Hornung crowned Miss Rhode Island 2024
The Rhode Island WIFFLE® Ball League is proud to celebrate and highlight Alison Hornung, Miss Rhode Island 2024, Payton Mays, Miss Rhode Island's Outstanding Teen 2024, the Miss Rhode Island organization, and all families and friends who have supported the great women of the Ocean State.
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PROVIDENCE, RI (RIWBL) -- North Kingstown native Ali Hornung has been crowned Miss Rhode Island 2024, fulfilling a lifelong dream to represent the Ocean State at the national level. She will do just that at the Miss America Pageant, to be held at the Walt Disney Theater in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida later in 2024.
Hornung has been a lifelong proponent of the development of well-rounded young women through pageantry. She is a testament to growth through adversity, determination, and perseverance. She has been competing in the Miss Rhode Island system since 2017, earning second runner-up in 2019, fourth runner-up in 2021, and third runner-up in 2022, before taking a year to study abroad in Vienna in 2023. Hornung took to social media to announce: "A moment like this. ✨ ... Some people wait a lifetime, or what feels like a lifetime, for a moment like this. 👑 ... I began competing in the Miss America Opportunity at Miss Rhode Island’s Teen in 2017. I didn’t place, win a single award, but left with new friends and a special moment with my 'little sis,' Ella. I came back and competed for the Miss Rhode Island title in 2019, while Ella watched from her hospital room, as she had just relapsed with leukemia. When I left the pageant in 2021 & 2022 discouraged, a little birdie reminded me, that for Ella, it was never about me winning — it was greater than that. And I can only imagine, that this year, she was watching from the best seat in the house as she helped Caroline place that crown on my head. To everyone who has ever helped, supported, or messaged me with words of encouragement— thank you will never be enough. ... WE ARE GOING TO MISS AMERICA!!" |
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According to reporting by New England Pageant News, Hornung adds that she had some help from above, in the form of her friend, Ella, who passed away in 2019 from leukemia. Ella was the inspiration for Hornung’s foundation, Glimmer of Hope, of which Hornung is the CEO. Ella had lobbied American Girl to make bald dolls for children undergoing cancer treatment. To date, Glimmer of Hope has given out 600 bald dolls. “For me, it’s always about the metaphorical crown that Ella places on my head every day when I get to work with these kids. Ella was more like a little sister for me.”
Hornung graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a triple major in 2023, having studied international business, German, and Human Development. In addition to this year's Little Rhody WIFFLE® Ball Classic, she plans to raise $75,000 for Glimmer of Hope, via a runway show, and to raise $15,000 for the Miss Rhode Island Organization. Her disbelief, she said, is also in part because of the opportunities she’ll have to bring her CSI to the Miss America competition. Having her platform recognized at the Miss America competition is an immeasurable opportunity for Hornung. “It means that pediatric cancer gets to be recognized on a national stage,” she said. “It means that Ella’s name gets to be recognized on the national stage, and it means that a Jewish woman gets to be on the national stage, for the first time from Rhode Island.” Seven years after Hornung initially caught the "pageant bug", she will now fulfill her dream of representing the Ocean State at the highest level in Orlando later this year. |
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2024
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Ali Hornung (Providence, RI)
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2023
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Caroline Parente (South Kingstown, RI)
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2022
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Abby Mansolillo (Smithfield, RI)
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2021
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Leigh Payne (Barrington, RI)
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2019
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Molly Andrade (Middletown, RI)
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2018
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Alexandra Coppa (Cranston, RI)
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2017
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Nicolette Peloquin (Newport, RI)
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2016
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Shruti Nagarajan (Providence, RI)
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2015
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Alexandra Curtis (East Greenwich, RI)
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2014
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Ivy DePew (Providence, RI)
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2013
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Jessica Marfeo (Exeter, RI)
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2012
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Kelsey Fournier (Pawtucket, RI)
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2011
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Robin Bonner (West Hampton, NY)
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2010
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Deborah Saint-Vil (Providence, RI)
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2009
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Julianna Claire Strout (Watch Hill, RI)
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2008
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Francesca Anne Simone (North Smithfield, RI)
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2007
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Ashley Nicole Bickford (Newport, RI)
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2006
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Allison Iris Rogers (Providence, RI)
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2005
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Jessica Sampson (Newport, RI)
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2004
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Aimee Christine Belisle (North Smithfield, RI)
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2003
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Dr. Laurie Beth Gray (Warwick, RI)
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2002
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Gianine Marie Teti (Providence, RI)
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2001
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Jennifer Leigh D'Ambrosio (Providence, RI)
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2000
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Jennifer Ann St. Laurent (Bristol, RI)
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1999
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Karen Lindsay (Warwick, RI)
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1998
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Heather Picard Johnson (Cumberland, RI)
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1997
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Kelly Jo Roarke (Cranston, RI)
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1996
