Connecticut wins Miss Teen USA 2019
The Grand Sierra Resort, Reno Tahoe, Nevada, hosted the 2019 Miss Teen USA finals, days before the election of Miss USA 2019. Though the amazing television productions this pageant had when it was telecast live are long gone, Miss Teen USA remains alive, with a dynamic show, and live streaming.
Former Miss USA and Miss Universe 1st runner-up 2012 Nia Sanchez, the first woman from Nevada to win the Miss USA title, was one of the presenters, and after a full day, which included preliminaries on the same day of the finals (that´s correct!), it was Connecticut´s Kaliegh Garris who took the crown.
Garris, who´s 18 years old, is a dual-enrolled student finishing her senior year at Joseph A. Foran High School and the Educational Center for the Arts where she studies theater. When she's not in the classroom, the 18-year-old enjoys performing on stage as a competitive dancer.
The New Haven native is passionate about her personal movement, "We Are People 1st," which she started in honor of her older sister who has multiple disabilities. Through her program, Kaliegh educates others on ways to respectfully speak to individuals with health conditions and disabilities, and was recently recognized for her work by the Department of Disabled Services.
She won the 2nd Miss Teen USA title for Connecticut. Logan West, Miss Teen USA 2012, was the first.
A day after being crowned, during the Miss USA preliminary event, she said she wants to live this experience to the fullest, to make a difference in people´s lives and hopefully to gain full financial indepence.
Contestants competed in Active Wear, Evening Gown, Final Question and Final Look.
Miss Teen North Dakota, Caitlyn Vogel, placed 2nd, Miss Teen Nevada, Erica Yvette Bonilla, was 3rd, followed by Miss Teen Mississippi, Kaylee Brooke McCollum, 4th, and Miss Teen Alabama, Kalin Burt, 5th.
There was a change in this year´s pageant formula of dispute, as the Top 5 was reduced straight out of the group of Top 15 semi-finalists, with no Top 10 announcement. We wonder if Miss USA and Miss Universe will adopt that as well.
Top 15 semi-finalistas were Arkansas, Maggie Williams, Illinois, A'Maiya Allen, Kansas, Hannah DeBok, Maryland, Amalia Sanches, Massachusetts, Annie Lu, Nebraska, Erin Swanson, Oklahoma, Abigail Billings, South Carolina, Allie Richardson, Tennessee, Bailey Guy, and Wyoming, Grace Turner.
Minnesota´s Olivia Herbert was voted “Miss Congeniality” by her peers.
Radiant smiles: Miss Universe with the new Miss Teen USA.
Miss USA 2018, Sarah Rose Summers, who will crown her successor on Thursday, and Miss Universe, Catriona Gray, were present at the event.
Congratulations to the winner!
Photos: MUO
Missed it? Watch the whole show here:
GB comments: Kaliegh Garris was the clear winner from the moment she stepped on stage. Gorgeous, statuesque, fresh and intelligent, she literally took the stage by storm and totally deserved to win. And of course, we loved her reaction upon being declared the winner! Results seemed mostly fair. Nice stage.