Jordan Bowling heads to Miss Tennessee pageant in Memphis
Jordan Bowling (Miss Apple Festival), Anderson County’s only contestant in the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition, recently stopped by Fairview Elementary School to read books and talk about her social impact initiative to several classes. She read several books emphasizing kindness to children with disabilities (as well as everyone who might have “different abilities”) and encouraging inclusion.
She was crowned AC Fairest, earning a $1,000 scholarship. Then she was persuaded by the encouragement of the AC Fairest director, Shayla Sanderson, to give the Miss America system a try.
In 2020, Jordan was crowned Miss Apple Festival, a preliminary competition to qualify for Miss Tennessee. That one competition earned her $1,700 in scholarships.
Since Jordan plans to become a pediatrician, those scholarships might come in handy. Jordan says that the main reasons she loves the Miss America system is because of the friendships and the community service emphasis.
Jordan has completed nearly 6,000 hours of community service since fourth grade. Her social impact initiative is boldly opening doors for kids and adults with disabilities. She has partnered with Open Doors Tennessee, which was founded originally by Steve Johnson (dad of Will Johnson). Will was diagnosed with autism when he was around 4 years old. Jordan and Will cheered at Anderson County High School together for four years.
Open Doors provides resources, accessibility and opportunities of inclusion. It sponsors a pageant for disabled girls and adults called Miss Shining Star. Jordan was recently named one of the co-directors for this pageant, serving with director Rhoni Standefer and co-assistant director Leslie Miller, who is a detective sergeant with Clinton Police Department.
Jordan explains, “I am passionate about advocating for kids and adults with disabilities, educating others about the importance of respecting those with special needs, and promoting inclusion. “
Jordan appreciates all the support from local businesses in Anderson County, as well as family and friends. You can support Jordan by going to Pageant Planet and clicking the following link and voting for her as Miss Tennessee’s People Choice:
pageantplanet.com/.../2021-miss-tennessee...
The People’s Choice Winner is awarded a $1,000 scholarship and automatically advances to the top 12 contestants in Miss Tennessee.
You can also send an encouraging note to:
Jordan Bowling
Miss Tennessee
c/o Sheraton Memphis Downtown
250 N. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103
901-527-7300
The Miss Tennessee scholarship competition takes place at the Cannon Performing Arts Center in Memphis July 1-3.
The competitors kick the week off with a press conference at Graceland, then a horse and carriage parade down Beale Street on Sunday (June 27).
July 1 and 2 are preliminary nights. Jordan will be participating in on-stage question, social impact presentation and gown competition on July 1.
On July 2, she will be dancing and tumbling for her talent performance.
Then July 3 the top 12 contestants will re-compete in all the categories, and Miss Tennessee will be crowned by the end of the night.