""? Ladies, as you take the stage in all areas of competition use it as your moment, show us that you are our new Miss Tennessee. I'm anxious to see the gown choices for this year(mainly due to my undying love for fashion). No matter what your gown looks like even if it resembles a paper sack, make us feel the above qualities. I am smile at the thought of  seeing all of your choices! Best of luck to you all as you enter your final days of preparation!!  

Miss Tennessee Judges!

Thank you to The Miss Tennessee MAO Facebook  page for the info!

Introducing this year's distinguished panel of judges who we thank for giving of their time to select Miss Tennessee 2011 - Shaun Inman (Nashville), Becky Jabour (Vicksburg, MS), Jack Lawson (Billings, MT), Sharron Melton (Houston - a former Miss New Mexico who is a morning news anchor), Larry Webber (Mexico, MO) & Steve Wilson (St. Louis)

Have an amazing Thursday!

A message to the Miss Tennessee MAO Class of 2011

As the days count down rapidly for your arrival in Jackson to compete for the coveted title of Miss Tennessee, I challenge you all to look deep inside yourself and think of all you've achieved by representing your various local titles.(Only one will be crowned Miss Tennessee 2011) Being a titleholder is not only an extreme honor, but it's a life changing job. Looking back I'll share with you a few things that defined my pageant legacy. Being a titleholder kept me keenly aware of community and social issues. As a titleholder I always tried to remain grounded and in touch with my fellow Tennesseeans. As a aspiring public servant I constantly reminded myself that I had a DUTY to treat people the way I want to be treated. My hope is that the life I have lived thus far demonstrates my humbleness and willingness to serve others. Wearing that "sparkly little hat" allowed me to be a catalyst for social change. More than anything it affirmed me that I could acheive any goal I set before myself and dared to dream. It affirmed that if a person stands for integrity, epitomizes excellence and advocates  sincere generosity, others will dare to believe in you as well. So as you are getting your final alterations on your dream gown, shedding your final pounds, and keeping up on your current events ;) please take time to live in the moment and define your legacy. I have some pretty exciting news coming up within the days leading up to check in so please follow this blog and "like" my page on Facebook A Perfect 10 Consulting by Paige Cage. I will be giving tips, advice and other interesting insights. Have a wonderful day and thank you for reading!