Miss Rhode Island

Last updated
Miss Rhode Island
Formation1923
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Providence
Location
Membership Miss America
Official language
English
Website Official website

The Miss Rhode Island competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Rhode Island in the Miss America pageant.

Contents

Alexia Rodrigues of Warwick was crowned Miss Rhode Island 2025 on May 11, 2025 at the North Kingstown High School Auditorium in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. She competed for the title of Miss America 2026 in September 2025.

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Rhode Island titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements

Awards

Preliminary awards

Non-finalist awards

  • Non-finalist Interview: Lisa Snow (1993)
  • Non-finalist Talent: Cheryl Hirst (1962), Cheryl Girr (1967), Teresa Bradley (1971), Karen Salvatore (1975), Kelly Jo Roarke (1998), Julianna Strout (2010)

Other awards

Winners

YearNameHometownAgeLocal TitleMiss America TalentPlacement at Miss AmericaSpecial scholarships at Miss AmericaNotes
2025 Alexia Rodrigues Warwick 25Miss WarwickHER StoryQuality of Life Award Finalist
2024 Ali Hornung Providence 24Miss North KingstownVocal
2023 Caroline Parente South Kingstown 21Vocal, "Imagine"4th Runner-UpPreviously Miss Rhode Island's Outstanding Teen 2019-2020
2022 Abby Mansolillo [1] Providence 22
Monologue
2021 Leigh Payne [2] Barrington 21Piano
2019–20 [a] Molly M. Andrade [4] Middletown 20Irish Step Dance
2018 Alexandra N. Coppa [5] Cranston 22Jazz DancePreviously Miss Rhode Island's Outstanding Teen 2012 [6]
2017 Nicolette Peloquin [7] [8] Newport 21Miss NewportAcrobatics, "All That Jazz" NFL cheerleader for the New England Patriots for the 2018–2019 season [9]
2016 Shruti Nagarajan [10] Providence 24Miss Providence CountyBollywood-fusion danceWomen in Business Scholarship Winner
2015 Alexandra Curtis [11] East Greenwich 23Miss West WarwickMusical Theater Vocal, "Poor Unfortunate Souls"Quality of Life Award FinalistContestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant
2014 Ivy DePew [12] Providence Miss ProvidenceFlute, "Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant
2013 Jessica Marfeo [13] Exeter 20Miss University of Rhode IslandVocal, "Ain't Misbehavin'"Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
2012 Kelsey Fournier Pawtucket 23Miss PawtucketJazz Dance, "All That Jazz"Former NFL cheerleader and line captain for the New England Patriots during 2009–2011 seasons [14]
2011 Robin Bonner [15] Westhampton, NY 20Miss University of Rhode IslandJazz Dance, "Americano" by Lady Gaga
2010 Deborah M. Saint-Vil Providence 22Miss Spirit of HopeVocal, "Smile"Top 15Preliminary Talent Award
2009 Julianna Clare Strout Watch Hill 24Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine"Non-finalist Talent Award
2008 Francesca Simone North Smithfield 22Classical Vocal, "Nessun dorma"Quality of Life Award Finalist
2007 Ashley Bickford Newport Ballet en PointeMiss Photogenic

Quality of Life Award Finalist

Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Triple Crown winner:
2006 Allison Rogers Providence 25Classical Piano, "Fantaisie-Impromptu"Quality of Life Award
2005 Jessica Samson Newport 23Vocal, "It's No Secret Anymore"
2004 Aimee Belisle North Smithfield 24Ballet en Pointe, "You're a Grand Old Flag"
2003 Laurie Gray [16] Warwick 22Classical Violin, "Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64"Top 10Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship

Preliminary Talent Award
2002 Gianine Marie Teti Providence 22Classical Vocal, "Steal Me Sweet Thief" from The Old Maid and the Thief
2001 Jennifer Leigh D'Ambrosio21Vocal, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard Featured on MTV's True Life-I'm a Beauty Queen
2000 Jennifer St. Laurent Bristol 24Vocal, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"
1999 Karen Lindsay Warwick Vocal, "I'm a Woman"Preliminary Swimsuit AwardContestant at National Sweetheart 1998 pageant

