Tanisha Brito
Encyclopedia
Tanisha Nicole Brito is a beauty queen who has competed at both Miss America
and Miss USA
.
Brito is an experienced pageant contestant. Her first major pageant was the 2000 Miss Connecticut
state pageant, where she finished second runner-up. The following year she competed in Georgia, where she won a non-finalist interview award. She returned to Connecticut in 2002, where she won the swimsuit award and Miss Connecticut
crown. Brito was a top ten finalist in the Miss America
2003 pageant won by Erika Harold
of Illinois. She won a $5,000 scholarship for this placement. The following year, Brito gave up her Connecticut crown to Marla Beth Prete and returned to Georgia.
On November 6, 2004 Brito was crowned Miss Georgia USA
. She competed in the Miss USA 2005
pageant held in Baltimore, Maryland on 11 April 2005, but failed to make the cut at the nationally televised pageant, which was won by Chelsea Cooley
of North Carolina
. She gave up her crown to Lisa Wilson
in November 2006.
Brito graduated from Waterford High School
in 1998. Her home town is Waterford, Connecticut
, however she attended Clark Atlanta University
in Georgia
which gave her the residency permission to compete in that state's pageant. While preparing for the Miss America
pageant, Brito attended the University of Connecticut
at Avery Point so as not to disadvantage her studies. Her degree is in mass media arts with a concentration in public relations. At university in Georgia she was a member of the American Association of University Women
and belonged to the Lambda Pi Eta
Communications Honor Society. She is currently a graduate student at Clark Atlanta University in the MBA program concentrating in Marketing.
Brito is strongly involved in fostering youth leadership. She currently sits on the National Advisory Board of Mobilizing America’s Youth. After her pageant participation she founded the T. Meredith Brito Foundation for Women, a charity dedicated to raising funds to improve the quality of life for women with Breast Cancer
and other health issues in underserved communities.
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
and Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
.
Brito is an experienced pageant contestant. Her first major pageant was the 2000 Miss Connecticut
Miss Connecticut
The Miss Connecticut competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Connecticut in the Miss America pageant. Connecticut has won the Miss America crown once .- Winners :- External links :***...
state pageant, where she finished second runner-up. The following year she competed in Georgia, where she won a non-finalist interview award. She returned to Connecticut in 2002, where she won the swimsuit award and Miss Connecticut
Miss Connecticut
The Miss Connecticut competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Connecticut in the Miss America pageant. Connecticut has won the Miss America crown once .- Winners :- External links :***...
crown. Brito was a top ten finalist in the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
2003 pageant won by Erika Harold
Erika Harold
Erika N. Harold was Miss America 2003, having qualified for the pageant by being selected Miss Illinois 2002. Her official platform was "Preventing Youth Violence and Bullying: Protect Yourself, Respect Yourself." This platform choice was said to have grown out of personal experience; she recounts...
of Illinois. She won a $5,000 scholarship for this placement. The following year, Brito gave up her Connecticut crown to Marla Beth Prete and returned to Georgia.
On November 6, 2004 Brito was crowned Miss Georgia USA
Miss Georgia USA
The Miss Georgia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Georgia in the Miss USA pageant.Historically, Georgia has been the eleventh most successful state at Miss USA and has performed in more recent years, placing eighth on the table of most successful states...
. She competed in the Miss USA 2005
Miss USA 2005
Miss USA 2005, the 54th Miss USA pageant, was held in Baltimore, Maryland in April 11, 2005. It was won by Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina.Fifty-one state titleholders competed for the title of Miss USA in the Hippodrome Theatre on April 11, 2005...
pageant held in Baltimore, Maryland on 11 April 2005, but failed to make the cut at the nationally televised pageant, which was won by Chelsea Cooley
Chelsea Cooley
Chelsea Cooley is a beauty queen from Charlotte, North Carolina who has competed in the Miss Teen USA, Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants and who has held the Miss USA 2005 title....
of North Carolina
Miss North Carolina USA
The Miss North Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. This state is part of the RPM Productions group....
. She gave up her crown to Lisa Wilson
Lisa Wilson
Lisa Marie Wilson is a beauty queen and singer from Rome, Georgia, who has competed in the Miss USA pageant and appeared on American Idol. She graduated from Armuchee High School in 1998 and also obtained a diploma in radio and television broadcasting from Coosa Valley Technical High School.Lisa...
in November 2006.
Brito graduated from Waterford High School
Waterford High School (Connecticut)
Waterford High School is a public high school in Waterford, Connecticut, United States.-History:The high school was constructed in 1957. The first graduating class was in 1960. The school renovation began in 2010 with a budget of $67 million dollars....
in 1998. Her home town is Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is named after Waterford, Ireland. The population was 19,152 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place .-Geography:...
, however she attended Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
which gave her the residency permission to compete in that state's pageant. While preparing for the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant, Brito attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
at Avery Point so as not to disadvantage her studies. Her degree is in mass media arts with a concentration in public relations. At university in Georgia she was a member of the American Association of University Women
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards and Marion Talbot...
and belonged to the Lambda Pi Eta
Lambda Pi Eta
Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association . As a member of the Association of College Honor Societies , Lambda Pi Eta has over 400 active chapters at four-year colleges and universities worldwide.Lambda Pi Eta was founded in 1985 at...
Communications Honor Society. She is currently a graduate student at Clark Atlanta University in the MBA program concentrating in Marketing.
Brito is strongly involved in fostering youth leadership. She currently sits on the National Advisory Board of Mobilizing America’s Youth. After her pageant participation she founded the T. Meredith Brito Foundation for Women, a charity dedicated to raising funds to improve the quality of life for women with Breast Cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and other health issues in underserved communities.