Kaliegh Garris

Kaliegh Garris
Kaliegh Garris in 2019
Born	(2000-08-21) August 21, 2000 (age 23) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Southern Connecticut State University
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019 Miss Teen USA 2019
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Major competition(s)	Miss Teen USA 2019 (Winner)

Kaliegh Garris (born August 21, 2000) is an American tv host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2019. Garris had previously been crowned Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019; she is the second entrant from Connecticut to have been crowned Miss Teen USA, following Logan West who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012.

With her win, 2019 became the first year that all five major pageants were won by mixed and black women; other titleholders were Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica (as Miss World 2019), Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa (as Miss Universe 2019), Nia Franklin (as Miss America 2019), and Cheslie Kryst (as Miss USA 2019). ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Life and career

Early life

Garris was born on August 21, 2000, in New Haven, Connecticut. ^{[6] [7]} She is biracial; her father is African American, while her mother is white. ^[8] Prior to being crowned Miss Teen USA, Garris was a dual enrolled student at Joseph A. Foran High School in Milford, Connecticut, and the ACES Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, where she studied theatre. ^{[9] [10]} Throughout her life, Garris has participated in competitive dance, being trained in contemporary, jazz, pointe, hip hop, and tap. She founded the organization We Are People 1st, which assists people with disabilities, and was founded due to Garris's elder sister struggling with multiple disabilities; Garris has been recognized by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services for her work. ^{[11] [12]}

After graduating from high school, Garris now attends Southern Connecticut State University studying communications and also volunteers at Yale New Haven Hospital. ^{[13] [14]}

Pageantry

Garris began her pageantry career as a teenager, competing in the National American Miss circuit and the Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen competition. ^{[15] [16]} She transitioned to the Miss Universe Organization in 2019, competing in Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019 and winning the title on her first try. ^{[17] [18]}

As Miss Connecticut Teen USA, Garris was awarded the right to compete for Miss Teen USA 2019 in Reno, Nevada. She competed in the finals on April 28, 2019, at the Grand Sierra Resort, and was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder Hailey Colborn, besting first runner-up Caitlyn Vogel of North Dakota. Following her win, Garris became the second titleholder from Connecticut to win Miss Teen USA, succeeding Logan West who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012. ^{[19] [20] [21] [22]}

Following her win, she received national attention for wearing her natural afro-textured hair during the competition. ^{[23] [24] [25] [26]} Garris's reign was originally scheduled to end on spring 2020, but due to the circumstances over the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the longest reigning Miss Teen USA titleholder and surpassed Allison Brown's previous record of 546 days on October 26, 2020. She ended her reign on November 7, 2020, after crowning Kiʻilani Arruda as Miss Teen USA 2020, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. ^{[27] [28] [29]}

References

1. Harmata, Claudia (December 10, 2019). "Making History: Current Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women". People . Retrieved December 10, 2019.
2. Ruiz-Grossman, Sarah (May 3, 2019). "Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America Are All Black Women For First Time In Pageant History". Huffington Post.
3. Peck, Patrice (May 3, 2019). "Miss America, Miss USA, And Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women, And I'm All Like "OKAY LADIES, NOW LET'S GET IN FORMATION!"". Buzzfeed.
4. Diaz, Thatiana (May 3, 2019). "3 Black Women Just Made Pageant History — & The Internet Is Celebrating". Refinery29.
5. Harmata, Claudia (December 10, 2019). "Making History: Current Miss world, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women". People . Retrieved December 10, 2019.
6. "17!". Kaliegh Garris. August 21, 2017.
7. "Life's a little sweeter at 18🍭". Kaliegh Garris. August 21, 2018.
8. Penrose, Nerisha (May 3, 2019). "Kaliegh Garris' Miss Teen USA Win Is a Win For Black Women Everywhere". Elle.
9. McCready, Brian (February 18, 2019). "Honor Roll Posted at Joseph A. Foran High School". Patch.
10. "ECA Theatre Student Kaliegh Garris named Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019!". ACES Educational Center for the Arts. February 3, 2019.
11. "5 Things You Need To Know About Miss Teen USA 2019 Kaliegh Garris". Miss Universe Organization. April 29, 2019.
12. "Connecticut". Miss Universe Organization. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
13. Ngomsi, Vinciane (April 29, 2019). "An Afro Fit For A Crown: Miss Teen USA 2019 Rocks Her Natural Kinks While Winning The National Title". Blavity.
14. "Milford teenager Kaliegh Garris named Miss Teen USA 2019". New Haven Register. April 29, 2019.
15. "So since I can't sleep because of the time difference and the fact check-in is today". Kaliegh Garris. November 21, 2016.
16. "Miss. New Haven County Outstanding Teen 2018". Kaliegh Garris. October 8, 2017.
17. "Miss Connecticut USA Contestants". Miss Connecticut USA. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
18. "2019 queens crowned!". Miss Connecticut USA. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
19. "Miss Teen USA is... CONNECTICUT!". Miss Universe Organization. April 29, 2019.
20. "It's happening... you're the new Miss Teen USA 2019!". Miss Universe Organization. April 29, 2019.
21. Geneviva, Alex (April 29, 2019). "Connecticut teen crowned Miss Teen USA 2019". WTNH.
22. "Kaliegh Garris crowned Miss Teen USA 2019". Femina Miss India. April 29, 2019.
23. Dodd, Sophie (April 30, 2019). "Kaliegh Garris Crowned Miss Teen USA 2019 While Wearing Her Natural Curls". People.
24. Evans, Shalwah (April 30, 2019). "Kaliegh Garris Takes Miss Teen USA Crown Rocking Her Natural 'Fro". Essence.
25. Diaz, Thatiana (April 30, 2019). "The New Miss Teen USA Was Crowned Wearing Her Natural Curls". Refinery29.
26. Kai, Maiysha (April 30, 2019). "She's a Natural: Miss Teen USA 2019 Kaliegh Garris Won the Crown In Curls". The Root.
27. "Hawaii's Ki'ilani Arruda Wins Miss Teen USA 2020". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
28. "Hawaii's Ki'ilani Arruda crowned as Miss Teen USA 2020". KHON2. November 7, 2020.
29. Beifuss, John (November 8, 2020). "Hawaii's Ki'ilani Arruda crowned Miss Teen USA during pageant at Graceland". Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hailey Colborn	Miss Teen USA 2019	Succeeded by Kiʻilani Arruda
Preceded by Elle Sauli	Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019	Succeeded by Samantha Sarelli