Brianna Mason spent the last four years working to reach her goal of becoming the first African American crowned Miss Tennessee.

Mason, a first-grade school teacher at Hobgood Elementary, won the pageant in her fourth attempt. She was last year’s second runner-up competing as Miss Knoxville.

“I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t matter what your skin color is, it doesn’t matter what your religion is, you can do anything that you want,” says Mason.

Mason joined the Murfreesboro City Schools family in 2018.