Miss Connecticut

The Miss Connecticut competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Connecticut in the Miss America pageant. Connecticut has won the Miss America crown once (Marian Bergeron, 1933), and is the only New England state which has produced a Miss America.

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Connecticut USA.
Miss Connecticut
TypeScholarship pageant
Membership
Miss America
Key people
Ashley Reid (Executive Director)
WebsiteOfficial website
Heidi Voight, Miss Connecticut 2006, on board USS Connecticut (SSN-22) in February 2006

2022 titleholder is Sylvana González of Farmington was crowned on April 9, 2022, at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. She competed for the title of Miss America 2023 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Gina Caralato is the current titleholder she was crowned at Mohegan sun June 18 and will compete for Miss America 2024 this January in Atlantic City New Jersey. Gina was Miss Fairfield county 2023.

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Connecticut 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
  • Miss Americas: Marian Bergeron (1933-1934)[1]
  • 1st runners-up: Bridget Oei (2019)
  • 2nd runners-up: Tillie Grey (1936)
  • 4th runners-up: Jillian Duffy (2020)
  • Top 10: Billie Turner (1959), Jeanne Caruso (1981), Sylvia Gomes (2000), Tanisha Brito (2003), Kaitlyn Tarpey (2014)
  • Top 12: Ruth S. Rubin (1935)
  • Top 15: Florence Harriet Green (1926)
  • Top 16: Joan Turner (1946), Renee Roy (1951), Acacia Courtney (2015)

Preliminary awards

Non-finalist awards
  • Non-finalist Talent: Susan Lightbown (1958), Carole Gelish (1967), Gunnell Ragone (1969), Maryalice Flineroy (1979), Michele Eaton (1988), Valorie Abate (1993), MaryGrace Santagata (1995), Merissa Starnes (1998), Dana Daunis (2008)

Other awards

Winners
  •   Declared as winner
  •   Ended as a runner-up
  •   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes
2023 Gina Carloto[2] New Haven 27 Miss Fairfield Jazz Dance TBA TBA
2022 Sylvana González[3] Farmington 24 Miss Farmington Latin Jazz Dance
2021 Sapna Raghavan[4] Ellington 22 Miss Pleasant Valley Indian Classical Dance Previously Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2015[5]
2019–20[lower-alpha 1] Jillian Duffy[7] Burlington 22 Miss Wolcott Vocal, "Once Upon a Time" from Brooklyn the Musical 4th runner-up[8]
2018 Bridget Oei[9] Hebron 22 Miss Mountain Laurel Irish Step Dance, "Reel of Arrivals" 1st runner-up[10]
2017 Eliza Lynne Kanner[11] Hamden 21 Miss Fairfield County Operatic Vocal, "Memory" from Cats Cheerleader for New England Patriots
2016 Alyssa Rae Taglia[12] Wolcott 22 Miss Litchfield County Tap Dance Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2010
2015 Colleen Ward[13] Wolcott 22 Miss Windham County Irish Step Dance
2014 Acacia Courtney[14][15] Hamden 21 Miss Hamden Ballet en Pointe, "Kitri's Variations" from Don Quixote Top 16[16] Previously Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2009[17]

Currently a TV reporter and paddock analyst for Gulfstream Park[18]

Later Miss Connecticut USA 2019[19]
2013 Kaitlyn Tarpey Stamford 21 Miss Southington Irish Step Dancing, "Reel Around the Sun" from Riverdance Top 10 Previously New York's Miss Teen America 2008-2009
Crowned Miss Teen America 2008-2009

Preliminary Swimsuit Award at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant
2012 Emily Audibert[20][21] Wolcott 21 Miss Wolcott Lyrical Dance, "Listen" from Dreamgirls
2011 Morgan Amarone[22][23] Hamden 23 Miss Southington Dance, "My Strongest Suit" from Aida
2010 Brittany Decker Bristol 21 Miss Hartford County Vocal, "Journey to the Past"
2009 Sharalynn Kuziak Southington 22 Miss Constitution Theatrical Tap Dance
2008 Ashley Glenn[24] Hamden 23 Miss Shoreline Lyrical Dance Previously Massachusetts' Junior Miss 2003
2007 Dana Daunis Watertown 22 Miss Fairfield County Vocal, "Let Him Fly" Preliminary Talent Award

