Miss CT’s Outstanding Teen 2014
A native of Wolcott, Cynthia Dias was crowned Miss Connecticut USA on 9 April 2022 and represented Connecticut at the Miss USA 2022 pageant in Reno, Nevada. During her reign Cynthia graduated with her Masters degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Cynthia Moura Dias is a first-generation Portuguese American who is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She is a 2020 University of Connecticut alumni with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences and earned her Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology in May 2022 from the University of New Haven where she was President of their Society of Human Resources Management chapter. At only 23-years-old, Cynthia has international corporate experience; she currently works full-time at Bridgewater Associate, LP as a Senior Generalist, People Operations and was previously a Learning and Development Lead and HR Generalist Co-Op at Collins Aerospace.
She is an advocate for eating disorders and mental health awareness. This hits close to home as Cynthia is an eating disorder survivor herself. She plans to promote body positivity and support individuals and families affected by mental health and eating disorders. Cynthia is also a childhood literacy advocate, having volunteered with various community organizations over the past 14 years and starting her own literacy program in 2013, Reading Is Succeeding, donating over $500,000 in books to children across the state of Connecticut.Cynthia is no stranger to the spotlight as she has modeled for Terani, Mac Duggal, Tony Bowls, and several other designers. She recently presented awards at the International Portuguese Music Awards and the Portuguese-American Music Awards. Cynthia has appeared in Hollywood and Bollywood films, performed with the Moscow Ballet, and is a competitive ballroom dancer. She also holds the Women’s 50m and 100m Hurdle Record at Wolcott High School.She has received numerous awards for her academics and service including: President’s Volunteer Service Award by President Barack Obama, Prudential Spirit of Community Award Distinguished Finalist, the Secretary of the State’s Excellence in Citizenship Award, Leadership Scholarship from University of New Haven and University of Connecticut, and is a recipient of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.
The on-stage moments, the tension of the final two and the glory of the crowning, here are Cynthia’s state pageant photos.
Lights, camera, action! Professional photoshoots are one of the perks that comes from winning a title.
Cynthia was new to the USA system, but had held the Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen title in 2014, as the sister titleholder to then-Miss Connecticut and later Miss Connecticut USA Acacia Courtney.
All beautiful things must come to an end, no matter how bittersweet. See Cynthia’s farewell walk and other candids from the weekend she crowned her successor Karla Aponte Roque as Miss Connecticut USA 2023.
Winning a state title is a sisterhood for life. Here are Cynthia’s “after the crown” photos.