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Elena Chomiszak Mooney (Providence, RI)
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1995
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Elizabeth Reilly Donabedian (North Providence, RI)
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1994
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Tori-Lynn Heaton (Cranston, RI)
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1993
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Wendy Mello Jack (Narragansett, RI)
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1992
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Lisa Snow Ponos (Cranston, RI)
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1991
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Debi Cutler (North Providence, RI)
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1990
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Susan Savastano Stallman (East Providence, RI)
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1989
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Lt. Col. Gloria Berlanga (Davisville, RI)
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1988
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Jenna Wims (Pawtucket, RI)
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1987
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Cheryl Cusick (Providence, RI)
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1986
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Barbara Longo Ferreira (Barrington, RI) / Toni Langello (Warwick, RI)
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1985
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Lori Boucher Maynard (Pawtucket, RI)
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1984
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Joanna Minisce (North Smithfield, RI)
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1983
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Pamela Jo Hoff (Providence, RI)
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1982
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Cynthia Crook Pick (Warwick, RI)
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1981
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Kathleen Cryan Pelletier (Providence, RI)
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1980
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Dawn Potter Kirsh (Pascoag, RI)
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1979
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Elaine Rushlow Finan (Westerly, RI)
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1978
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Dr. Lori Leyden Rubenstein (Providence, RI)
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1977
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Tanya Kapla (Middletown, RI)
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1976
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Debra Cerroni (Esmond, RI)
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1975
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Debra Cusick D'Iorio (Providence, RI)
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1974
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Karen Ann Salvatore (Warwick, RI)
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1973
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Patricia Garrahy Robertson (North Providence, RI)
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1972
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Michelle Passarelli (Pawtucket, RI)
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1971
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Annette Charpentier (Cumberland, RI)
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1970
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Teresa Louise Bradley (East Greenwich, RI)
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1969
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Jeanne Bursley Grimes (Barrington, RI)
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1968
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Arlene Pinto (Warwick, RI)
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1967
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Marilyn Cocozza Trillo (North Providence, RI)
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1966
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Cheryl Girr Mrozowski (Newport, RI)
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1965
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Maureen Manton O'Gorman (Warwick, RI)
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1964
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Judy Anderson (Warwick, RI)
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1963
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Sheila Guarniere (Bristol, RI)
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1962
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Deborah Babbitt Fisher (Bristol, RI)
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1961
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Cheryl Hirst Hodgins (Greenville, RI)
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1960
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Sally Saabye (Warwick, RI)
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1959
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Michalene Chomicz (Pawtucket, RI)
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1958
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Ann Willis (Cranston, RI)
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1957
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Beatrice Turek (Providence, RI)
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1956
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Gail Gilmore (Barrington, RI)
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1955
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Claire Mae Emerson (Pawtucket, RI)
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1954
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Virginia Gregory Belanger (Pawtucket, RI)
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1953
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Joyce Sandberg (Providence, RI)
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1952
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Jayne Bradshaw Gencarelli (Westerly, RI)
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1951
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No pageants were held.
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1950
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No pageants were held.
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1949
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No pageants were held.
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1948
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No pageants were held.
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1947
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Ellen DiCenzo (Providence, RI)
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1946
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Marilyn Tripp (Westerly, RI)
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1945
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Mary Stevens (Cranston, RI)
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1944
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No pageants were held.
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1943
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No pageants were held.
