Rachel Smith
Rachel Renee Smith (born April 18, 1985) is an American television host, actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss USA 2007 title as Miss Tennessee USA.[1][2] Born at a United States Army base in Panama to military parents, Smith was raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, after her family relocated to Fort Campbell.[3][1] She earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Belmont University in 2006.[4] Smith began her pageant career by winning Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2002, where she placed in the top 10 at Miss Teen USA and received the Miss Photogenic award.[1] Following her university graduation, she captured the Miss Tennessee USA crown in 2007, leading to her national victory at the Miss USA pageant in Los Angeles.[5] She represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2007 competition in Mexico City.[5] During her reign, Smith participated in USO tours to entertain American troops in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.[6] Transitioning to media, Smith freelanced as an entertainment host for outlets including E! News Now before joining Entertainment Tonight as a New York-based correspondent in 2019.[2][7] She has received multiple Emmy Awards for her work in television hosting and reporting.[8]
Early life and education
Family and upbringing
Rachel Renee Smith was born on April 18, 1985, at a United States Army base in Panama City, Panama, to two parents actively serving in the military.[1][9] Shortly after her birth, her parents received reassignment to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, prompting the family's relocation to nearby Clarksville, Tennessee, where they established long-term residence.[3][10] This move occurred when Smith was an infant, marking the end of her initial overseas posting and the beginning of her primary upbringing in a community closely tied to military operations. Her father, Rodney Smith, retired from military service soon after the relocation, when Rachel was three years old, transitioning the family to civilian life while retaining proximity to the base's influence.[10] The structured environment of a military household, characterized by frequent relocations early in life and emphasis on duty and resilience, exposed Smith to routines fostering adaptability and self-reliance from a young age.[9] She has attributed her developed sense of national pride directly to this upbringing around military personnel and installations.[10]Academic background
Rachel Smith attended Clarksville Academy in her early high school years before transferring and graduating from Davidson Academy, a private school in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2003.[5][4] She pursued higher education at Belmont University in Nashville, earning a Bachelor of Science in journalism and graduating magna cum laude in December 2006.[11][12] During her undergraduate studies, Smith served as managing editor of The Belmont Vision, the student-led campus newspaper, where she gained practical experience in reporting, editing, and media production.[8][2] This role underscored her developing interest in broadcast journalism and communication, building core competencies in public speaking and content creation that aligned with her journalism curriculum.[8]Pageantry career
Initial involvement and early titles
Smith's initial foray into organized pageantry occurred during her childhood via the Cinderella Scholarship Program, which emphasizes skill-building competitions for young participants seeking scholarships and recognition. In 1993, at age eight, she represented Tennessee in the Miniature Miss Division at the Cinderella International Pageant and secured the title of International Miniature Miss.[13] Transitioning to teen-level contests in her later adolescence, Smith competed for state honors, culminating in her victory as Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2002. This title, awarded following a multi-phase selection process involving preliminary rounds, swimsuit, evening gown, and interview evaluations, marked her entry into nationally competitive pageantry.[1][14] Representing Tennessee at the Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant, Smith advanced to the top 10 and semifinals, while earning the Miss Photogenic award for her photographic presence. These early achievements involved intensive preparation in poise, public speaking, and adherence to standardized judging criteria, providing foundational experience in high-stakes competitive formats.[5][14]Miss Tennessee USA and Miss USA 2007
Rachel Smith of Clarksville, Tennessee, was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2007 on October 7, 2006, qualifying her to represent the state at the national pageant.[15] The state competition featured preliminary rounds evaluating contestants on interview skills, swimsuit, and evening gown presentations, emphasizing poise and articulation under scrutiny.[14]
Smith advanced to the Miss USA 2007 pageant, held on March 23, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California, where she competed against titleholders from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.[16] The event proceeded under organizational review following the personal scandals of outgoing Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, involving substance abuse and underage drinking that necessitated her rehabilitation and a probationary continuation of her reign granted by pageant owner Donald Trump.[17] Despite this backdrop, the competition adhered to standard judging criteria: swimsuit and evening gown segments for physical presentation and final question-and-answer for intelligence and composure.[18]
In the finals, Smith placed in the top 15 during swimsuit, advanced through evening gown, and excelled in Q&A, ultimately being crowned Miss USA 2007 by Conner herself, marking Tennessee's second national win and highlighting Smith's competitive edge in a field of 51 entrants.[19][20] This outcome affirmed the pageant's meritocratic structure, prioritizing verifiable performance over prior controversies.[16]