Contestant on The Bachelor
1998 Heather Marie Picard Cumberland 23Ballet en Pointe, Carmen
1997 Kelly Jo Roarke Cranston 24Comic Reading, "Non-Bridaled Passion"Non-finalist Talent Award
1996 Elana Chomiszak Providence 21Dance, "Nice Work If You Can Get It"
1995 Elizabeth Reilly North Providence 24Miss North ProvidenceDance, "Everybody Says Don't" from Anyone Can Whistle
1994 Tori-Lynn Heaton Cranston Miss CranstonCharacter Jazz DanceFirst police officer to compete at a Miss America pageant[ citation needed ]
1993 Wendy Mello Narragansett 22Miss South CountyLyrical Ballet, "A Piece of Sky" from Yentl
1992 Lisa Snow Cranston 23Miss Western CranstonDramatic MonologueNon-finalist Interview Award
1991 Debi Cutler North Providence 26Miss Providence CountyVocal, "Shine On, Harvest Moon"
1990 Susan Savastano East Providence 22Miss Greater Providence CountyTap Dance, "All Right"
1989 Gloria Berlanga Davisville 23Miss Kent CountyFlute
1988 Jenna Wims Pawtucket 24Vocal
1987 Cherilynn Cusick Providence 21Miss Providence CountyContemporary Ballet
1986 Barbara Longo Barrington N/A
Toni Langello Warwick 20Vocal, "My Man"Competed as Miss Rhode Island in Miss America 1987 pageant

Later resigned after being arrested for cocaine possession in January 1987 [17]
1985 Lori Boucher Pawtucket Vocal, "Losing My Mind"
1984 Joanna Minisce North Smithfield 19Miss Northern Rhode IslandModern Jazz Dance
1983 Pamela Hoff Providence 21Miss Providence-PawtucketVocal, "For Once in My Life"
1982 Cynthia Crook Warwick 22Miss Central Rhode IslandVocal/Dance, "Theme from New York, New York"
1981 Kathleen Cryan Providence 23Miss Eastern Rhode IslandJazz Dance, "Electro-Phantasma"
1980 Dawn Potter Pascoag 20Miss Northern Rhode IslandVocal / Dance, "All That Jazz"
1979 Elaine Rushlow Westerly Miss Southern Rhode IslandPiano, "Bridge over Troubled Water"
1978 Lori Leyden Providence 21Vocal, "Everything"
1977 Tanya Kapla Middletown 21Ballet en Pointe, "The Dying Swan"Played Gloria Brown on The Young and the Restless
1976 Debra Cerroni Esmond 20Miss University of Rhode IslandVocal, "Much More" from The Fantasticks Previously Miss Rhode Island USA 1974
1975 Debra Cusick Providence Dance, Selections from Promises, Promises Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1974 Karen Salvatore Warwick 22Miss Rhode Island CoedOriginal Skit, "Don't Smoke"Non-finalist Talent Award
1973 Patricia Garrahy North Providence 19Ballet, "Scarborough Fair"
1972 Michele Passarelli Pawtucket 18Miss PawtucketVocal, "Cabaret"
1971 Annette Charpentier Cumberland 21Miss CumberlandSemi-classical Vocal, "Eli's Coming"
1970 Teresa Bradley East Greenwich 19Miss North KingstonFolk Singing & Guitar, "Chelsea Morning"Non-finalist Talent Award
1969 Jeanne Bursley Barrington 20Vocal / Dance, "Standing on a Corner"
1968 Arlene Pinto Warwick 21Miss WarwickVocal / Dance, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"
1967 Marilyn Cocozza North Providence 19Miss PawtucketPiano / Vocal, "I Have Confidence" from The Sound of Music 3rd runner-upPreliminary Talent Award
1966 Cheryl Girr Newport 18Miss NewportInterpretive BalletNon-finalist Talent Award
1965 Maureen Manton Warwick 21Miss WarwickDramatic Reading from The Diary of Anne Frank
1964 Judy Anderson20Vocal / Dance
1963 Sheila Guarniere Bristol Miss BristolPiano
1962 Deborah Babbitt18Acrobatic Musical Comedy Dance
1961 Cheryl Hirst Greenville 18Miss North ProvidenceVentriloquism & Organ, "This Can't Be Love"Non-finalist Talent Award
1960 Sally Saabye Warwick 18Miss WarwickPiano/Pantomime
1959 Michalene Chomicz Pawtucket 23Vocal
1958 Ann Louise Willis Cranston 18Miss CongenialityAnn Louise Willis Ratray died at age 81 on June 9, 2021, in New York City, NY. She was a noted stage and screen actress who became a celebrated drama coach
1957 Beatrice Turek Providence Art Display
1956 Gail Gilmore Barrington Drama / Piano
1955 Claire Mae Emerson Pawtucket Dramatic Monologue
1954 Virginia Mary "Ginger" Gregory20Speech
1953 Joyce Sandberg Providence DramaLater Miss Rhode Island USA 1954
1952 Jayne Bradshaw Westerly Classical Vocal
1951 No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant [18] [19] [20] [21]
1950
1949
1948
1947 Ellen DiCenzo Providence Vocal
1946 Marilyn Tripp Westerly
1945 Mary Stevens Cranston Vocal, "How Deep Is the Ocean?"
1944 No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant
1943
1942
1941
1940
1939
1938
1937 Dorothy May Eden East Providence 18Dr. Dorothy May Eden Trayner Erinakes died at 97 on March 20, 2017, in San Luis Obispo, California.
1936 Mary Margaret Rogers Johnston
1935 Beatrice McKenzie Providence Miss ProvidenceMultiple Rhode Island representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Leona Mucha West Warwick Miss West Warwick
Marianne Ranallo Grasso
1934No national pageant was held [22]
1933 No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant [23]
1932No national pageants were held [22]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927 June Frances Costello Providence N/A [24]
1926 No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant [25]
1925 Loretta BerchmanN/A [24]
1924 Freida Leamon Providence Miss ProvidenceCompeted under local title at Miss America pageant
1923 Loretta La Flamme [26]
1922 No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant [27] [28]
1921
Notes
  1. Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic [3]

