{{Short description|American model and beauty pageant contestant}} {{Infobox pageant titleholder | image=Tusa2019-01237-1557937296.jpg | name=Kaliegh Garris | birth_name= | caption=Kaliegh Garris in 2019 | title={{ubl|Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019|Miss Teen USA 2019}} | nationalcompetition={{ubl|Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019|(Winner)|Miss Teen USA 2019|(Winner)}} | birth_date ={{Birth date and age|2000|8|21}} | birth_place= New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | education = Southern Connecticut State University | eye_color=Brown | hair_color=Brown }}
'''Kaliegh Garris''' (born August 21, 2000) is an American TV host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2019. Garris had previously been crowned Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019; she is the second entrant from Connecticut to have been crowned Miss Teen USA, following Logan West who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012.
With her win, 2019 became the first year that all five major pageants were won by mixed and black women; other titleholders were Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica (as Miss World 2019), Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa (as Miss Universe 2019), Nia Franklin (as Miss America 2019), and Cheslie Kryst (as Miss USA 2019).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/human-interest/making-history-current-major-pageant-winners-all-black-women/|title=Making History: Current Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women|work=People|last=Harmata|first=Claudia|date=December 10, 2019|accessdate=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/miss-usa-teen-america-black-women_n_5ccc8e28e4b0d1239553098c|title=Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America Are All Black Women For First Time In Pageant History|date=May 3, 2019|publisher=Huffington Post|last=Ruiz-Grossman|first=Sarah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/patricepeck/cheslie-kryst-kaliegh-garris-nia-imani-black-miss-teen-usa|title=Miss America, Miss USA, And Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women, And I'm All Like "OKAY LADIES, NOW LET'S GET IN FORMATION!"|publisher=Buzzfeed|date=May 3, 2019|last=Peck|first=Patrice}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/05/231694/black-women-miss-usa-miss-america-pageant|title=3 Black Women Just Made Pageant History — & The Internet Is Celebrating|date=May 3, 2019|publisher=Refinery29|last=Diaz|first=Thatiana}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/human-interest/making-history-current-major-pageant-winners-all-black-women/|title=Making History: Current Miss world, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women|work=People|last=Harmata|first=Claudia|date=December 10, 2019|accessdate=December 10, 2019}}</ref>
==Life and career==
===Early life=== Garris was born on August 21, 2000, in New Haven, Connecticut.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BYEubcxDu0P/|title=17!|publisher=Kaliegh Garris|date=August 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmwpy-whpXm/|title=Life's a little sweeter at 18🍭|publisher=Kaliegh Garris|date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> She is biracial; her father is African American, while her mother is white.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a27356254/kaleigh-garris-miss-teen-usa-natural-hair/|title=Kaliegh Garris' Miss Teen USA Win Is a Win For Black Women Everywhere|publisher=Elle|last=Penrose|first=Nerisha|date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> Prior to being crowned Miss Teen USA, Garris was a dual enrolled student at Joseph A. Foran High School in Milford, Connecticut, and the ACES Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, where she studied theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/connecticut/milford/honor-roll-posted-joseph-foran-high-school|title=Honor Roll Posted at Joseph A. Foran High School|last=McCready|first=Brian|publisher=Patch|date=February 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aces.org/schools-programs/magnet-schools/educational-center-for-the-arts/about-us/news?id=854059/eca-theatre-student-kaliegh-garris-named-miss-connecticut-teen-usa-2019|title=ECA Theatre Student Kaliegh Garris named Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019!|date=February 3, 2019|publisher=ACES Educational Center for the Arts}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Throughout her life, Garris has participated in competitive dance, being trained in contemporary, jazz, pointe, hip hop, and tap. She founded the organization We Are People 1st, which assists people with disabilities, and was founded due to Garris's elder sister struggling with multiple disabilities; Garris has been recognized by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services for her work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/post/2934|title=5 Things You Need To Know About Miss Teen USA 2019 Kaliegh Garris|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=Miss Universe Organization|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430032332/https://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/post/2934|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MUO">{{cite web|url=https://www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa/contestant/1000622|title=Connecticut|publisher=Miss Universe Organization|accessdate=April 29, 2019|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507123931/https://www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa/contestant/1000622|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After graduating from high school, Garris attended Southern Connecticut State University studying communications, while volunteering at Yale New Haven Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blavity.com/an-afro-fit-for-a-crown-miss-teen-usa-2019-rocks-her-natural-kinks-while-winning-the-national-title|title=An Afro Fit For A Crown: Miss Teen USA 2019 Rocks Her Natural Kinks While Winning The National Title|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=Blavity|last=Ngomsi|first=Vinciane}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Milford-teenager-Kaliegh-Garris-named-Miss-Teen-13803848.php#item-85307-tbla-4|title=Milford teenager Kaliegh Garris named Miss Teen USA 2019|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=New Haven Register}}</ref> Garris transferred to Arkansas State University in 2022, completing her collegiate career through their online honors program. In 2024, Garris graduate summa cum laude, with a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.astate.edu/news/college-of-liberal-arts-and-communication-announces-top-graduating-students-of-2024|title=College of Liberal Arts and Communication Announces Top Graduating Students of 2024|date=April 15, 2024|publisher=Arkansas State University}}</ref>
