Miss Rhode Island USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Rhode Island.

Miss Rhode Island USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersCranston
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Deborah Miller
Cindy Provost
WebsiteOfficial website

The Miss Rhode Island USA competition is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state Rhode Island in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by D&D Productions.

Rhode Island made its first placement at Miss USA in 1961 and has been one of the most consistent states since 2000, with four semi-finalist placements and one first runner-up placement. On June 3, 2012, Olivia Culpo won the first Miss USA title from the state of Rhode Island. On December 19, 2012, Culpo became the first Rhode Islander to win the title of Miss Universe.

Kaitylnne Santana of Woonsocket was crowned Miss Rhode Island USA 2024 on May 26, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. She will represent Rhode Island at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USA: Olivia Culpo (2012)
  • 1st runners-up: Danielle Lacourse (2007)
  • 2nd runners-up: Gayle White (1973), Anea Garcia (2015)
  • Top 10/11/12: Jennifer Aubin (1995), Claudia Jordan (1997), Yanaiza Alvarez (2001), Janet Sutton (2002), Leeann Tingley (2006)
  • Top 15: Joan Zeller (1961), Amy Diaz (2008)

Rhode Island holds a record of 11 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Christina Palavra (2014)

Winners

Color key
  •   Declared as Winner
  •   Ended as runner-up
  •   Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
Year Name Hometown Age1 Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2024 Kaitylnne Santana Woonsocket 22 Miss Woonsocket
2023 Mary Malloy Cumberland 26
2022 Elaine Collado Providence 27
2021 Karly Laliberte Pawtucket 26 Shortest reigning Miss Rhode Island USA (9 months and 21 days)
2020 Jonét Nichelle Providence 24
  • New England Patriots Cheerleader
  • Longest reigning Miss Rhode Island USA (1 year, 10 months, and 2 days)
  • Third longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder in the organization's history
2019 Nicole Pallozzi Providence 22
2018 Daescia DeMoranville Johnston 21
  • Later Miss World America Rhode Island 2018
2017 Kelsey Swanson Cranston 22
2016 Theresa Agonia Providence 23
2015 Anea Garcia Cranston 19 2nd runner-up
2014 Christina Palavra Providence 18 Miss Congeniality Season 16 Model on Project Runway
2013 Brittany Stenovitch Cranston 19
2012 Olivia Culpo Cranston 19 Miss USA 2012
2011 Kate McCaughey Lincoln 22
2010 Kristina Primavera Narragansett 22
2009 Alysha Castonguay Woonsocket 22
2008 Amy Diaz Johnston 23 Top 15
2007 Danielle Lacourse North Providence 21 1st runner-up
2006 Leeann Tingley East Greenwich 24 Top 10
2005 Allison Paganetti North Kingstown 21 Appears on CBS reality show Hunted as part of the hunter team "Echo".
2004 Sarah Bettencourt Lincoln 20
2003 Krisily Kennedy Warwick 23 Runner-up on season 7 of The Bachelor and a contestant on the first season of Bachelor Pad
2002 Janet Sutton Narragansett 23 Top 12
2001 Yanaiza Alvarez Providence 24 Top 10 Was a contestant on the show Fear Factor Episode 2.6 original air date 1/14/2002
2000 Heidi St. Pierre Harrisville 23
1999 Claire DeSimone Warwick
  • Later Mrs. Massachusetts America 2004 and Top 10 semi-finalist at Mrs. America 2004 under her married name, Claire O'Connor.[1]
1998 Connie Harrolle East Providence
1997 Claudia Jordan East Providence 23 Top 10
1996 Karen Bradley Providence 19
1995 Jennifer Aubin Woonsocket 20 Top 12
1994 RayeAnne Johnson Lincoln
1993 Juli Roach Wakefield
1992 Yvette Hernandez Providence
1991 Lynne Michael Cranston
1990 Susan Lima West Warwick
1989 Debra Damiano Providence
1988 Cindy Geronda North Providence
1987 Lisa Benson North Kingstown
1986 Donna Silva Cranston
1985 Dana Wilson Riverside
1984 Debbie Mowry North Providence
1983 Allegra Hendricks Providence
1982 Peggy McGraw Scituate
1981 Patti Reo Cranston
1980 Robyn Hall Pawtucket
1979 Theresa Patterson Lincoln
1978 Sharon Lee McGarry Warwick
1977 Susan Carten Cranston
1976 Kathleen Confreda Warwick
1975 Marice Love Providence
1974 Debra Anne Cerroni Smithfield
1973 Gayle White Providence 21 2nd runner-up
1972 Jeanne Lemay West Warwick
1971 Laurie Stahle North Kingstown
1970 Rebecca Galleshaw Warwick
1969 Donna Lewis Providence
1968 Betty Lou Whitmore Providence
1967 Nancy Giuliano Woonsocket
1966 Barbara Williams Providence
1965 Paula Farrow Warwick
1964 Carol Ann Tantimonico Johnston
1963 Rosemary Jane Dickinson Providence
1962 Marilyn Ann Scott Pawtucket
1961 Joan Marie Zeller Riverside 23 Semi-finalist
1960 Lorelie Sue White Cranston
1959 Gloria Ryder Providence
1958 Claire DiPaolo Providence
1957 Myrna Altieri Cranston
1956 Sandra Vozella Point Judith
1955 Beverly Jansen Providence
1954 Joyce Anne Sandberg Warwick
  • Previously crowned Miss Rhode Island in 1953. Later served as First Lady of Rhode Island from 1973 to 1977.[2]
1953 Barbara Rose Deigman Providence
1952 Delores Selinder Providence

1 Age at the time of the Miss Rhode Island USA pageant

References

  1. ^ "2004 Mrs America". Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Miller, G. Wayne (2019-02-15). "Former R.I. First Lady Joyce Anne Noel has died". Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2019-12-27.