Kaitlynne Santana

Kaitlynne Santana, 21, representing Woonsocket, was crowned Miss Rhode Island USA 2024 on May 26th at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. She was honored to capture the crown on her second try and after competing against 46 inspiring and hardworking women from across the state. As a little girl she moved from Rhode Island to Maunabo, Puerto Rico, and then came back to the beautiful ocean state at the age of 9.

Kaitlynne works with adults with intellectual disabilities at Horace Mann Educational Associates (HMEA). At HMEA she provides adults with autism, Down’s Syndrome, etc. with daily support, training, and companionship. She is also a support staff to these wonderful people who, just like the rest of us, have dreams of being employed in their dream job. Kaitlynne helps the individuals she serves by teaching them good interview and communication skills, how to write a resume, and how to reach for independence. 

Kailynne will use her platform as Miss Rhode Island USA to speak about the lack of opportunities most adults with intellectual disabilities face, especially when it comes to finding jobs. She hopes her advocacy will show others, especially future employers, that these adults are very capable of almost anything and should be given a chance because they don’t ask for privilege, only an opportunity.

Kaitlynne aspires to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in business marketing. One of her ambitions is to use her business and modeling experience to open a modeling academy for all ages where she will focus on confidence and classic etiquette skills. This dream of hers started at the age of 8 in Puerto Rico when she attended the Modelos Para la Sociedad modeling academy.

This summer Kaitlynne will represent Rhode Island at the nationally-televised Miss USA pageant in Los Angeles, California, where she’s excited to hear her big, loud Puerto Rican family and Rhode Island fans cheer her on.