Non-finalist Talent Award		 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant
Lauren Betancourt Suffield Miss North Haven N/A Crowned on June 23, 2007, and later resigned on August 6, 2007
2006 Heidi Alice Voight Milford 24 Miss Capital Region Vocal, "Why Haven't I Heard from You"
2005 Dianna Baitinger Norwich 23 Miss North Haven Vocal, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough"
2004 Nikki Palmieri North Haven 22 Miss Montowese Jazz Dance, "I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man"
2003 Marla Prete North Haven 22 Miss Fairfield County Tap Dance, "I Got Rhythm" & "Fascinating Rhythm"
2002 Tanisha Brito New London 22 Miss New London County Tap Dance, "Let's Face the Music and Dance" Top 10 Later Miss Georgia USA 2005
2001 Marissa Perez Meriden 23 Miss Fairfield County Vocal, "This Time Around" Previously Miss Connecticut Teen USA 1996
2000 Renelle Richardson Branford 18 Miss Elm City Classical Ballet en Pointe, "Kitri's Variation" from Don Quixote
1999 Sylvia Gomes Bridgeport 20 Miss Hamden Piano, Theme from The Piano Top 10
1998 Lauren Bergamo Prospect 19 Miss Hamden Vocal, "It's Time"
1997 Merissa Starnes Bloomfield 21 Miss Nutmeg Contemporary Ballet en Pointe Non-finalist Talent Award
1996 Stacy Perrone Wolcott 22 Miss Wolcott Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved"
1995 Amy Zappone Wolcott 18 Miss Wolcott Dance, "Dancin' Fool" from Copacabana
1994 MaryGrace Santagata New Haven 24 Miss Charter Oak Vocal Non-finalist Talent Award
1993 Kimberly Burgess Manchester 22 Miss Waterbury Lyrical Dance, "Papa, Can You Hear Me?"
1992 Valorie Abate North Haven 22 Miss New Haven County Classical Vocal, "Carnival of Venice" Non-finalist Talent Award Previously Miss Connecticut USA 1991
1991 Stephanie Stiefel West Haven 26 Miss New Haven County Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'"
1990 Bianca Salahashourian Fairfield 25 Miss Greater Waterbury Vocal, "Part of Your World"
1989 Marlena Marshall Glastonbury 25 Miss Greater Vernon Ballet en Pointe
1988 Maria Caporale Oakdale 24 Miss New London County Vocal, "What Did I Have That I Don't Have" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
1987 Michele Dawn Eaton Shelton 21 Miss Fairfield County Baton Twirling, "They're Playing Our Song" Non-finalist Talent Award
1986 Lorraine Hudson North Haven 24 Miss Briarwood College Vocal, "Something's Coming" from West Side Story
1985 Lorine Guagenti Derby 21 Miss New Haven County Jazz Dance
1984 Joanne Caruso Trumbull 23 Miss Trumbull Clarinet, "Jazz Medley" Sister of Miss Connecticut 1980, Jeanne Caruso
1983 Dakeita Vanderburg Westport 25 Miss Westport Popular Vocal, "I Can See It"
1982 Kelly Slater Woodbury 21 Miss Woodbury Popular Vocal, "Blue Champagne"
1981 Virginia Reichardt Danbury 21 Miss Danbury Country Western Vocal, "Love is a Rose" & "Queen of Hearts" Virginia (Ginny) J. Reichardt Moseley died at 59 in Greenwood, S.C. on August 3, 2019.
1980 Jeanne Caruso Trumbull 21 Miss Trumbull Piano & Original Vocal, "Song for Tomorrow" Top 10 Sister of Miss Connecticut 1984, Joanne Caruso

