Meet Kristen...
Miss Johnson City 2020 Kristen Gallant Social Impact Statement: CHANCES: Creating Families Through Adoption
Talent: Vocal
Age: 23 Hometown: Sevierville Graduate of Middle Tennessee State University
Broadcast Journalist at WJHL News Channel 11 in Johnson City
As Miss Johnson City 2020 I have the pleasure of representing the town I live and work in. I graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Science in Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University, a semester early, in December 2018. While there I had the honor of receiving several awards. However, the one that meant the most was MTSU’s Outstanding Volunteer Award. The Greek community recognized the work that I was doing throughout the state and for our children who are in foster care. During my time at MTSU I was chosen for two very coveted internships. The first was with NBC in Miami, and the second was with the National Association of Television Program Executives. I am also grateful to the Miss Tennessee Organization which has helped me pay for my college education by providing me with $7,300 in scholarship money. These opportunities have helped me obtain my very first position for a top 100 market. I am a reporter for Johnson City’s local television station WJHL News Channel 11.
As an adopted child myself, I represent all children in foster care and am an advocate for adoption with my social impact initiative, CHANCES: Creating Families Through Adoption. I have worked with women’s care centers and volunteered with foster children across our state, sharing my story and bringing hope. My work with CHANCES has been multifaceted. In addition to building relationships, I have been involved in many projects. In an effort to provide shopping opportunities I collected over 10,000 pieces of clothing and accessories to fill pop-up boutiques throughout the state. This provided opportunities for girls in foster care to shop free of charge. I also helped to collect over 2,000 dental hygiene items for the Isaiah 117 House Resource Center for children waiting to enter the foster care system.
I started competing in the Miss America Organization as an Outstanding Teen and received first runner-up my first year competing at Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen State Competition. Later in my Miss Tennessee career I would receive a Top 15 finish and recognition of my social impact initiative in the 2018 Miss Tennessee Scholarship Organization Competition. I am honored to be among the 35 magnificent women competing for the title of Miss Tennessee 2020.
Facebook: CHANCES Creating Families Through Adoption
Instagram: Kristengallanttv
Twitter: @KristenOGallant