The Miss Rhode Island competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Rhode Island in the Miss America pageant.
Mia Daley of East Greenwich was crowned Miss Rhode Island on April 25, 2026, at the Historic Park Theatre & Event Center in Cranston, Rhode Island. She competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Rhode Island titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements 3rd runners-up: Marilyn Cocozza (1968) 4th runners-up: Caroline Parente (2024) Top 10: Laurie Gray (2004) Top 15: Deborah Saint-Vil (2011)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Debra Cusick (1976), Karen Lindsay (2000), Ashley Bickford (2008) Preliminary Talent: Marilyn Cocozza (1968), Laurie Gray (2004), Deborah Saint-Vil (2011)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Interview: Lisa Snow (1993) Non-finalist Talent: Cheryl Hirst (1962), Cheryl Girr (1967), Teresa Bradley (1971), Karen Salvatore (1975), Kelly Jo Roarke (1998), Julianna Strout (2010)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: Ann Willis (1959) Miss Photogenic: Ashley Bickford (2008) Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Laurie Gray (2004) Quality of Life Award Winners: Allison Rogers (2007) Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Jessica Marfeo (2014) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Ashley Bickford (2008), Francesca Simone (2009), Alexandra Curtis (2016), Alexia Rodrigues (2026) Women in Business Scholarship Award Winners: Shruti Nagarajan (2017)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Mia DaleyEast Greenwich19Miss Salve Regina UniversityVocal100th Miss Rhode IslandPreviously Miss Rhode Island's Teen 20232025Alexia RodriguesWarwick25Miss WarwickHER StoryQuality of Life Award Finalist2024Ali HornungProvidence24Miss North KingstownVocal, "Legally Blonde"2023Caroline ParenteSouth Kingstown21Vocal, "Imagine"4th Runner-UpPreviously Miss Rhode Island's Outstanding Teen 2019-20202022Abby MansolilloProvidence22Monologue2021Leigh PayneBarrington21Piano2019–20Molly M. AndradeMiddletown20Irish Step Dance 2018 Alexandra N. Coppa Cranston 22 Jazz Dance Previously Miss Rhode Island's Outstanding Teen 2012 2017 Nicolette Peloquin Newport 21 Miss Newport Acrobatics, "All That Jazz" NFL cheerleader for the New England Patriots for the 2018–2019 season 2016 Shruti Nagarajan Providence 24 Miss Providence County Bollywood-fusion dance Women in Business Scholarship Winner 2015 Alexandra Curtis East Greenwich 23 Miss West Warwick Musical Theater Vocal, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" Quality of Life Award Finalist Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant 2014 Ivy DePew Providence Miss Providence Flute, "Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band Contestant at National Sweetheart 2013 pageant 2013 Jessica Marfeo Exeter 20 Miss University of Rhode Island Vocal, "Ain't Misbehavin'" Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up 2012 Kelsey Fournier Pawtucket 23 Miss Pawtucket Jazz Dance, "All That Jazz" Former NFL cheerleader and line captain for the New England Patriots during 2009–2011 seasons 2011 Robin Bonner Westhampton, NY 20 Miss University of Rhode Island Jazz Dance, "Americano" by Lady Gaga 2010 Deborah M. Saint-Vil Providence 22 Miss Spirit of Hope Vocal, "Smile" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award 2009 Julianna Clare Strout Watch Hill 24 Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine" Non-finalist Talent Award 2008 Francesca Simone North Smithfield 22 Classical Vocal, "Nessun dorma" Quality of Life Award Finalist 2007 Ashley Bickford Newport Ballet en Pointe Miss PhotogenicQuality of Life Award FinalistPreliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Triple Crown winner: Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2002; Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant Later Miss Connecticut USA 2010 2006 Allison Rogers Providence 25 Classical Piano, "Fantaisie-Impromptu" Quality of Life Award 2005 Jessica Samson Newport 23 Vocal, "It's No Secret Anymore" 2004 Aimee Belisle North Smithfield 24 Ballet en Pointe, "You're a Grand Old Flag" 2003 Laurie Gray Warwick 22 Classical Violin, "Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64" Top 10 Dr. David B. Allman Medical ScholarshipPreliminary Talent Award 2002 Gianine Marie TetiProvidence 22 Classical Vocal, "Steal Me Sweet Thief" from The Old Maid and the Thief 2001 Jennifer Leigh D'Ambrosio 21 Vocal, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard Featured on MTV's True Life-I'm a Beauty Queen 2000 Jennifer St. Laurent Bristol 24 Vocal, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" 1999 Karen Lindsay Warwick Vocal, "I'm a Woman" Preliminary Swimsuit Award Contestant at National Sweetheart 1998 pageantContestant on The Bachelor 1998 Heather Marie Picard Cumberland 23 Ballet en Pointe, Carmen 1997 Kelly Jo Roarke Cranston 24 Comic Reading, "Non-Bridaled Passion" Non-finalist Talent Award 1996 Elana Chomiszak Providence 21 Dance, "Nice Work If You Can Get It" 1995 Elizabeth Reilly North Providence 24 Miss North Providence Dance, "Everybody Says Don't" from Anyone Can Whistle 1994 Tori-Lynn Heaton Cranston Miss Cranston Character Jazz Dance First police officer to compete in the Miss America pageantPope, W. Leon. "Shooting For the Crown". Press of Atlantic City, Section D.pg.D1 and D4. September 10, 1994 In 1994, Tori-Lynn Heaton (Miss Rhode Island 1994) became the first full-time sworn law enforcement officer to ever compete on the Miss America stage. 