Taryn Delanie Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1996 |
| Alma mater | St. John's University |
| Occupation(s) | Beauty pageant competitor, TikToker |
| Years active | 2017-present |
TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 1.3M |
| Likes | 33.3M |
Last updated: July 17, 2023 | |
Taryn Delanie Smith (born 23 September 1996) [1] is an American beauty pageant titleholder and TikToker. She was crowned Miss New York 2022, and was named first runner-up in the Miss America 2023 competition. [2]
Smith was raised in Seattle, Washington, where she experienced housing insecurity as a child. [3]
She attended St. John's University, where she earned a Bachelor's in communication studies and a Master's in International Communication & Intercultural Studies. [3] [4] [5] She worked as a receptionist at a call center to finance her education. [1]
Smith was first inspired to participate in pageants during a talent show in high school, when one of her teachers suggested she compete for Miss America. [3] She began competing at age 17, and placed as a runner-up for the Miss Washington title in 2017. [3] [6]
Smith was named Miss New York 2022. [4] She was the first Black Miss New York to be crowned while wearing her natural hair. [7] For her advocacy work in the role, Smith focused on initiatives to assist those experiencing homelessness. [3] She was the first runner-up in the Miss America competition in December 2022. [2] [7]
Smith began posting on TikTok in 2021. In March 2023 Smith posted a video where she played Denise, a receptionist in Heaven, which quickly went viral. [8] She continued to focus on sketches about Denise and her job. [1] [5] As of May 2023 [update] she had gained 1.2 million followers. [1]
Smith married personal trainer and business owner Alec Castillo on July 24, 2024.
Smith lives in Upstate NY. [6]