Miss Rhode Island USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Rhode Island.

The Miss Rhode Island USA competition is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state Rhode Island in the Miss USA pageant.

The 2006 Miss Rhode Island USA pageant was held at the Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts at Rhode Island College in Providence. Contestants competed in interview, swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

Historically, Rhode Island has been comparatively unsuccessful at Miss USA but has been one of the most consistent states since 2000, with four semi-finalist placements and one first runner-up placement.

Results summary

• 1st runners-up: Danielle Lacourse (2007)
• 2nd runners-up: Gayle White (1973)
• Top 10: Claudia Jordan (1997), Yanaiza Alvarez (2001), Leeann Tingley (2006)
• Top 11/12: Jennifer Aubin (1995), Janet Sutton (2002)
• Top 15: Joan Zeller (1961), Amy Diaz (2008)

Winners

Leeann Tingley, Miss Rhode Island USA 2006

Allison Paganetti, Miss Rhode Island USA 2005

Year	Name	Hometown	Age1	Placement at Miss USA	Special awards at Miss USA	Notes
2012	Olivia Culpo	Cranston	19
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
2008	Amy Diaz	Johnston	23	Top 15		Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2001 and competed in Miss Earth 2009
2007	Danielle Lacourse	North Providence	21	1st runner-up
2006	Leeann Tingley	East Greenwich	24	Top 10
2005	Allison Paganetti	North Kingstown	21
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
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		19
1995	Jennifer Aubin	Woonsocket	20	Top 12
1994	RayeAnne Johnson	Lincoln				Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1987
1993	Julie Roach	Wakefield
1992	Yvette Hernandez
1991	Lynne Michael
1990	Susan Lima
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	Smithfield
1981	Patti Reo	Scituate
1980	Robyn Hall	Pawtucket
1979	Theresa Patterson	Lincoln
1978	Sharon McGarry	Warwick
1977	Susan Carten	Cranston
1976	Kathleen Confreda
1975	Marice Love	Providence
1974	Debra Cerroni	Smithfield
1973	Gayle White	Providence		2nd runner-up
1972	Jeanne Lemay	West Warwick
1971	Laurie Stahle
1970	Rebecca Gaileshaw	Warwick
1969	Donna Lewis
1968	Betty Lou Whitmore
1967	Nancy Giuliano
1966	Barbara Williams
1965	Paula Farrow
1964	Carolyn Cocamonaco
1963	Rosmarie Dickinson
1962	Marilyn A. Scott	Pawtucket
1961	Joan Zeller			Semi-finalist
1960	Lorelie White
1959	Gloria Ryder
1958	Claire Dipaolo
1957	Myrna Altieri
1956	Sandra Vozella
1955	Beverly Jansen
1954	Joyce Ann Sandberg
1953	Barbara Deignan
1952	Delores Selinder

¹ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

External links

• Official site of Miss Rhode Island
• "This beauty queen wears Army boots"