Former wife of Joe Theisman
1979 Laura Kaufmann Enfield 18 Miss Greater Enfield Interpretive Modern Jazz Dance
1978 Maryalice Flintroy Meriden 18 Miss Meriden Popular Vocal, "Inseparable" Non-finalist Talent Award
1977 Karen Kopins Ridgefield 18 Miss Ridgefield Modern Jazz Dance, "Zero to Sixty in Five" Actress who has appeared in Dallas, Designing Women, Perry Mason, Troop Beverly Hills, and Once Bitten
1976 Debra LaRoche Cheshire 20 Miss Cheshire Popular Vocal, "I Feel a Song Coming On"
1975 Mary Cadorette East Hartford 18 Miss Manchester Modern Jazz Dance
1974 Elisa Heinemann Wethersfield 18 Miss Wethersfield Dramatic Interpretations, "Prunella," "Yenta," & "Wicked Witch"
1973 Deborah Blanchard North Haven 21 Miss New Haven Modern Jazz Dance
1972 Linda Kapral East Lyme 19 Miss East Lyme Modern Jazz, African Dance, & Gymnastics
1971 Priscilla Doyle Rockville 23 Miss Manchester Flamenco Dance
1970 Cynthia Fowler Cheshire 21 Miss Cheshire Classical Vocal, "The Jewel Song" from Faust
1969 Carol Jean Norval Stafford Springs 21 Miss Stafford Organ, "St. Louis Blues" Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1968 Gunnell Ragone West Hartford 21 Miss University of Hartford Popular Vocal & Monologue, "Guantanamera" Non-finalist Talent Award
1967 Diane Bylo Norwalk 21 Miss Stamford Vocal, "Heaven Hop"
1966 Carole Gelish Accordion, "Aquarela do Brasil," "More," & "Tico Tico" Non-finalist Talent Award Assumed the title after charging that the winner, Karen Maguire, was not qualified. Behind closed doors with pageant officials present there was some sort of secret run-off with the original winner. At that meeting, Gelish was declared the winner[25]
1965 Donna Scott Stratford 18 Miss Danbury Vocal, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
1964 Honora Bukowski Wallingford 18 Miss Wallingford Jazz Dance, "Bossa Nova"
1963 Valerie Stetson Milldale Miss Southington Modern Ballet
1962 Diane DeMaio Hartford 18 Miss Hartford Dramatic Skit
1961 Karen Scalise Glastonbury 18 Miss East Hartford Sermon based on Sermon on the Mount
1960 Wendy Mitchell New Haven 18 Miss West Haven Vocal, "Just In Time"
1959 Diana Klug Torrington 21 Speech on Fashion Designing, Presentation of Original Designs, & Tractor Driving Preliminary Talent Award
1958 Billie June Turner New Canaan 20 Ballet en Pointe from Les Sylphides Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award Died at 61 on January 12, 2000, in West Redding, Connecticut
1957 Susan Lightbown Fairfield Vocal, "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" from My Fair Lady Non-finalist Talent Award
1956 Joy Corrado Torrington Organ
1955 Audrey Figlar Hartford Charleston Dance
1954 Dorothy Hopkins Storrs Piano
1953 Sally Middleton Hartford Dance
1952 Joyce Yeske West Hartford Ballroom Dance
1951 Beverly Buriant Bridgeport Drama Later Miss Connecticut USA 1953
1950 Renee Roy Hartford Comedy Sketch of a Cosmetic Demonstration and Vocal / Dance, "Charley, My Boy" Top 16 Preliminary Talent Award Later Miss New York City USA 1954 Actress who notably appeared on the soap opera, Love of Life[26]
1949 Barbara Smetana Bridgeport Vocal & Monologue, "Maybe" & "Jackie, Son of a Hardboiled Cop"
1948 Fairfax Mason Bridgeport Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"
1947 Louise Bienvenu Waterbury Vocal, "On the Sunny Side of the Street"
1946 Joan Turner West Haven Vocal, "Coax Me a Little Bit" Top 16
1945 Sylvia Shaw Hartford Vocal, "I'm in the Mood for Love"
1944 Barbara Fisher East Hartford
1943 Mary Rice Hartford
1942 Alice Clifford Burlington
1941 Daphne Gladding Plymouth
1940 Dorothy Pickard New Haven
1939 Catherine Harrison Derby Miss Central Connecticut Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Frieda Lampar Bridgeport Miss Connecticut
1938 Blanche Hawley Stratford
1937 Frances Greene Milford
1936 Tillie Grey Waterbury Miss Connecticut 2nd runner-up Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Evelyn Lenhart Greenwich Miss Roton Point
1935 Sonia Banks Bridgeport Miss Bridgeport Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Margaretta Kling New Haven Miss Connecticut Preliminary Swimsuit Award
Veronica Turosky Miss Greater Hartford
Margaret Holmes Hartford Miss Hartford
Ruth S. Rubin New Haven Miss New Haven Top 12
1934 No national pageant was held[27]
1933 Marian Bergeron West Haven 15 N/A[28] Winner Held the national title from September 1933 to September 1935 due to pageant being financially unsuccessful after 1933 and not returning until 1935[29]
1932 No national pageants were held[27]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927 Antoinette Violet Bridgeport Miss Bridgeport N/A[28] Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Leona Faith Monoson Hartford Miss Hartford
Peggy Louise Proctor Miss Lockport
Dorothy Barton New Haven Miss New Haven
1926 Florence Harriet Green Bridgeport Miss Bridgeport Top 15 Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Doris Laretta Beaupre Hartford Miss Hartford
Molla Barnett New Haven Miss New Haven
1925 Alta Sommerville Bridgeport Miss Bridgeport Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Mary Brandaburg Hartford Miss Hartford
Helen Kanehl Miss Manchester
1924 Helen Haddock Miss Stamford Competed under local title at national pageant
1923 Hazel Haddock[30] New Haven Miss New Haven
1922 Paula E. Spoettle[31] Bridgeport Miss Bridgeport Multiple Connecticut representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Lillian Peterson[32] New Haven Miss New Haven
Hazel Germershausen[33] Waterbury Miss Waterbury
1921
No Connecticut representative at Miss America pageant[34]

