Born in Fulton, KY and raised just across the state line in South Fulton, TN, Hailey Brown has been a Tennessee native all of her life. The 25-year-old attended South Fulton High School where she joined several clubs, served in various leadership roles, participated in track, cheerleading, and gymnastics, and graduated with honors in 2000.

Hailey decided at a young age to pursue a medical career. The summer after high school graduation she raised funds from various sponsors to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine at UCLA, then began her pre-medicine studies that fall just a few miles from home at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

She was a member of Chi Omega sorority, worked as an assistant to the Chancellor, served on the “Up ‘Til Dawn” committee to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and was a member of the Honor Society. Hailey was also named Freshman of the Year in 2001 for her academic record and campus involvement. During her UTM experience, she completed a few half marathons, including the Music City Marathon in Nashville. In addition to working in college administration, Hailey also worked as a part-time barista and became a coffee connoisseur! In December 2003, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. At that time Hailey was working at a local emergency room and with the encouragement of her aunt from Nashville, decided to pack up and move to the state’s capital city!

She got a job at a doctors office and cracked open the books to prepare for the medical college admissions test. She then experienced a change of heart with her career aspirations and considered medical sales. She asked a rep servicing her office about a job – who in turn was looking for an assistant. In May 2005 Hailey was hired by PSS World Medical and moved to Jacksonville, FL, for training. Expecting to shadow-rep for six months upon her return to Tennessee she was offered a territory after just 2 days of her assistant position and took over south central Tennessee. Hailey believes her ‘leap of faith’ to pursue medical sales without sales experience was a wise decision – and credits much of her sales success to extensive training and experienced coworkers.

Hailey graduated in the top of her Sales Development class; won the Solution-Focused Selling award; and vacationed in Cabo San Lucas with her mother as her guest in June 2007 for being a finalist in PSS’s Can-Do equipment program. However, her most valued accomplishment as a new rep was being named the 2007 Rookie of the Year, an award she accepted at the company’s National Sales Meeting in Orlando, FL, just one week before she was about to live out another dream, one she had had since she was a little girl – October 6th, 2007, Hailey was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2008.

Aside from work and pageant responsibilities Hailey spends time with family and friends. Among a few of her hobbies are reading, journaling, and photography. She likes to participate in just about any adventurous outdoor sport and loves to travel. She is an advocate for a healthy lifestyle and is involved in Nashville’s American Heart Association chapter, and is a certified raw food chef! Hailey also participates in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nashville and is a member of Brentwood Baptist Church where she volunteers with Kairos ministry and the youth group girls. She enjoys modeling for Reflection Model and Talent agency in Nashville.

Hailey feels she is living the reality of her dreams and is passionate about being a role model for young people. Her goal from the beginning of pursuing the Miss Universe title has been a combination of impacting lives, meeting people and traveling, and learning more about herself so she can be the leader she’s always envisioned being. She feels her experience so far with the organization has enabled her to become a better person and plans to make her state proud as she prepares to represent Tennessee in the Miss USA competition in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 11th, 2008.