# Miss Rhode Island USA

The Miss Rhode Island USA competition is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state Rhode Island in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by D&D Productions.
Rhode Island made its first placement at Miss USA in 1961 and has been one of the most consistent states since 2000, with four semi-finalist placements and one first runner-up placement. On June 3, 2012, Olivia Culpo won the first Miss USA title from the state of Rhode Island. On December 19, 2012, Culpo became the first Rhode Islander to win the title of Miss Universe.
Kaitlynne Santana of Woonsocket was crowned Miss Rhode Island USA 2024 on May 26, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. She will represent Rhode Island at Miss USA 2024.

## Gallery of titleholders

* Claudia Jordan, Miss Rhode Island USA 1997 (pictured in 2009)
* Allison Paganetti, Miss Rhode Island USA 2005
* Leeann Tingley, Miss Rhode Island USA 2006
* Danielle Lacourse, Miss Rhode Island USA 2007
* Amy Diaz, Miss Rhode Island USA 2008
* Olivia Culpo, Miss Rhode Island USA 2012, Miss USA 2012 and Miss Universe 2012

## Results summary
### Placements

* Miss USA: Olivia Culpo (2012)
* 1st runners-up: Danielle Lacourse (2007)
* 2nd runners-up: Gayle White (1973), Anea Garcia (2015)
* Top 10/11/12: Jennifer Aubin (1995), Claudia Jordan (1997), Yanaiza Alvarez (2001), Janet Sutton (2002), Leeann Tingley (2006)
* Top 15: Joan Zeller (1961), Amy Diaz (2008)
Rhode Island holds a record of 11 placements at Miss USA.

### Awards

* Miss Congeniality: Christina Palavra (2014)