1993 Wendy Mello Narragansett 22 Miss South County Lyrical Ballet, "A Piece of Sky" from Yentl 1992 Lisa Snow Cranston 23 Miss Western Cranston Dramatic Monologue Non-finalist Interview Award 1991 Debi Cutler North Providence 26 Miss Providence County Vocal, "Shine On, Harvest Moon" 1990 Susan Savastano East Providence 22 Miss Greater Providence County Tap Dance, "All Right" 1989 Gloria Berlanga Davisville 23 Miss Kent County Flute 1988 Jenna Wims Pawtucket 24 Vocal 1987 Cherilynn Cusick Providence 21 Miss Providence County Contemporary Ballet 1986 Barbara Longo Barrington N/A Toni Langello Warwick 20 Vocal, "My Man" Competed as Miss Rhode Island in Miss America 1987 pageantLater resigned after being arrested for cocaine possession in January 1987 1985 Lori Boucher Pawtucket Vocal, "Losing My Mind" 1984 Joanna Minisce North Smithfield 19 Miss Northern Rhode Island Modern Jazz Dance 1983 Pamela Hoff Providence 21 Miss Providence-Pawtucket Vocal, "For Once in My Life" 1982 Cynthia Crook Warwick 22 Miss Central Rhode Island Vocal/Dance, "Theme from New York, New York" 1981 Kathleen Cryan Providence 23 Miss Eastern Rhode Island Jazz Dance, "Electro-Phantasma" 1980 Dawn Potter Pascoag 20 Miss Northern Rhode Island Vocal / Dance, "All That Jazz" 1979 Elaine Rushlow Westerly Miss Southern Rhode Island Piano, "Bridge over Troubled Water" 1978 Lori Leyden Providence 21 Vocal, "Everything" 1977 Tanya Kapla Middletown 21 Ballet en Pointe, "The Dying Swan" Played Gloria Brown on The Young and the Restless 1976 Debra Cerroni Esmond 20 Miss University of Rhode Island Vocal, "Much More" from The Fantasticks Previously Miss Rhode Island USA 1974 1975 Debra Cusick Providence Dance, Selections from Promises, Promises Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1974 Karen Salvatore Warwick 22 Miss Rhode Island Coed Original Skit, "Don't Smoke" Non-finalist Talent Award 1973 Patricia Garrahy North Providence 19 Ballet, "Scarborough Fair" 1972 Michele Passarelli Pawtucket 18 Miss Pawtucket Vocal, "Cabaret" 1971 Annette Charpentier Cumberland 21 Miss Cumberland Semi-classical Vocal, "Eli's Coming" 1970 Teresa Bradley East Greenwich 19 Miss North Kingston Folk Singing & Guitar, "Chelsea Morning" Non-finalist Talent Award 1969 Jeanne Bursley Barrington 20 Vocal / Dance, "Standing on a Corner" 1968 Arlene Pinto Warwick 21 Miss Warwick Vocal / Dance, "Thoroughly Modern Millie" 1967 Marilyn Cocozza North Providence 19 Miss Pawtucket Piano / Vocal, "I Have Confidence" from The Sound of Music 3rd runner-up Preliminary Talent Award 1966 Cheryl Girr Newport 18 Miss Newport Interpretive Ballet Non-finalist Talent Award 1965 Maureen MantonWarwick 21Miss Warwick Dramatic Reading from The Diary of Anne Frank 1964 Judy Anderson 20 Vocal / Dance 1963 Sheila GuarniereBristolMiss Bristol Piano 1962 Deborah Babbitt 18 Acrobatic Musical Comedy Dance 1961 Cheryl Hirst Greenville 18 Miss North Providence Ventriloquism & Organ, "This Can't Be Love" Non-finalist Talent Award 1960 Sally Saabye Warwick 18 Miss Warwick Piano/Pantomime 1959 Michalene Chomicz Pawtucket 23 Vocal 1958 Ann Louise Willis Cranston 18 Miss Congeniality Ann Louise Willis Ratray died at age 81 on June 9, 2021, in New York City, NY. She was a noted stage and screen actress who became a celebrated drama coach 1957 Beatrice Turek Providence Art Display 1956 Gail Gilmore Barrington Drama / Piano 1955 Claire Mae Emerson Pawtucket Dramatic Monologue 1954 Virginia Mary "Ginger" Gregory 20 Speech 1953 Joyce Sandberg Providence Drama Later Miss Rhode Island USA 1954 1952 Jayne Bradshaw Westerly Classical Vocal 1951No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant 1950 1949 1948 1947 Ellen DiCenzo Providence Vocal 1946 Marilyn Tripp Westerly 1945 Mary Stevens Cranston Vocal, "How Deep Is the Ocean?" 1944No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 Dorothy May Eden East Providence 18 Dr. Dorothy May Eden Trayner Erinakes died at 97 on March 20, 2017, in San Luis Obispo, California. 1936 Mary Margaret Rogers Johnston 1935 Beatrice McKenzie Providence Miss ProvidenceMultiple Rhode Island representativesContestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant Leona Mucha West Warwick Miss West Warwick Marianne Ranallo Grasso 1934No national pageant was held 1933No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant 1932No national pageants were held 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 June Frances Costello Providence 1926No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant 1925 Loretta Berchman 1924 Freida Leamon Providence Miss Providence 1923 Loretta La Flamme 1922No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant 1921
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