The Miss Memphis Pageant holds the record for longest running pageant in our state - beginning in 1947.

In the early years of the Miss America Organization, key cities were allowed to send representatives directly to Atlantic City to compete for the title of Miss America. Memphis was one of those cities. Of those four contestants, Miss Memphis produced a Miss America.

Barbara Jo Walker
Miss Memphis 1947
Miss America 1947
[Preliminary Talent Winner]

Of the four Miss Memphis winners to compete directly at Miss America:

Miss America = one (1947)
Finalists at Miss America = two (1923 & 1948)
Preliminary Talent Winner = one
Preliminary Evening Gown Winner = one

There have been eight Miss Memphis winners to hold the title of Miss Tennessee:

Greta Marie Graham
Miss Memphis 1950
Miss Tennessee 1950

Carol Sue Ferrante
Miss Memphis 1970
Miss Tennessee 1970

Anne Randle Galloway
Miss Memphis 1973
Miss Tennessee 1973

Terry Jean Alden
Miss Memphis 1976
Miss Tennessee 1976

Kris Ann Beasley
Miss Memphis 1986
Miss Tennessee 1986
[succeeded Kellye Cash & did not compete for Miss America]

Jill Rene Horn
Miss Memphis 1991
Miss Tennessee 1991

Jeni Stephens
Miss Memphis 1996
Miss Tennessee 1996

Allison Leigh Alderson
Miss Memphis 1999
Miss Tennessee 1999

Of the 54 Miss Memphis winners to compete for the title of Miss Tennessee:

Miss Tennessees = eight (1950, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1999)
1st Runner-ups = three (1961, 1966, 1971)
2nd Runner-ups = six (1951, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 2000)
3rd Runner-ups = four (1956, 1957, 1980, 1982)
4th Runner-ups = three (1974, 1978, 2006)
Top Tens = nine (1953, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1972, 1975, 1995, 2006)
Non-Finalist winners = eight
Preliminary Talent winners = twelve
Preliminary Swimsuit winners = seven
Miss Congeniality winners = two

Thanks to Jerry Alford for this information.
Updated January 3, 2008.