By: Justine Tomon
Posted In: News
Photo credit: Justine Tomon
From left to right on the top: Jennifer Chicoine, Christine Campbell, Jillian Cannone and Allison Rogers; Bottom: Courtney Crone and Bethany Beauregard.
The master of ceremonies asked, “How many of you are sophisticated, of sound body and mind, educated to current events and have the passionate desire to help your community?”
Well, Jillian Cannone does. Cannone, a sophomore with a double major in elementary education and special education, competed Fri., April 21 and Sat., April 22, in the 85th Annual Miss Rhode Island pageant in Woonsocket at the Stadium Theater. Following Friday’s preliminary qualifying competition and weeks of preparation, she was ready to glide across the stage with a balanced poise, class and confidence. Cannone is a newcomer to the pageant world, but hailing from her native Warwick, RI, she was a true contender for the Miss Rhode Island title. Although she did not make the top 10 semifinals, Cannone called the whole experience “unbelievable”. In her debut attempt at vying for the crown, Cannone found herself competing against pageant veterans. Out of this year’s 17 contestants, seven of the ladies had competed for Miss Rhode Island in 2005. In a competition devoted to one girl’s acquisition of the coveted tiara of Australian crystal over her fellow contestants, it is an assumption that resentment lurks between the ladies. But Cannone swears that all the girls got along well and truly supported one another, especially in those tricky quick changes between competitions. In the preliminary qualifying contests, participants performed all the talents one would expect. Opera. Scat. Country. The ladies crooned all different genres of music. Occasionally, a classical ballet en pointe performance, a combination hip-hop belly dance routine and even a traditional Tahitian dance complete with headdress were performed by contestants. Cannone performed a contemporary jazz piece entitled, “I Want More” for her preliminary talent Friday. With 15 years of dance training from Warwick Dance and Gymnastics Academy, her decision to dance for the talent portion was simple. It was actually one of her dance teachers, the business administrator for the Miss Rhode Island organization, who suggested Cannone enter the pageant. Not only was her performance a crowd-favorite, emitting cheers and catcalls from the audience, but also Cannone’s favorite also. “It was just like dancing for a competition,” said the natural performer. Her natural grace and poise carried her effortlessly across the stage as she strutted in her evening gown. A dress of vibrant scarlet embellished with gold sequins draped about her as she sashayed over to the podium where she would answer her interview question. When asked if she thought boxing should be considered a sport, Cannone answered matter-of-factly stating that it was indeed. Ironically, Peter Manfredo, Jr., the runner-up for NBC’s boxing reality hit The Contender, is Cannone’s cousin. “He works out like it’s his job. Because it is,” she said confidently. But as Candice Bergen said in 2000’s Miss Congeniality, “It is not a beauty pageant. It is a scholarship program.” So while all the contestants are beautiful young women, the pageant emphasizes scholarship and community service more than talent and appearance. Over $44 million were awarded in 2005 to representatives from the 50 states at the Miss America Pageant, the largest scholarship program in the country. Miss Rhode Island is a subdivision of that organization. Each contestant has a platform, or charity, with which she will work during her year of service if crowned. Cannone chose to work with A Wish Come True, Inc. “My little brother got a wish granted by them and I am in the middle of becoming a wish granter, Cannone said. “It makes it that much better if you are involved with your platform.” Her unwavering dedication to the organization is apparent in her decision to support A Wish Come True, Inc. as her platform next year. “I think it is an amazing program,” she said. At the culmination of the pageant, Cannone sat in the dress circle applauding and cheering on Allison Rogers as she was crowned Miss Rhode Island. With genuine congratulations and happiness for her new friend, Cannone remembered the whole journey leading up to that night. “The best part about this competition is all the girls I met,” Cannone said. “They were amazing and I really made some good friends.”
