Taryn Delanie Smith

Taryn Delanie Smith (born 3 January 1997)[1] is an African-American beauty pageant competitor and TikToker. In 2022 she was named first runner-up in the Miss America competition.[2]

Taryn Delanie Smith
Born (1997-01-03) January 3, 1997
Alma materSt. John's University
Occupation(s)Beauty pageant competitor, TikToker
Years active2017-present
TikTok information
Page
Followers1.3M
Likes33.3M
Last updated: July 17, 2023

Early life and education

Smith was raised in Seattle, Washington, where she experienced housing insecurity as a child.[3]

She attended St. John's University, where she earned a Bachelor's in communication studies and a Master's in International Communication & Intercultural Studies.[3][4][5] She worked as a receptionist at a call center to finance her education.[1]

Pageants

Smith was first inspired to participate in pageants during a talent show in high school, when one of her teachers suggested she compete for Miss America.[3] She began competing at age 17, and placed as a runner-up for the Miss Washington title in 2017.[3][6]

Smith was named Miss New York 2022.[4] She was the first Black Miss New York to be crowned while wearing her natural hair.[7] For her advocacy work in the role, Smith focused on initiatives to assist those experiencing homelessness.[3] She was the first runner-up in the Miss America competition in December 2022.[2][7]

Online presence

Smith began posting on TikTok in 2021. In March 2023 Smith posted a video where she played Denise, a receptionist in Heaven, which quickly went viral.[8] She continued to focus on sketches about Denise and her job.[1][5] As of May 2023 she had gained 1.2 million followers.[1]

Personal life

Smith lives in New York City.[6]

References
  1. Olson, Emily (18 May 2023). "Heaven has a bathrobe-clad receptionist named Denise. She's helping TikTok grieve". NPR. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. "Miss Wisconsin Grace Stanke crowned as Miss America 2023". The Economic Times. 2022-12-16. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  3. "Service while Serving Alumna Emphasizes New York". www.stjohns.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  4. "2022 Miss New York". Miss America. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  5. Cohen, Kate (15 May 2023). "Opinion: Why Denise, Heaven's Receptionist, is the best thing on TikTok". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. "Females Who Inspire: Miss New York 2022, Taryn Delanie Smith". Ally Shoes. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  7. Stanford, Kaitlin (2023-02-14). "How TikTok star Taryn Delanie Smith went from working at a call center to Miss New York: 'I'm glad that I didn't make myself smaller'". In The Know. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  8. Lloyd, Andrew. "Miss New York 2022 is charming viewers with her TikTok sketches playing a receptionist in heaven, as some fan requests have added an emotional layer". Insider. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
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