Monticelloan Is Named Miss Georgia USA 2014

Saturday night, two weeks ago, I found myself engulfed in the Miss Georgia USA Pageant cheering on the face of a pretty young lady that I took home after we cheered for Monticello Hurricanes Basketball teams many years ago.

Tiana Griggs was a member of the cheerleading squad with me that went to basketball games, and she was on stage as Miss Monticello, vying for the title of Miss Georgia. A little biased since I knew her personally, I watched intently until the end.

It was both exciting and nerve wrecking to see Tiana up on stage with over 50 other women from all over Georgia.

At the conclusion of the pageant Tiana was crowned Miss Georgia USA 2014 and is slated to move on to the Miss USA pageant sometime next year.

After the pageant I caught up with Tiana and found that she is indeed still the most humble, beautiful person on the inside to add to her outer beauty. I hadn’t spoken to Tiana much since high school; we did however chat a few times via Facebook but I had no idea what she’d been up to.

When I called Tiana the following Monday, she said that she had the week off and was at home just sitting on her bed “catching up on downtime.” When I asked her how does it feel to be “Miss Georgia,” Tiana giggled and said, “I’m sitting here on my bed and it still hasn’t set in yet. I keep wanting to pinch myself and ask is this real? I see that huge crown sitting over there on the tv stand and I just look at it amazed.”

We chatted a bit about old times—about her grandmother, Patricia Hunter and cheering. Tiana said, “I still consider Monticello my home, and my family is all still there.”

I found out that Tiana left Jasper County High School after her freshman year, earning her degree from Southwest Dekalb High School.

Tiana then told me that she earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia Southern University and went to work as a

flight attendant for AirTran.

“I’ve been modeling since 2010, and I still didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I always had a heart for outreach and giving back. I did a photo shoot for Essence and had younger girls reaching out saying ‘you inspire me.’ I knew then that was the direction that gave me the most reward.”

While at AirTran, she said that she had “to do a lot of soul searching. I went on a spiritual journey asking God what I could do.

“I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people, children, and be a positive inspiration to all of those who looked up to me.

“I entered the Miss Georgia USA pageant last year and was second runner up.

“I really wasn’t going to enter this year, but I had so much encouragement from family and friends that I decided to try again this year,” she said.

“And Hannah, when I tell you that everything that could’ve gone wrong beforehand I am being completely honest. Did you see that dress [her evening gown]? It was too big up top and too small at the bottom. I had sponsors drop out the day before, I couldn’t work out and when I say that God pulled me and this win together, I have no doubt that it could have been anything else.”

If you watched the pageant you wouldn’t have known that anything was wrong. I mean, I didn’t.

If you didn’t watch, you missed a show.

Tiana stood tall and looked absolutely gorgeous. When the top five were announced, Tiana was placed in the middle, and I knew and hoped and prayed that she would be the winner.

And she was, first runner-up was announced, and Tiana was the final name called. “Tiana Griggs is your new Miss Georgia USA 2014.”

Talk about emotional. I was at home, alone and I was jumping up and down in celebration and even got a little teary eyed, knowing that it couldn’t have gone to a better woman.

When Tiana received her crown, she just stood in amazement. She was smiling and immediately put both of her hands out and open and looked toward the sky (see photo). “I was just thanking God, for this unbelievable opportunity.”

After this week Tiana, the reigning Miss Georgia USA 2014 will begin the process to prepare for Miss USA. She said that she has a personal trainer, photo shoots, sponsors, all vying for some time with her.

Currently Tiana is employed with Delta, but had planned to turn in her two week notice after Thanksgiving.

“I don’t even know where the pageant will be. I just know that I will have a lot of work ahead of me.” “I plan to continue modeling and just taking things as they come my way.”

“Above anything else, I want to be that role model for kids. I want to be that positive image that you can do anything you want to, even when you grow up in small town Monticello.

“I try to keep a positive personal attitude throughout my daily life. I pray and I have learned that I was put here to help people. I keep my Facebook and Twitter positive and try to keep a Bible verse on there that has spoken to me in a good way.

“I am especially grateful for the support and the outpouring of love from all of the people in Monticello. I had a booth at the Deer Festival and couldn’t believe the number of people that came up and gave in support of my journey.”

Tiana was very modest about her accomplishments on the phone, but she can be seen in and had been featured in Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, on billboards for the My Black Is Beautiful campaign.

As we wrapped up, I asked about the future, Tiana said that she told her mother, Teresa Griggs, “my goal is to have my name on the sign…the one at the city limits, next to Trisha Yearwood.”

Tiana plans to be at the Polar Express this Saturday, Dec. 7, at the home of Tricia Armistead on Forsyth Street, and welcomes any and all invitations to attend local events. She said that appearances have to be approved and her schedule is full, so the sooner she has the information the better.