New London CT—‘I’m going to Atlantic City! I’m going to Atlantic City! One dream had been realized! Tanisha Nicole Brito, the former Miss New London County, wins the 74th Miss Connecticut Scholarship Competition held at The Garde Arts Center in New London Connecticut. Ms. Brito beat out 15 other competitor’s for the crown and now goes on to Atlantic City New Jersey to represent Connecticut in the national Miss America national program this September. In addition to the crown she wins a direct $ 5,000 scholarship, $ 148,000 in in-kind scholarships from 4 Connecticut universities and a $ 1,100 wardrobe award. Tanisha is the 3 African American woman to win the title.

Born in New London Connecticut, Ms. Brito has been dancing and performing since the tender age of 3. The scholarship competition was a perfect segue for her to continue her education while performing competitively. Said Brito ‘What I enjoyed most about the scholarship competition was that it allows you to show so many positive aspect of yourself. It allows you to display a talent, show your motivation, and speak about an area of personal and community concern. ‘

Tanisha’s performance throughout the evening’s competition could have been characterized as talented seamless elegance. The audience and her personal cheering section of 50 + extended family members and well wishers weren’t disappointed. Of the four areas of competition, Mr. Brito won the presentation and community service (interview) and lifestyle and physical fitness (swimsuit) portions.

Dedicated, spontaneity and persevering are words Ms. Brito uses to describe herself. After meeting her, you can’t help but being struck by her poise, engaging smile, warm demeanor and approachability. Upon seeing her on a couple of occasions, it was heartwarming to note that there wasn’t a person left waiting who didn’t want to speak with her or seek her autograph. Tanisha knows that she’s a role model and relishes in it. ‘As a role model being able to show people, in particular young people, that you can play by the rules the book and achieve is very important. said Brito’.

When asked if the scholarship program was nothing more than a beauty pageant, Brito wanted to emphasize that the Connecticut Scholarship Program wasn’t JUST beauty pageant. ‘It truly is a scholarship competition.’ said Tanisha ‘All this year’s contestants were either in college or pursuing advanced degrees. Contestants have to perform a talent and also have to perform community service on an issue of concern that is close to our heart. However if you want to use the word beauty to describe the competition then you could use the word to describe the inner beauty it displays. Because all the things I mentioned earlier, in combination, definitely bring out the inner beauty in all of us.’

Ms. Brito’s future is looking bright. She graduated this year and received a Bachelors of Arts from Clark Atlanta University. She would like to head a non-profit or public policy organization that specializes urban planning. This issue is also important to Tanisha. Why? Because she was a product of low income housing until age 10. ‘ I would like to initiate developmental programs for low income families in public housing. I’d like to emphasize programs that educate, develop job training skills and strengthen a person’s parental abilities. These types of programs would greatly benefit families of low income communities. Because public housing residents really only need a hand and not a hand out. Everyone deserves an opportunity. And my family gave me opportunity.’

Tanisha is excited as the national Ms. America program nears. Currently she’s perfecting her talent routine, getting pictures taken, and working on her platform. Ms. Brito’s plateform is peer mentoring She is adament to do all she can to promote this important issue. Recently she went to the State Capitol to meet with educators and legislator’s so they could see, first hand, the benefits the program could have on schools and children. Waterford High School, which Ms. Brito attended, was the first school in Connecticut to implement such a program. She would like to see this program implemented in schools throughout Connecticut that currently don’t already have it.

When asked about what success means to her, Tanisha defines it as ‘achieving everything you set your mind to. If you achieve it then that’s your own personal success’. Come this September, someone may be VERY successful.