This past weekend, two beautiful and intelligent young women returned home after competing at Miss New York in 2013 and 2014 with eligibility earned from school, to compete in their home states of Rhode Island and Hawaii.

Alexandra Curtis, former Miss Upstate New York 2013, grew up in California but moved to Rhode Island before attending Syracuse University. While in college, she held the National American Miss Rhode Island title before competing for her first (and only) Miss America local pageant. No big surprise, she won, and competed at Miss New York 2013. The competition was tough, and although she did not make it to the finals, competing in New York sparked her love for the Miss America Organization. She knew she would return to Rhode Island to compete for the state that had taken claim to her heart. In 2014, Allie took the appointed title of Miss East Greenwhich, and competed in Rhode Island. There, she earned the 1st Runner Up spot and headed to Hoopston, Illinois as Miss Rhode Island’s Sweetheart. This year, Allie returned to the Miss Rhode Island stage as Miss West Warwick with a vendetta and motivation like none other to take the Rhode Island crown.

Adrienne Wilson had competed at the local level for a few years before taking home any awards. It took her a full year of pageants and prep before she first earned the “non-finalist talent award”, and another year before she placed 4th Runner Up. Finally, almost 3 years into competing, Adrienne won the title of Miss Syracuse and competed at Miss New York. The Miss Syracuse title had not been crowned since 1999, until Nina Davuluri took the title after winning a “name-your-own-title” sweeper and going on to win Miss New York and Miss America. Although Adrienne did not make the semi-finals Top 10, Adrienne knew that she was not done competing and dedicated her last year of eligibility towards the Miss Hawaii crown.

The Miss Rhode Island pageant was held in one night correlation to the Miss Rhode Island’s Outstanding Teen pageant. Although there were no preliminary competitions, Allie was the front runner with fans from across the nation. She wowed the judges in her pale pink bikini, an evil rendition of Poor and Unfortunate Souls from the Little Mermaid, and glided across the stage in a white Tony Bowls gown. It came to little surprise when the emcee called her name as the winner. She shared her Top Five spotlight with Emily Cortez, Miss Newport; Ava Delasanta, Miss Providence County; Christine Kong, Miss Southern RI; and Odemi Pessu, Miss Cranston.

Adrienne had been in New York since beginning school, prior to the spark of her pageant interest. After returning to Hawaii after receiving her Master’s Degree, Adrienne competed in the Miss North Shore triple crown and the Miss Latina Hawaii pageant, but didn’t go home with either of the crowns. However, this year the Miss Hawaii Pageant invited runners up from local pageants to take an appointed title and compete at-large. Adrienne accepted the title of Miss Nu’uanu and got straight to work preparing for Miss Hawaii.  Prior to the pageant, Adrienne was recognized for her efforts in receiving the Duke of Edinburgh Award. During the competition, Adrienne advanced past the evening gown, lifestyle and fitness, and talent portions- ending up in the Top 7. Jeanne Kapela, Miss Kakaako, will represent Hawaii at the Miss America pageant this September. Sarah Manuel,Miss Paradise Kauai; Joanne Keala Patterson, Miss North Shore; Halilani Parish, Miss East Oahu; and Alexandra Roth, Miss Kahala made up the Top Five. Keahi Delovio, Miss Aloha Hawaii, rounded off the Top 7 spot with Adrienne.

New York may no longer be their home, but there is no doubt that once you live in the Empire State, you are destined to make a mark on the horizon in life. Great job, Adrienne and Congratulations Alexandra!