by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
Yes, there will be a new Miss Connecticut selected on Sunday at the Mohegan Sun.
But along the way, audiences at the resort casino’s Cabaret Theater will have the opportunity to be entertained.
A portion of the final tally for the 11 Miss Connecticut candidates and nine Miss Connecticut’s Teen contestants will be based on a talent presented for the judges.
“I can say that we’re going have a talent show (on stage at Miss Connecticut),” said Sylvana Gonzalez, the current Miss Connecticut who will be crowning her successor on Sunday.
Peyton Troth, the current Miss Connecticut’s Teen, said there are a lot of dancers in the teen category. Troth, a dancer herself, said, “It’s really cool.”
“Dance is my favorite thing to do,” said Troth. “To be able to that the people who are competing for the title love dance as much as I do, I think it’ll be a good show to watch.”
By dancing, said Gonzalez, the teen contestants will be following a Connecticut tradition. There has only been non-dancer – a singer — to win the state teen crown in the program’s history.
The talent at the Miss Connecticut level has a variety of offerings – in addition to dance– for the audience, said Gonzalez. “We have spoken word. We have a violinist. We have a contortionist. We have so many different outstanding talents that I’m just excited to watch them.”
After a year of holding the state titles for the Miss America Organization, both Gonzalez and Troth said they have changed since a year ago.
Gonzalez said she has gained perspective about her home. “You realize how small the state is because of how many people know each other,” said Gonzalez.
“I feel like I’ve definitely become more adaptive, especially as a teenager is still in high school and having the title and everything,” said Troth. “The schedule (as Miss Connecticut’s Teen) can be overwhelming, but I’ve learned how to adapt to it and just be more independent as a whole.”
One of the pair’s favorite moments during their reign together took place last year when Troth was competing for the Miss America’s Teen title in Dallas. Gonzalez rushed to Texas to see her teen on stage and was the first person – other than the other contestants — to see Troth after the curtain drew for the finals.
But, Gonzalez said, there was an adventure that took place before she could get to the Lone Star State to reach Troth for that reunion moment.
“My flight was delayed. All I wanted to do was watch Peyton compete. Everyone’s updating me (as I waited for my flight), ‘Your teen is doing so well.’ And I’m like, ‘I know, but I just want to be there.’ So being able to run up to Peyton (after all of the drama in reaching Texas)… was a top three moment for me.”
Another top moment, said Gonzalez, took place at the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun in December. The teen titleholders, including Troth, sat on the stage during the preliminary events. “When I was leaving (the stage, Troth was there)… That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that I only get to share with her once, so I think that that was special.”
“Representation is another thing I think we both shared this year (that was special),” said Gonzalez. Gonzalez is Puerto Rican and Troth is Black. “A lot of little girls got to see themselves in us… We didn’t realize (the) magnitude (of the situation) until we realized that there wasn’t someone that looked like us (in the Miss Connecticut program) up until this moment.”
Once they have officially turned over the titles of Miss Connecticut and Miss Connecticut’s Teen, Gonzalez and Troth aren’t planning to slack off. They will continue to be involved in the community and will work toward its betterment. They also are looking at school choices.
Gonzalez is looking to begin her post-graduate college education, using the scholarship money provided through the Miss Connecticut program.
And Troth is heading into her junior year of high school, so college choices and SATs are on her mind as well.
In the short term, however, Gonzalez said, “I am looking forward to just watching and celebrating whoever the next Miss Connecticut is.”
The Miss Connecticut contestants, their title and hometowns are:
Alexandria Palmer, Hartford County, Middletown
Brooke Cyr, Naugatuck Valley, Waterbury
Emerson Forbes, New Haven County, Hamden
Gina Carloto, Fairfield County, Trumbull
Lindiana Frangu, Litchfield County, Woodbury
Margaret Carpenter-Dove, Mountain Laurel, Westbrook
Micayla Barrows, Greater Rockville, Prospect
Monica Fenwick, Wolcott, Watertown
Nicole Funk, New London County, Oakdale
Taliyah McGee, West Haven, West Haven
Victoria Lemme, Shoreline, Danbury
The Miss Connecticut’s Teen contestants, their title and hometown are:
Maggie Wernicki, Nutmeg, Plantsville
Carson Gagne, Mum’s City, Bristol
Sage Cibula, Wolcott, Bristol
Emily Anastasio, Bristol, Meriden
Mikaylin Foster, Greater Rockville, Vernon
Olivia Chapdelaine, Chrysanthemum, Bristol
Simar Soni, Fairfield County, Bethel
Alexis Hayes, Tolland, Vernon
Camryn Patton, Forestville, Bristol
The Miss Connecticut and Miss Connecticut’s Teen competition begins with preliminary events on Friday, June 16 at 7 p.m. in the Cabaret Theatre of the Mohegan Sun, Uncasville.
On Saturday, June 17 at 6 p.m., the Miss Connecticut Black and White Gala will be held in the Earth Ballroom.
On Sunday, June 18 at 11 a.m., the Miss Connecticut & Miss Connecticut’s Teen Final Competition and Crowning will be held in the Cabaret Theater.
For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/MissConnecticut