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1942
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No pageants were held.
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1941
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No pageants were held.
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1940
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No pageants were held.
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1939
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No pageants were held.
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1938
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Dorris Ferri
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1937
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Dorothy Mae Eden (East Providence, RI)
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1936
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Mary Margaret Rogers (Johnston, RI)
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1935
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Beatrice McKenzie (Providence, RI) / Leona Mucha (West Warwick, RI) / Marianne Ranallo Grasso
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1934
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Rose Broulilette
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1933
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No pageant was held.
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1932
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No pageant was held.
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1931
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No pageant was held.
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1930
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No pageant was held.
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1929
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No pageant was held.
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1928
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No pageant was held.
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1927
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June Frances Costello (Providence, RI)
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1926
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No Rhode Island representative at Miss America pageant.
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1925
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Loretta Berchman
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1924
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Freida Leamon (Served as "Miss Providence"; No Miss RI pageant)
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1923
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Loretta LaFlamme (Served as "Miss Providence"; No Miss RI pageant)
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1922
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No pageant was held.
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1921
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No pageant was held.
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Recent Miss Rhode Island Titleholders
Caroline Parente | Miss RI 2023
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Abby Mansolillo | Miss RI 2022
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Leigh Payne | Miss RI 2021
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Molly Andrade | Miss RI 2019
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Alexandra Coppa | Miss RI 2018
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Nicolette Peloquin | Miss RI 2017
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Shruti Nagarajan | Miss RI 2016
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Alexandra Curtis | Miss RI 2015
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Ivy DePew | Miss RI 2014
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Jessica Marfeo | Miss RI 2013
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Kelsey Fournier | Miss RI 2012
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Robin Bonner | Miss RI 2011
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Deborah Saint-Vil | Miss RI 2010
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Julianna Strout | Miss RI 2009
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Francesca Simone | Miss RI 2008
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2024
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Madison Marsh (Colorado Springs, CO)
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2023
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Grace Stanke (Wausau, WI)
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2022
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Emma Broyles (Anchorage, AK)
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2020
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Camille Schrier (Richmond, VA)
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2019
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Nia Franklin (New York, NY)
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2018
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Cara Mund (Bismarck, ND)
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2017
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Savvy Shields (Fayetteville, AR)
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2016
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Betty Cantrell (Warner Robbins, GA)
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2015
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Kira Kazantsev (Manhattan, NY)
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2014
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Nina Davuluri (Syracuse, NY)
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2013
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Mallory Hytes Hagan (Brooklyn, NY)
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2012
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Laura Kaeppeler (Kenosha, WI)
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2011
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Teresa Scanlan (Gering, NE)
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2010
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Caressa Cameron (Fredericksburg, VA)
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2009
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Katie Stam (Seymour, IN)
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2008
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Kirsten Iora Haglund (Farmington Hills, MI)
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2007
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Lauren Nelson (Lawson, OK)
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2006
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Jennifer Berry (Tulsa, OK)
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2005
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Deidre Downs (Birmingham, AL)
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2004
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Ericka Dunlap (Orlando, FL)
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2003
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Erika Harold (Urbana, IL)
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2002
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Katie Harman (Gresham, OR)
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2001
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Angela Perez Baraquio (Honolulu, HI)
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2000
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Heather Renee French (Maysville, KY)
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1999
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Lauren Nicole Johnson (Virginia Beach, VA)
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1998
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Katherine Shindle (Evanston, IL)
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1997
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Tara Dawn Holland (Overland Park, KS)
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1996
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Shawntel Smith (Muldrow, OK)
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1995
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Heather Whitestone (Birmingham, AL)
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1994
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Kimberly Clarice Aiken (Columbia, SC)
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1993
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Leanza Cornett (Jacksonville, FL)
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1992
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Carolyn Suzanne Sapp (Honolulu, HI)
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1991
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Marjorie Judith Vincent (Oak Park, IL)
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1990
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Debbye Turner (Columbia, MO)
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1989
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Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson (Anoka, MN)
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1988
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Kaye Lani Rae Rafko (Monroe, MI)
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1987
