3rd runner-up 2023
A native of Bridgeport, Shavana Clarke was crowned Miss Connecticut USA on 14 April 2023 and represented Connecticut at the Miss USA pageant in Hollywood, California. She is a sales professional, entrepreneur, and pageant titleholder who earned her BFA from the University of Connecticut. Although her mental health journey originally began in middle school, she wasn’t diagnosed with borderline personality disorder until her 20s. Now she is a proud BPD and mental health advocate who uses her social media and blog, #YourMentalHealthBestie to share her own experiences and educate about BPD and other mental health diagnoses with the hope of helping others.
Miss Connecticut USA 2024 Shavana Clarke is a first-generation Jamaican-American who is proudly a part of the LGBTQ+ community. She is honored to be the first openly lesbian Miss USA state titleholder. She earned a BFA in acting from the University of Connecticut and performed regionally as well as in numerous off-Broadway shows post-graduation. She currently works as a sales coordinator, model, and entrepreneur.
Shavana’s struggles with her mental health inspired her to create #YourMentalHealthBestie, using both social media and her blog to share her own experiences and educate people about borderline personality disorder and other mental health diagnoses with the hope of helping others feel less alone. Shavana took up crocheting to help with her anxiety and her love for crocheting quickly turned into a crochet-wear line lovingly named Sour Candy Studio, where she makes unique and fun one-of-one sustainable pieces.
Shavana also finds joy in writing poetry, rock climbing, practicing her British accent for her next trip to London, and spending time with her loved ones (including her morkie, Mamba).
The on-stage moments, the tension of the final two and the glory of the crowning, here are Shavana’s state pageant photos.
Lights, camera, action! Professional photoshoots are one of the perks that comes from winning a title.
Shavana placed third runner-up to Karla Aponte Roque at Miss Connecticut USA 2023. Here are her previous pageant photos.
