Busy year for Miss Tennessee from Soddy-Daisy

When Stefanie Wittler’s mother was pregnant, she craved Krystals.

“I’d go out in the middle of the night to get Kim Krystals,” said her father, Steven. “And when Stefanie came into the world, we all said she’d be craving Krystals.”

She still does. On Saturday night, after winning the Miss Tennessee competition in Jackson, Tenn., the Soddy-Daisy High School graduate wanted some Krystal hamburgers. So a thoughtful friend brought a couple dozen to her hotel suite, Mr. Wittler said.

Ms. Wittler, 22, must delay her senior year at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to fulfill her yearlong duties as Miss Tennessee, her father said in a telephone interview from Jackson.

“Her duties started immediately,” he said. “The last couple of days have been wild — press conferences, photo shoots.”

His daughter will live in Memphis during her reign as Miss Tennessee, her father said.

“She will be able to come home on occasion when her schedule allows, but for the next year, she’ll be living by a calendar,” Mr. Wittler said.

As the Miss Hamilton County representative in the competition — her third shot at Miss Tennessee — Chattanooga is always close to her heart, she said.

“I can’t thank Chattanooga enough for being behind me every step of the way,” Ms. Wittler said. “It means the world to me.”

As Miss Tennessee, she’ll be spreading the governor’s message about a drug-free Tennessee to college and high school students, her father said.

“And she’ll promote two platforms: The Children’s Miracle Network, the pageant’s platform, and the Ronald McDonald House, which is her own platform,” he said.

The next year will be a busy one for his only child.

“Along with public appearances, she’ll also be preparing for the Miss America contest in Las Vegas next January,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine a young lady from Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., going to the Miss America pageant. Every time I think about it, I get so excited it’s hard to breathe.”