Chiefs Heiress Gracie Hunt Announces She'll Compete For Miss Kansas USA Crown

Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt, who figures to one day earn a slice of the multi-billion dollar operation that her grandfather Lamar founded, announced Tuesday that she will be competing for the Miss Kansas USA crown in April. A win in Kansas would lead to a run at the coveted 2021 Miss USA crown November 9 in Memphis.

But something that immediately stood out here is that Hunt lives in Texas and went to SMU, and the Chiefs operation is headquartered in Missouri. I'm no expert on pageants, but I have to assume Gracie throwing her sash into the Miss Kansas ring is a strategic play. You know it's going to be an absolute dogfight to win Miss Texas. Missouri could have a ringer that Gracie, who used to date Drew Lock before the Broncos drafted him, didn't want to face in the final three.

It turns out Gracie's mother, Tavia Shackles, was Miss Kansas USA and finished as 2nd runner-up to the Miss USA crown in 1993. Tavia was born in Missouri but eventually crossed the river and dominated the Kansas pageant scene. She took to Instagram to put her daughter's eligibility concerns to rest.

"Life comes full circle! Gracie is an Overland Park resident and a KU Master’s student competing in April for Miss Kansas USA!

"I know some of my MO people (& family) are disappointed she’s on the KS side, but I was Miss MO Teen USA, and then Miss KS USA and it was amazing. It’s all good. And I’m so happy to see her making my family home (region), her home too. It’s always been a second home to her and to see your kids chasing their dreams and working their booty off (the key) is everything.

"The pageant will be live-streamed, with limited ticket availability—details forthcoming. Cheering hard for Miss Kansas City USA!

"(Also-FYI- she moved to OP months ago meeting residency requirements and started KU in January. She’s just now “announcing” it☺️) #TeamGracie"

Let's go to the Miss Kansas rulebook to get the official eligibility requirements.

ALL CONTESTANTS

• Must not be married, never have been married, and never have had a marriage annulled. Must never have given birth to a child, cannot be pregnant or be a parent.

• Must be of good health and moral character.

• Must be a Citizen of the United States.

• Must be recognized medically and legally as a female in the United States, and at least one of the following three statements must be true:

(1) Must now reside in their state as their permanent and primary residence for a period of at least ninety (90) days immediately prior to the beginning of their state pageant (although they may have attended college or University elsewhere, or work full time in another state); or

(2) Must have resided in the State as a full-time student at a school, college or university and will have completed one entire semester, trimester or summer session by December 31, 2020, and they will continue to reside in their State as a full-time student at a school, college or university (although they may have spent or be spending the summer in another State); or

(3) Must retain full-time employment in the State (i.e., I work at least forty (40) hours per week in the State, and I qualify for employment benefits provided by my employer) and have maintained such full-time employment for a period of at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of the State Pageant.