Meet Kelsey...
Miss Music City
Social Impact Statement:
“Autism Acceptance: A Platform For Change”
Talent: Contemporary Vocal- “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” by Whitney Houston
Age: 20
University of Tennessee
Kelsey is currently a 20-year old rising senior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville; from Warner Robins, Georgia. She has interned for VFL Films and the SEC Network, and one day plans to pursue a career in sports journalism to become a sports analyst/commentator for ESPN. Growing up with her older brother, Jeremy, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a young age, pushed Kelsey to advocate for not only the joys and struggles of the disabled, but also their families. Kelsey founded the nonprofit organization “TAABS: Teaching Autism Awareness By Siblings” in 2014. For the past 6 years Kelsey has been the founder and director of the “Miss Houston County Queen of Summer Pageant”, a pageant which honors girls in both middle school and high school with disabilities. Kelsey has also had numerous opportunities to work with and support many national organizations including the Children’s Miracle Network, Navicent Health, and Autism Speaks. In these opportunities she has been able to raise more than $15,000 for CMNH.
In 2016 Kelsey served as Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen where she placed 2nd runner up to Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and took home the overall vocal talent award. In June of 2019 Kelsey was blessed and thankful for the opportunity to have competed for the title of Miss Georgia, where she received a talent preliminary award and placed second runner up to Miss Georgia 2019. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys watching pretty much any sport, volunteering, watching The Office, throwing the football with her friends & family, and singing.