The annual Miss Food City Pageant was held on Saturday, October 26th at The McGlothlin Center for the Arts in Emory, VA.  Each year, the pageant showcases talented young women from across the region, bidding for the coveted title and the opportunity to represent Food City in the coming year.  The contestants are judged on a number of criteria, including private interview, sportswear, professional attire, formal evening wear and on-stage question. 

When the triumphant moment arrived, Alexandria Alder of Johnson City, TN was crowned Miss Food City 2020.  “I am so honored and grateful to have been awarded Miss Food City 2020 from among many talented women. I want to thank my family and friends for all of their support in helping me achieve such an amazing accomplishment, and to the Food City family for everything they did to make this so special! The pageant was such an unforgettable experience and I am looking forward to representing Food City at all the events to come this year,” says Alder.  She succeeds Megan Grace Stanley of Abingdon, VA, who held the title in 2019.

Alexandria is a 20 year old student at East Tennessee State University.  She is employed by Azlinn Hope Boutique.  Alexandria enjoys minoring in art, oil painting, ceramics, sketching, basketball and volleyball.  She also has a passion for fashion and hopes to have a career in the fashion industry.  Her three greatest accomplishments include placing in the top 15 and being named Miss Congeniality in the Miss Tennessee Teen USA pageant, being selected by a secret committee in her community to be a Knoxville Teenboard Debutante representative and raising thousands of dollars to benefit the Ronald McDonald House through her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.  Alexandria plans to graduate from ETSU, with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and hopes to secure a position with a major corporate company as their women’s apparel buyer, get married and have a family. 

In the coming year, Alder will represent Food City at a number of company related events and activities, including the Food City 500, Food City 300 and Food City Family Race Night events.  “We would certainly like to thank the 16 talented young ladies who participated in this year’s pageant.  We wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer. “We are excited to have Alexandria represent our company and we look forward to working with her in the coming year.”

Emma Conn of Knoxville, TN was selected as first runner-up and Megan Parton of Seymour, TN was named second runner-up.  Alexandria Alder also received the Miss Photogenic award.

The annual pageant was directed by the ladies of the Twin City Woman’s Club, with event proceeds benefitting their sponsored projects and charities.  “We would like to extend a special thanks to our volunteers who work so hard each year to make the pageant such a tremendous success, including the members of the Twin City Woman’s Club, WXBQ and Reggie Neel, The McGlothlin Center for the Arts, the performers and entertainment, our Food City associates and the many others who have given of their time and talent in support of this outstanding event,” says Smith.

Pictured Above (from left to right):  Megan Parton, Alexandria Alder & Emma Conn

About the Miss Food City Pageant
The first pageant was held in the Bristol Mall in 1992.  Former winners include Janet Barton - 1992 & 1993, Meredith Blankenship – 1994, Tracy Wilson – 1995, April Elswick – 1996, Lisa Tollett – 1997, Christin Wilson – 1998, Erica Hembree – 1999, Amanda Greene – 2000, Misty Horn – 2001, Ronna Compton – 2002, April Owens – 2003, Kimberly Coen – 2004, Megan Ashe – 2005, Mally Gent – 2006, Britney Hagy – 2007, Jennifer Whittington – 2008, Lindsey Blevins – 2009, Melissa O’Neal – 2010, Elizabeth Robinette – 2011, Ginny Cole – 2012, Alex Honeycutt – 2013, Kayla Neikirk – 2014, Kassie Perkins – 2015, Azlinn Alder – 2016, Callie Corum – 2017, Hannah Everhart – 2018, Megan Grace Stanley – 2019.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 132 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia.