Brianna Vega ’19, Miss Rhode Island, presented at the University of Rhode Island’s Gender and Sexuality Center for its “Spill The Tea” event on Sept. 17.
Vega won the Miss Rhode Island title in May after getting back into pageantry and attempting the title in previous years.
Vega’s journey began when she was a little girl, when the winner of Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo, won Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA and then Miss Universe. Culpo is a Rhode Island native from Cranston, close to where Vega grew up in Providence. This pushed Culpo into the position of being her role model.
“If [Culpo] can do it, so can I,” Vega said.
Vega is looking forward to competing for Miss USA this fall, as Miss Rhode Island was just the start of her ultimate goal.
“That’s not me, is it?” Vega said when reflecting on her big win in May.
Vega graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She currently specializes in OB-GYN and obstetrics while also being a personal trainer. Vega’s goal is to support women by being a role model. She wants to represent her Latina background in her modeling and nursing careers.
At the event, Vega quoted Maya Angelou: “I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand.”
The quote reflected on the women who supported her and the women she wants to represent when they see her on the screen, winning as a Latina woman from Rhode Island.
When starting, Vega Googled how to enter pageantry and got headshots taken at JCPenney. She ended up winning the title of Miss Rhode Island Teen on her first attempt. Taking a break from the pageants, Vega focused on her nursing dreams.
A phone call that changed her life was in her senior year of high school, when she got a place in the nursing program at URI.
Vega filled her time at URI as a resident advisor, an orientation leader and with stressful hours studying to fulfill her dreams.
While earning her degree, Vega often felt challenged, but she could not let anything get in the way of her dreams. After nursing school, she was often asked if she would go back to pageantry. Another dream to chase, Vega “got bit by the pageant bug.”
Often questioning if this was the right career path for herself, Vega told herself that she gets to decide where she will end up. Vega teared up, speaking about crossing the stage for graduation. She recalled how her sister’s eyes were on her.
In more ways than one, Vega wants her sister to look at her and feel like she can accomplish everything and more.
“I need to take up space,” Vega said.
Vega says she keeps a Post-it note on her mirror that reads “You are enough.” This affirmation represents Vega’s legacy as an alumnus.
Vega will be competing for Miss USA this October, followed by Miss Universe in November.
