4th runner-up Miss New York USA 2019, 2nd runner-up Miss New Hampshire USA 2018, Semi-finalist Miss California USA 2016, Non-finalist Miss CA USA 2014, Semi-finalist Miss CA USA 2012
A native of California who was living in Annapolis during her reign, Taelyr Robinson was crowned Miss Maryland USA on 10 November 2019 and represented Maryland at the Miss USA 2020 pageant in Memphis, Tennessee. Taelyr is a travel enthusiast who has visited Thailand, China, Spain and Poland and lived in California, New Hampshire, New York and Maryland.
Taelyr grew up in Riverside, California and always had a desire to perform. She signed with her first acting and modeling agency at the age of ten and appeared in multiple commercials for such companies as Barbie and Verizon that same year.
However, at the age of 11 Taelyr suffered the loss of her father and her grandmother. Subsequently, her mother struggled with alcoholism to the point where Taelyr became the sole caretaker of herself and her two sisters. Through a series of foreclosures over the next six years she, her mother, and her siblings soon found themselves homeless. While this turn of events might have left most children feeling helpless and destined to stay on the same path, Taelyr used her experience as motivation. She realized at a young age that “thoughts become things” and used her positive mindset to literally turn her life around. She removed herself from the toxic situation and became an active member of Al-Anon. Seeing the negative impact substance abuse had on her family, she vowed to never drink alcohol.
Taelyr was scouted on the beach at the age of 16 and began modeling again. She has modeled professionally for the last ten years for major companies including Target, American Apparel, TJ Maxx, Walmart, Bobbi Brown, and is currently featured in all Sephora stores for Tarte Cosmetics. She also starred on a reality show called “The Vineyard” on ABC Family in 2013. While filming, she connected with a cast member who had a similar upbringing. For the first time in her life Taelyr publicly discussed her struggles and realized the power of telling her story. Not only did she feel as if she now had ownership of her situation, but she also realized she could help others by sharing her experience.
As Miss Maryland USA, Taelyr plans to speak to children who are currently living her past. She wants to educate youth about the many resources that are available to them and show them, by example, that with a strong desire and positive mindset they can create great lives for themselves. One of the most effective motivators for Taelyr when she felt she had nowhere to turn was her vision board. She would like to share this creative outlet by hosting workshops to allow others to create boards to visually lay out their goals and aspirations to help turn them into realities.
Taelyr is a travel enthusiast. She became a certified yoga teacher in Koh Phangan, Thailand in 2018. That same year while in Barcelona, Spain she created an interactive art museum, “Colorama”. It was located on the busy Central shopping street, Passeig de Gràcia. Taelyr designed the entire 7,000 square foot museum, facilitated partnerships with local artists, and obtained the legal paperwork to live and own a business in Spain. Taelyr has also visited China and Poland. Taelyr also enjoys volunteering her time and has partnered with organizations such as We Deliver God’s Love, Best Buddies, and Hollywood Food Coalition.
The on-stage moments, the tension of the final two and the glory of the crowning, here are Taelyr’s state pageant photos.
Lights, camera, action! Professional photoshoots are one of the perks that comes from winning a title.
From the West Coast to the East, here are Taelyr’s previous pageant photos from California, New Hampshire and New York.
