40-year-old Miss Davidson County to compete in Miss Tennessee USA pageant
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The current Miss Davidson County is about to make history as one of the oldest women in the Miss Tennessee competition.
Since 1952, the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant has required that all contestants be single, never married or had a child, and could not be over 28.
This rule stopped seasoned pageant contestant Mandi Kane from doing what she loves.
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“To have a crown placed on my head for the first time was really a great moment and, you know, it is kind of addictive,” Kane said.
She grew up competing in pageants, including Miss New Mexico Teen and Mrs. New Mexico.
“[I] really thought the pageant part of my life was over until very recently,” she explained.
Kane was divorced and above the age limit, however, in 2023, the Miss Universe organization announced the elimination of all age limits and restrictions starting in 2024.
“When I heard this news, I got the bug again, and there was no looking back,” Kane said. “I think that women, in particular, are told throughout their lives that we become more irrelevant as we age, and I just think that’s not true. I’ve never felt younger, and people might think I’m delusional for that, but the life experience that is being brought to this program at this time, and I think what is great is seeing the spectrum of contestants competing.”
Kane works as a crisis communications expert, a self-help book author, and owner of the nonprofit “Catching The Boat,” an organization dedicated to supporting what she calls “mature women” in their goals.
Kane explained that the wide variety of women allowed to compete now will only bring more perspective to the competition.
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“You have younger women who are learning to grow in their public speaking skills, and then you have older women who are looking forward to, again, getting back out into pursuing their passions maybe after they’ve raised a family,” Kane said. “I think women have a lot to contribute in terms of their ideas and leadership regardless of where they are in life.”
The Miss Tennessee competition is from March 7-9 at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. It is comprised of an on-stage interview, swimsuit, and evening gown portion.
Kane told News 2 that coming to terms with the swimsuit competition was challenging.
“When I was looking at this journey, I think the biggest thing I was looking at was getting ready for a swimsuit competition and how that was going to look different at the age of 40 compared to the last time I did this, which, you know, I was like 22,” she explained.
She added that she now feels prepared for the competition, but still feels changes need to be made to the swimsuit portion.
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“More acceptance of different bodies and how they look through different stages of life,” Mandi said. “Now, I still am a very big proponent of the swimsuit competition, and I think this has given me the push to get in the shape I need to be in as I head to this fourth decade of life.”
Kane told News 2 that when other women see her on stage this weekend, she hopes women are reminded it is never too late to do the things you love.
“I constantly have seen women and my friends who have deprioritized their hobbies or their interests for other things related to their career or raising a family, and the time comes where there is an opportunity to get back into that, and they think they’ve missed the boat,” Kane said. “So I’m just here to let you know that you haven’t, and that the time is now.”
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