Milan High School alum Tatum Sheppard was crowned Miss Virginia Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia, two years after the last pageant was held.
A 2016 Milan grad, Sheppard, who represented Miss Central Virginia, was awarded the title with more than 30 family members cheering for her on the big stage.
“It meant so much to have my whole family there with me,” Ms. Sheppard told the Mirror-Exchange.
“I’m looking forward to representing Miss Virginia and create my own journey in the Miss America pageant.”
Sheppard is no stranger to pageant titles — her mother, Kellye Cash Sheppard, was named Miss America in 1987 and her sister Cassidy finished in the top ten of the Miss Tennessee pageant.
“I’ve learned so much from mom,” Tatum noted. And I’m excited to honor her legacy in the 100th anniversary of the Miss America pageant. Her experience and advice is super valuable to me and I’m so thankful to her along to help me prepare for Miss America. I grew up in the pageant world and watched my sister compete in Miss Tennessee.”
Finishing 4th in the 2019 Miss Virginia pageant also helped Sheppard this time around.
“That gave me a good idea of what is like to complete,” added Tatum. “It taught me how to control my nerves and gave me more confidence.”
Sheppard, 22, graduated from Liberty University last year with a degree in musical theater. During the talent portion of the show, she sang “All That Matters” from the musical “Finding Neverland,” and her social impact initiative in the competition was Mentoring Matters.
Sheppard’s platform, “Mentoring Matters” was developed from her work with after-school tutoring programs, Milan High’s RISE class, and coaching volleyball with dad, Todd Sheppard.
Tatum’s victory scores her a $20,000 scholarship and the chance to compete for the title of Miss America in Connecticut, currently scheduled for December.
Until then, Tatum will be super busy talking to school children about the importance of ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control), promoting her Mentoring Matters platform and preparing for the Miss America pageant.
“I’ll be working with Big Brothers and Big Sisters across Virginia helping them host events and raise money,” continued Ms. Sheppard. “I’ll visit about 70 schools and do lots of mock interviews.”
In addition to several appearances in parades and benefit golf tournaments, Tatum will also attend the Stanley Cup.
(PHOTO: Milan’s Tatum Sheppard is crowned Miss Virginia 2021 by Miss Virginia 2019-20 Dot Kelly and Miss Virginia Outstanding Teen 2021 Ella Strickland, left, in the Miss Virginia Pageant at the Berglund Center Auditorium, Saturday – courtesy Don Petersen)