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Kellye Cash (Memphis, TN)
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1986
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Susan Akin (Meridian, MS)
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1985
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Sharlene Wells (Salt Lake City, UT)
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1984
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Vanessa Lynn Williams (Millwood, NY) / Suzette Charles (Mays Landing, NJ)
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1983
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Debra Maffett (Anaheim, CA)
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1982
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Grace Elizabeth Ward (Russellville, AR)
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1981
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Susan Carol Powell (Elk City, OK)
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1980
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Cheryl Prewitt (Ackerman, MS)
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1979
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Kylene Barker (Roanoke, VA)
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1978
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Susan Perkins (Columbus, OH)
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1977
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Dorothy Kathleen Benham (Edina, MN)
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1976
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Tawny Elaine Godin (Saratoga Springs, NY)
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1975
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Shirley Cothran (Denton, TX)
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1974
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Rebecca Ann King (Denver, CO)
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1973
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Terry Anne Meeuwsen (De Pere, WI)
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1972
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Laurel Lea Schaefer (Bexley, OH)
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1971
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Phyllis Ann George (Denton, TX)
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1970
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Pamela Anne Eldred (West Bloomfield, MI)
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1969
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Judith Anne Ford (Belvidere, IL)
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1968
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Debra Dene Barnes (Pittsburg, KS)
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1967
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Jane Anne Jayroe (Laverne, OK)
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1966
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Deborah Irene Bryant (Overland Park, KS)
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1965
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Vonda Kay Van Dyke (Phoenix, AZ)
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1964
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Donna Axum (El Dorado, AR)
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1963
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Jacquelyn Mayer (Sandusky, OH)
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1962
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Maria Fletcher (Asheville, NC)
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1961
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Nancy Fleming (Montague, MI)
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1960
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Lynda Lee Mead (Natchez, MS)
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1959
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Mary Ann Mobley (Brandon, MS)
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1958
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Marilyn Van Derbur (Denver, CO)
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1957
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Marian McKnight (Manning, SC)
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1956
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Sharon Ritchie (Denver, CO)
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1955
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Lee Meriwether (San Francisco, CA)
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1954
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Evelyn Margaret Ay (Ephrata, PA)
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1953
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Neva Jane Langley (Macon, GA)
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1952
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Colleen Kay Hutchins (Salt Lake City, UT)
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1951
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Yolande Betbeze (Mobile, AL)
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1950
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No pageants were held.
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1949
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Jacque Mercer (Litchfield, AZ)
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1948
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Beatrice Bella ("BeBe") Shopp (Hopkins, MN)
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1947
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Barbara Jo Walker (Memphis, TN)
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1946
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Marilyn Buferd (Los Angeles, CA)
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1945
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Bess Myerson (New York, NY)
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1944
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Venus Ramey (Washington, DC)
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1943
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Jean Bartel (Los Angeles, CA)
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1942
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Jo-Carroll Dennison (Tyler, TX)
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1941
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Rosemary LaPlanche (Los Angeles, CA)
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1940
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Frances Marie Burke (Philadelphia, PA)
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1939
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Patricia Donnelly (Detroit, MI)
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1938
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Marilyn Meseke (Marion, OH)
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1937
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Bette Cooper (Bertrand Island, NJ)
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1936
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Rose Coyle (Philadelphia, PA)
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1935
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Henrietta Leaver (Pittsburgh, PA)
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1934
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No pageant was held.
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1933
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Marian Bergeron (West Haven, CT)
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1932
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No pageant was held.
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1931
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No pageant was held.
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1930
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No pageant was held.
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1929
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No pageant was held.
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1928
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No pageant was held.
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1927
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Lois Delander (Joliet, IL)
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1926
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Norma Smallwood (Tulsa, OK)
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1925
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Fay Lanipher (Oakland, CA)
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1924
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Ruth Malcomson (Philadelphia, PA)
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1923
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Mary Katherine Campbell (Columbus, OH)
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1922
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Mary Katherine Campbell (Columbus, OH)
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1921
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Margaret Gorman (Washington, DC)
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All headshots on this page © Daniel Gagnon. All rights reserved. http://www.danielgagnonphoto.com