## Winners
### Color key

* Declared as Winner
* Ended as runner-up
* Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age$^1$ | Local title | Placement at Miss USA | Special awards at Miss USA | Notes |
| 2024 | Kaitylnne Santana | Woonsocket | 22 | Miss Woonsocket | | | |
| 2023 | Mary Malloy | Cumberland | 26 | | | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2015 |
| 2022 | Elaine Collado | Providence | 27 | | | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2013 |
| 2021 | Karly Laliberte | Pawtucket | 26 | | | | Shortest reigning Miss Rhode Island USA (9 months and 21 days) |
| 2020 | Jonét Nichelle | Providence | 24 | | | | New England Patriots Cheerleader Longest reigning Miss Rhode Island USA (1 year, 10 months, and 2 days) Third longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder in the organization's history |
| 2019 | Nicole Pallozzi | Providence | 22 | | | | |
| 2018 | Daescia DeMoranville | Johnston | 21 | | | | Later Miss World America Rhode Island 2018 |
| 2017 | Kelsey Swanson | Cranston | 22 | | | | |
| 2016 | Theresa Agonia | Providence | 23 | | | | |
| 2015 | Anea Garcia | Cranston | 19 | | 2nd runner-up | | Later Miss Grand International 2015 as Dominican Republic, later resigned/dethroned |
| 2014 | Christina Palavra | Providence | 18 | | | Miss Congeniality | Season 16 Model on Project Runway |
| 2013 | Brittany Stenovitch | Cranston | 19 | | | | |
| 2012 | Olivia Culpo | Cranston | 19 | | Miss USA 2012 | | Later Miss Universe 2012 |
| 2011 | Kate McCaughey | Lincoln | 22 | | | | |
| 2010 | Kristina Primavera | Narragansett | 22 | | | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2003 |
| 2009 | Alysha Castonguay | Woonsocket | 22 | | | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2002 and Top 10 Semifinalist at Miss Teen USA 2002, Previously Miss Teen America 2003 |
| 2008 | Amy Diaz | Johnston | 23 | | Top 15 | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2001 Later Miss Earth United States 2009 and competed in Miss Earth 2009 Later won Season 23 of The Amazing Race |
| 2007 | Danielle Lacourse | North Providence | 21 | | 1st runner-up | | |
| 2006 | Leeann Tingley | East Greenwich | 24 | | Top 10 | | |
| 2005 | Allison Paganetti | North Kingstown | 21 | | | | Appears on CBS reality show Hunted as part of the hunter team "Echo". |
| 2004 | Sarah Bettencourt | Lincoln | 20 | | | | |
| 2003 | Krisily Kennedy | Warwick | 23 | | | | Runner-up on season 7 of The Bachelor and a contestant on the first season of Bachelor Pad |
| 2002 | Janet Sutton | Narragansett | 23 | | Top 12 | | |
| 2001 | Yanaiza Alvarez | Providence | 24 | | Top 10 | | Was a contestant on the show Fear Factor Episode 2.6 original air date 1/14/2002 |
| 2000 | Heidi St. Pierre | Harrisville | 23 | | | | |
| 1999 | Claire DeSimone | Warwick | | | | | Later Mrs. Massachusetts America 2004 and Top 10 semi-finalist at Mrs. America 2004 under her married name, Claire O'Connor. |
| 1998 | Connie Harrolle | East Providence | | | | | |
| 1997 | Claudia Jordan | East Providence | 23 | | Top 10 | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1990; Suitcase model on Deal or No Deal |
| 1996 | Karen Bradley | Providence | 19 | | | | |
| 1995 | Jennifer Aubin | Woonsocket | 20 | | Top 12 | | |
| 1994 | RayeAnne Johnson | Lincoln | | | | | Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1987 |
| 1993 | Juli Roach | Wakefield | | | | | |
| 1992 | Yvette Hernandez | Providence | | | | | |
| 1991 | Lynne Michael | Cranston | | | | | |
| 1990 | Susan Lima | West Warwick | | | | | |
| 1989 | Debra Damiano | Providence | | | | | |
| 1988 | Cindy Geronda | North Providence | | | | | |
| 1987 | Lisa Benson | North Kingstown | | | | | |
| 1986 | Donna Silva | Cranston | | | | | |
| 1985 | Dana Wilson | Riverside | | | | | |
| 1984 | Debbie Mowry | North Providence | | | | | |
| 1983 | Allegra Hendricks | Providence | | | | | |
| 1982 | Peggy McGraw | Scituate | | | | | |
| 1981 | Patti Reo | Cranston | | | | | |
| 1980 | Robyn Hall | Pawtucket | | | | | |
| 1979 | Theresa Patterson | Lincoln | | | | | |
| 1978 | Sharon Lee McGarry | Warwick | | | | | |
| 1977 | Susan Carten | Cranston | | | | | |
| 1976 | Kathleen Confreda | Warwick | | | | | |
| 1975 | Marice Love | Providence | | | | | |
| 1974 | Debra Anne Cerroni | Smithfield | | | | | |
| 1973 | Gayle White | Providence | 21 | | 2nd runner-up | | |
| 1972 | Jeanne Lemay | West Warwick | | | | | |
| 1971 | Laurie Stahle | North Kingstown | | | | | |
| 1970 | Rebecca Galleshaw | Warwick | | | | | |
| 1969 | Donna Lewis | Providence | | | | | |
| 1968 | Betty Lou Whitmore | Providence | | | | | |
| 1967 | Nancy Giuliano | Woonsocket | | | | | |
| 1966 | Barbara Williams | Providence | | | | | |
| 1965 | Paula Farrow | Warwick | | | | | |
| 1964 | Carol Ann Tantimonico | Johnston | | | | | |
| 1963 | Rosemary Jane Dickinson | Providence | | | | | |
| 1962 | Marilyn Ann Scott | Pawtucket | | | | | |
| 1961 | Joan Marie Zeller | Riverside | 23 | | Semi-finalist | | |
| 1960 | Lorelie Sue White | Cranston | | | | | |
| 1959 | Gloria Ryder | Providence | | | | | |
| 1958 | Claire DiPaolo | Providence | | | | | |
| 1957 | Myrna Altieri | Cranston | | | | | |
| 1956 | Sandra Vozella | Point Judith | | | | | |
| 1955 | Beverly Jansen | Providence | | | | | |
| 1954 | Joyce Anne Sandberg | Warwick | | | | | Previously crowned Miss Rhode Island in 1953. Later served as First Lady of Rhode Island from 1973 to 1977. |
| 1953 | Barbara Rose Deigman | Providence | | | | | |
| 1952 | Delores Selinder | Providence | | | | | |
$^1$ Age at the time of the Miss Rhode Island USA pageant