This story was originally published by The Telegraph.
Warner Robins native Kelsey Hollis will represent Georgia at the 2023 Miss America competition on Thursday.
Hollis, a Houston County High School graduate who attends University of Tennessee won the Miss Georgia 2022 title last June.
The Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition Organization hosted a “send-off” event for Hollis in Columbus. She also served as the grand marshal of the 2022 Milledgeville Christmas Parade.
The 95th Miss America competition will be held December 12-15 at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, with two preliminary competitions on December 12 and 13.
The final competition and crowning of the 2023 Miss America takes place Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. The program is only available to stream at pageantslive.com and on the Pageants Live app on various streaming platforms.
Hollis’s social impact initiative is “Autism Acceptance: A Platform for Change.” Her older brother, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a young age, inspired Hollis to advocate for those with disabilities. This year, she created an educational initiative called A-Cubed which she has taught at at least 15 Georgia schools, promoting “awareness, acceptance and advocacy” of the autism community.
Hollis also founded a nonprofit in 2014 and the “Miss Queen of Summer” pageant which celebrates middle and high school girls with disabilities.
Hollis is the third Black woman to win the Miss Georgia title in the organization’s history. In 2004, Danica Tisdale became the first Black woman to win Miss Georgia followed by Chastity Hardman in 2008, who was the first runner-up in that year’s Miss America competition.
Hollis won Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen in 2016 and finished as the second runner-up at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition.
In 2019, she was the second runner-up in the Miss Georgia competition and in 2021, she became the third runner-up for Miss Tennessee.
Hollis attends University of Tennessee, Knoxville and aspires to work in sports psychology.
Credit: The Telegraph
Credit: The Telegraph
MEET OUR PARTNER
Today’s story comes from our partner, The Telegraph in Macon. The Telegraph provides daily coverage of community news, events, and sports in Macon and middle Georgia at macon.com.
If you have any feedback or questions about our partnerships, you can contact Senior Manager of Partnerships Nicole Williams via email at nicole.williams@ajc.com.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