===Pageantry=== Garris began her pageantry career as a teenager, competing in the National American Miss circuit and the Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BNErKNfD-EX/|title=So since I can't sleep because of the time difference and the fact check-in is today|date=November 21, 2016|publisher=Kaliegh Garris}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BaANVWBDsd2/|title=Miss. New Haven County Outstanding Teen 2018|date=October 8, 2017|publisher=Kaliegh Garris}}</ref> She transitioned to the Miss Universe Organization in 2019, competing in Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019 and winning the title on her first try.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://missconnecticutusa.com/contestants-photos/|title=Miss Connecticut USA Contestants|accessdate=April 29, 2019|publisher=Miss Connecticut USA|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611012515/https://missconnecticutusa.com/contestants-photos/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://missconnecticutusa.com/2016-queens-crowned/|title=2019 queens crowned!|publisher=Miss Connecticut USA|accessdate=April 29, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
As Miss Connecticut Teen USA, Garris was awarded the right to compete for Miss Teen USA 2019 in Reno, Nevada. She competed in the finals on April 28, 2019, at the Grand Sierra Resort, and was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder Hailey Colborn, besting first runner-up Caitlyn Vogel of North Dakota. Following her win, Garris became the second titleholder from Connecticut to win Miss Teen USA, succeeding Logan West who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw024sVjJeY/|title=Miss Teen USA is... CONNECTICUT!|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=Miss Universe Organization}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw048KmDbYT/|title=It's happening... you're the new Miss Teen USA 2019!|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=Miss Universe Organization}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/connecticut-teen-crowned-miss-teen-usa-2019/1963106269|title=Connecticut teen crowned Miss Teen USA 2019|last=Geneviva|first=Alex|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=WTNH}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Hailey-Colborn-crowned-Miss-Teen-USA-2019/eventshow/69097385.cms|title=Kaliegh Garris crowned Miss Teen USA 2019|date=April 29, 2019|publisher=Femina Miss India}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Following her win, she received national attention for wearing her natural afro-textured hair during the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/style/kaliegh-garris-crowned-miss-teen-usa-2019-with-natural-hair/|title=Kaliegh Garris Crowned Miss Teen USA 2019 While Wearing Her Natural Curls|date=April 30, 2019|last=Dodd|first=Sophie|publisher=People}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/beauty/kaliegh-garris-takes-miss-teen-usa-crown-rocking-her-natural-fro/|title=Kaliegh Garris Takes Miss Teen USA Crown Rocking Her Natural 'Fro|date=April 30, 2019|publisher=Essence|last=Evans|first=Shalwah}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/04/231179/miss-teen-usa-kaliegh-garris-natural-hair-interview|title=The New Miss Teen USA Was Crowned Wearing Her Natural Curls|last=Diaz|first=Thatiana|publisher=Refinery29|date=April 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theglowup.theroot.com/shes-a-natural-miss-teen-usa-2019-kaliegh-garris-won-t-1834443993|title=She's a Natural: Miss Teen USA 2019 Kaliegh Garris Won the Crown In Curls|publisher=The Root|last=Kai|first=Maiysha|date=April 30, 2019}}</ref> Garris's reign was originally scheduled to end on spring 2020, but due to the circumstances over the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the longest reigning Miss Teen USA titleholder and surpassed Allison Brown's previous record of 546 days on October 26, 2020. She ended her reign on November 7, 2020, after crowning Ki{{okina}}ilani Arruda as Miss Teen USA 2020, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/human-interest/winner-of-miss-teen-usa-2020/|title=Hawaii's Ki'ilani Arruda Wins Miss Teen USA 2020|website=PEOPLE.com|accessdate=8 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/hawaiis-kiilani-arruda-crowned-as-miss-teen-usa-2020/|title=Hawaii's Ki'ilani Arruda crowned as Miss Teen USA 2020|date=November 7, 2020|work=KHON2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/2020/11/08/miss-teen-usa-2020-hawaii-kiilani-arruda-graceland-memphis/6141520002/|title=Hawaii's Ki'ilani Arruda crowned Miss Teen USA during pageant at Graceland|last=Beifuss|first=John|work=Memphis Commercial Appeal|date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{S-start}} {{S-ach}} {{Succession box | before={{flagicon|Kansas}} Hailey Colborn | title=Miss Teen USA | years=2019 | after={{flagicon|Hawaii}} Kiʻilani Arruda }} {{Succession box | before=Elle Sauli | title=Miss Connecticut Teen USA | years=2019 | after=Samantha Sarelli }} {{S-end}}
{{Connecticut Pageant Winners}} {{Miss Teen USA titleholders}} {{Miss Universe Organization titleholders |Year = 2019 |Miss Universe= {{flagicon|South Africa}} Zozibini Tunzi |Miss USA= {{flagicon|North Carolina}} Cheslie Kryst |Miss Teen USA= {{flagicon|Connecticut}} '''Kaliegh Garris''' }} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garris, Kaliegh}} Category:2000 births Category:African-American beauty pageant winners Category:African-American female models Category:American beauty pageant winners Category:Female models from Connecticut Category:Living people Category:Miss Teen USA winners Category:People from Milford, Connecticut Category:People from New Haven, Connecticut Category:Southern Connecticut State University alumni Category:21st-century African-American people Category:21st-century African-American women Category:21st-century American beauty pageant contestants