References

  1. Nagle, Kate. "NEW: Miss Rhode Island 2022 Crowned". GoLocalProv. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  2. "Leigh Payne Crowned Miss Rhode Island 2021; Alexa Johnsen new Miss RI Outstanding Teen". New England Pageant News. 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  3. Kuperinksy, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September". Press of Atlantic City.
  4. Thatcher, Rachael. "Middletown resident crowned Miss Rhode Island". The Newport Daily News. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  5. "Brown Grad Coppa Crowned Miss RI 2018". GoLocalProv. May 7, 2018.
  6. Cowart, Jen (August 8, 2012). "Coppa represents RI for Miss Outstanding Teen". Cranston Herald.
  7. Tefft, Artie (May 29, 2017). "A new Miss Rhode Island is crowned". Turnto10.com.
  8. "Salve Regina student, East Greenwich teen crowned in Miss Rhode Island Pageant". Providence Journal. May 29, 2017.
  9. "Patriots Cheerleaders announce 2018 Squad". Patriots.com. April 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  10. "Brown Grad Shruti Nagarajan Crowned Miss RI 2016". Go Local Prov. May 23, 2016.
  11. Torrens, Alexa (May 30, 2015). "Former SA President Allie Curtis crowned Miss Rhode Island". The Daily Orange . Syracuse, NY.
  12. "Brown Grad Ivy DePew Crowned Miss RI 2014". Go Local Prov. June 16, 2014.
  13. "Jessica Marfeo crowned Miss Rhode Island 2013". June 1, 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  14. "Former Patriots Cheerleader to compete for the title of Miss America". Patriots.com. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  15. "Rhode Island Welcomes 2011 State Titleholder". Four Points. May 23, 2011.
  16. Barker, Olivia (September 16, 2003). "Harvard grads' next goal: Miss America". USA Today .
  17. "Coke becomes drug of choice in Rhode Island during the 1980s". The Providence Journal Company. October 31, 1999.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. "1952 Candidates". Miss America.
  19. "1951 Candidates". Miss America.
  20. "1949 Candidates". Miss America.
  21. "1948 Candidates". Miss America.
  22. 1 2 "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS . Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  23. "1933 Candidates". Miss America.
  24. 1 2 Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  25. "1926 Candidates". Miss America.
  26. "Half a Dozen America Beauties, Please". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 via Newspaper.com.
  27. "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
  28. "1922 Candidates". Miss America.