Notes
  1. Titleholder extended to a full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

References
  1. "Miss America 1933 Atlantic City Newspapers". Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  2. Lederman, Jay (June 19, 2023). "Miss Connecticut and Miss Connecticut Teen crowned at Mohegan Sun". News 12. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  3. Smith, Ashley RK. "Miss Connecticut, Miss Connecticut Outstanding Teen 2022 winner announced". wfsb.com. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  4. DaRosa, Andrew (2021-04-12). "New Miss Connecticut, Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen crowned". Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  5. Smith, Steve. "Ellington student wins Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen title". courant.com. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  6. Kuperinksy, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September". Press of Atlantic City.
  7. Chaiken, Michael (June 9, 2019). "New Miss Connecticut, Outstanding Teen both credit their victories to being 'myself'". Republican American.
  8. Pellicano, Teresa (December 19, 2019). "Beauty and Brains: Miss Virginia is Miss America 2020, Miss CT leaves pageant fourth runner-up". WTNH News.
  9. "Bridget Oei crowned as Miss Connecticut". WTNH News. June 10, 2018.
  10. Melas, Chloe (September 10, 2018). "Miss America 2019 is Nia Franklin". CNN.
  11. Smith, Steve (July 5, 2017). "New Miss Connecticut Crowned". Hartford Courant.
  12. "Alyssa Taglia is Miss Connecticut 2016". pageantsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. Barry, John (June 28, 2015). "Miss Windham County crowned Miss Connecticut". The Bulletin. Norwich, CT: GateHouse Media. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  14. Smith, Steve (July 10, 2014). "Miss Connecticut 2014 crowned". Hartford Courant.
  15. "Miss Hamden crowned Miss Connecticut at Garde Arts Center in New London". www.theday.com. July 1, 2014.
  16. Smith, Steve (September 17, 2014). "Miss Connecticut enjoys Miss America experience". Hartford Courant.
  17. Wickett, Shana (July 12, 2009). "Pageant winner believes classroom more important than stag". New Haven Register.
  18. "Acacia Courtney: A Rising Name in Racing". Lady and the Track.
  19. Smith, Jeff (January 24, 2019). "The life of pageants and ponies for Miss Connecticut USA Acacia Courtney". CT Post.
  20. DeMatteo, Ann (June 30, 2012). "Miss Wolcott becomes Miss Connecticut, area competitors in runners-up". New Haven Register. New Haven, CT: 21st Century Media. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  21. "Former Miss Wolcott is crowned Miss Connecticut". Republican-American. Waterbury, CT. July 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  22. "Hamden woman named Miss Connecticut". New Haven Register. June 25, 2011.
  23. "Morgan Amarone, of Hamden, named Miss Connecticut". Post-Chronicle. June 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  24. "Miss Connecticut crowned; Ridgefield woman first runner-up". NewsTimes. June 29, 2008.
  25. "Jaycees Fed Up With Pageant". The Norwalk Hour. Aug 24, 1966.
  26. "www.imdb.com". imdb.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  27. "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS.
  28. Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  29. "Miss America 1933 Atlantic City Newspapers". Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  30. "Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. Arbuckle, Alex Q. (July 12, 2015). "1922:The first Miss America". Mashable.
  32. "Telling the News in Pictures: Prize Contest Beauty". Vancouver Daily World. Vancouver, British Columbia. December 2, 1922. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com. Lillian Peterson, "Miss New Haven," Conn., in Atlantic City beauty show..
  33. "Aspirant to Title of Queen of Beauty". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, New York. September 16, 1922. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
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