# Miss Rhode Island Teen USA

The Miss Rhode Island Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Rhode Island in the Miss Teen USA pageant and the name of the title held by that winner.
Rhode Island has placed eight times at the Miss Teen USA Pageant, most recently in 2024 when Carissa Tillinghast made the top 20. The state's first finalist was Shaelyn McNally in 2006. One of those semi-finalists was Shanna Moakler, who would later win the Miss New York USA pageant and takeover the Miss USA title when Chelsi Smith won Miss Universe.
Other notable Miss Rhode Island Teen USAs are:
* Claudia Jordan - was also Miss Rhode Island USA 1997 and has appeared on The Price Is Right, Deal or No Deal and The Real Housewives of Atlanta
* Gina Tognoni - known for her portrayal of Kelly Cramer on the soap opera One Life to Live from 1995 to 2001. Currently portraying the role of Phyllis Summers on the soap The Young and the Restless since August 11, 2014.
Lola Paolissi of Cranston was crowned Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2023 on May 28, 2023, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. She represented Rhode Island at Miss Teen USA 2023 and placed in the top 20.

## Results summary
### Placements

* Top 10: Alysha Castonguay (2002), Shaelyn McNally (2006), Rochelle Rose (2007)
* Top 12: Gina Tognoni (1991), Shanna Moakler (1992)
* Top 15: Talia Turco (2009)
* Top 20: Lola Paolissi (2023), Carissa Tillinghast (2024)
* Rhode Island holds a record of 8 placements at the Miss Teen USA.

### Awards

* Miss Photogenic: Raye-Anne Johnson (1987 - tie), Gina Tognoni (1991)
* Miss Congeniality: Malia Cruz (2016), Alexa Papigiotis (2017)

## Winners

* Declared as Winner
* Ended as runner-up
* Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age$^1$ | Placement at Miss Teen USA | Special awards at Miss Teen USA | Notes |
| 2024 | Carissa Tillinghast | Warwick | 19 | Top 20 | | |
| 2023 | Lola Paolissi | Cranston | 16 | Top 20 | | |
| 2022 | Julia Potts | Richmond | 18 | | | |
| 2021 | Sydney Jaiswal | Cranston | 17 | | | |
| 2020 | Sofia Ledoux | Cranston | 16 | | | |
| 2019 | Olivia Volpe | Cranston | 18 | | | |
| 2018 | Aliyah Moore | Pawtucket | 17 | | | |
| 2017 | Alexa Papigiotis | North Providence | 18 | | Miss Congeniality | |
| 2016 | Malia Cruz | Warwick | 18 | | Miss Congeniality | |
| 2015 | Mary Malloy | Cumberland | 17 | | | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 2023 |
| 2014 | Gabriella Maggiacomo | Hope | 17 | | | |
| 2013 | Elaine Collado | Providence | 18 | | | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 2022 |
| 2012 | Livia Stencel | Warwick | 16 | | | |
| 2011 | Lindsey Bucci | Scituate | 18 | | | |
| 2010 | Erica Wright | Narragansett | 18 | | | |
| 2009 | Talia Turco | Lincoln | 18 | Top 15 | | |
| 2008 | Tiondra Martinez | Woonsocket | 17 | | | |
| 2007 | Rochelle Rose | Cranston | 15 | Top 10 | | |
| 2006 | Shaelyn McNally | Lincoln | 18 | Top 10 | | |
| 2005 | Dominique Lee | Westerly | 17 | | | |
| 2004 | Melissa Landry | Charlestown | 16 | | | |
| 2003 | Kristina Primavera | Cranston | 16 | | | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 2010 |
| 2002 | Alysha Castonguay | Woonsocket | 16 | Top 10 | | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 2009 (also Miss Teen America 2003 & Miss Teen Galaxy 2005); New England Patriots Cheerleader (2006–2008) |
| 2001 | Amy Diaz | Providence | 16 | | | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 2008, top 15 at Miss USA 2008. Winner of The Amazing Race 23 with her husband Jason. |
| 2000 | Sienna Piccione | Cranston | 17 | | | |
| 1999 | Jodi Fournier | Burrillville | 18 | | | |
| 1998 | Kristen Luneberg | Lincoln | 17 | | | Later Miss North Carolina USA 2003 |
| 1997 | Lauren Alviti | Cranston | 18 | | | |
| 1996 | Kelly Dutra | Tiverton | 17 | | | |
| 1995 | Carol Pedroso | Warwick | 18 | | | |
| 1994 | Nicole Coletti | Cranston | 17 | | | |
| 1993 | Alisha Currier | North Kingstown | 19 | | | |
| 1992 | Shanna Moakler | Barrington | 16 | Top 12 | | Later Miss New York USA 1995 & Miss USA 1995, Miss Teen All American 1992; actress & reality television star; Current director of the Miss Nevada USA and Miss Nevada Teen USA pageants. Previous co-director of the Miss California USA & Miss California Teen USA pageants |
| 1991 | Gina Tognoni | Bristol | 17 | Top 12 | Miss Photogenic | |
| 1990 | Claudia Jordan | East Providence | 16 | | | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 1997, top 10 at Miss USA 1997, suitcase model on Deal or No Deal, cast member on season 7 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta |
| 1989 | Deb Hodges | East Greenwich | 17 | | | |
| 1988 | Debbie Peters | North Providence | 18 | | | |
| 1987 | Raye-Anne Johnson | Wakefield | 16 | | Miss Photogenic - tie | Later Miss Rhode Island USA 1994 |
| 1986 | Lori Damiani | Cranston | 18 | | | |
| 1985 | Chris Pavalli | Warwick | 18 | | | |
| 1984 | Jennifer Amoroso | Narragansett | 17 | | | Later known by stage name Gianna Amore |
| 1983 | Melissa Sciarra | Warwick | 16 | | | |
$^1$ Age at the time of the Miss Teen USA pageant