Taryn Delanie Smith

Last updated
Taryn Delanie Smith
Born (1996-09-23) September 23, 1996 (age 28)
Alma materSt. John's University
Occupation(s)Beauty pageant competitor, TikToker
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Northwest 2017
Miss Greater New York 2022
Miss New York 2022
Years active2017–present
Major
competition(s)		 Miss America 2023 (first runner-up)
TikTok information
Page
Followers1.3M
Likes33.3M
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]

Contents

Early life and education

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]

Pageants

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 second runner-up for the Miss Washington 2017 title on July 1, 2017 while competing as Miss Northwest 2017. [3] [6]

Smith was crowned Miss New York 2022 on May 29, 2022 while competing as Miss Greater 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 named first runner-up in the Miss America 2023 competition on December 15, 2022. [2] [7]

Online presence

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 she had gained 1.2 million followers. [1]

Personal life

Smith married personal trainer and business owner Alec Castillo on July 24, 2024.

Smith lives in Upstate NY. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Olson, Emily (18 May 2023). "Heaven has a bathrobe-clad receptionist named Denise. She's helping TikTok grieve". NPR. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke crowned as Miss America 2023". The Economic Times. 2022-12-16. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Service while Serving Alumna Emphasizes New York". www.stjohns.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  4. 1 2 "2022 Miss New York". Miss America. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  5. 1 2 Cohen, Kate (15 May 2023). "Opinion: Why Denise, Heaven's Receptionist, is the best thing on TikTok". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Females Who Inspire: Miss New York 2022, Taryn Delanie Smith". Ally Shoes. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  7. 1 2 Stanford, Kaitlin (2023-02-14). "How TikTok star Taryn Delanie Smith went from working at a call center to Miss New York: 'I'm glad that I didn't make myself smaller'". In The Know. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  8. ↑ Lloyd, Andrew. "Miss New York 2022 is charming viewers with her TikTok sketches playing a receptionist in heaven, as some fan requests have added an emotional layer". Insider. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
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