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Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – There’s a lot to be said about someone who grows up in Clarksville and becomes an American beauty queen with a number of prestigious titles and then moves into the entertainment world as a television personality. If you haven’t already guessed who I am talking about, let me drop the name of Rachel Smith.

Smith, who was born in Panama on a U.S. Army Post, attended Clarksville Academy and graduated high from Davidson Academy in Nashville. Her college years were spent at Belmont University where she graduated in 2006.

I first met Smith when she was a very young girl and she would sing and dance at local pageants that i would emcee in the area. I had not seen her in years until we spoke at the Miss Tennessee Teen USA pageant in 2001 where she was crowned as Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2002.

Smith went on to compete in the 2002 Miss Teen USA pageant where she placed in the top ten and won the Miss Photogenic honor. After placing seventh in the evening gown and tenth in the swimsuit competition the pageant was won by another contestant.

In 2007 Smith won the Miss Tennessee USA title when the state pageant was held in Clarksville at Austin Peay State University. Next was the Miss USA pageant which was held in Los Angeles, California. Smith became the second pageant winner from Tennessee to win the Miss USA title.

Next, Smith represented the United States in the 2007 Miss Universe pageant which was held in Mexico City Mexico. In the pageant finals she made the top 15 and then the top five and even though she didn’t win the crown, she placed as fourth-runner-up.

Since the Miss Universe pageant Smith has moved into the world of television having starred in the reality show “Pageant Place” with other pageant winners. She appeared on “Minute to Win It”, worked as a reporter for “E!” and as co-host “OnTheRedCarpet”.

Smith is also currently working with ABC as a reporter for the “”Pop News” feature on Good Morning America.

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