Miss Grand US Virgin Islands is the national beauty pageant responsible for selecting representatives of the United States Virgin Islands to compete in the international contest, Miss Grand International. The title was first introduced in 2014, when Wilma Echandy, a 24-year-old Stateside Puerto Rican, was appointed to represent the territory at the Miss Grand International competition in Thailand. Under the directorship of Brian Javier, the first Miss Grand US Virgin Islands contest happened in 2024.
From 2014 to 2015, the franchise for designating representatives of the United States Virgin Islands to Miss Grand International was held by the pageant Miss US Paradise, directed by Cyndee Frontal. During this period, the principal winners of Miss US Paradise were primarily assigned to the Miss World competition, while the franchise also enabled representation at Miss Grand International. In 2017, the license was transferred to Chantel Martínez, founder of Miss Grand United States, and in 2018 it passed to Lulu Orange, organizer of Miss Universe US Virgin Islands.
Since the first participation in 2014, the pageant has recorded a single placement at the international level: in 2024, Samantha Keaton achieved a Top 20 position at Miss Grand International.
History The United States Virgin Islands made its debut at Miss Grand International in 2014 when the director of Miss US Paradise, Cyndee Frontal, acquired the license and subsequently appointed a Puerto Rican American model, Wilma Echandy, to compete internationally in Thailand, but Echandy went unplaced. In the following year, former Miss World United States Virgin Islands 2013, Petra Cabrera, was assigned by the same licensee to compete and also was unplaced. The partnership between Miss US Paradise and Miss Grand International was later terminated in 2016.
After an absence in 2016, the license was purchased by the Miss Grand United States director, Chantel Martínez, who assigned the first runner-up of Miss Grand United States 2017, Brianna Key, to join the 2017 international stage in Vietnam. The license was then transferred to the Miss Universe US Virgin Islands in the following years and the vice-miss of such a contest was sent internationally.
Edition The first edition of the Miss Grand United States Virgin Islands pageant was held on March 25, 2024.
EditionDateVenueEntrantWinner 1st March 25, 2024 CUZ Miami Venue, Doral, Florida, United States 8 Samantha Keaton Notes
International competition The following is a list of the United States Virgin Islands' representatives at the Miss Grand International contest.
Year Representative National qualificationCompetition performanceNational directorPlacement Other awards2014Wilma EchandyQueen of Puerto Rico 2012UnplacedCyndee Frontal2015Petra CabreraMiss U.S. Paradise World 2013Unplaced2016colspan=6 2017Brianna Key1st runner-up Miss Grand United States 2017UnplacedChantel Martínez2018Morgan Evans1st runner-up Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands 2018UnplacedLulu Orangecolspan=7 2023Heather ThompsonFinalist Miss Grand United States 2019Unplaced Brian Javier 2024 Samantha KeatonMiss Grand United States Virgin Islands 2024Top 20 2025 Giselle Burgos 4th runner-up Miss Grand United States 2024 Unplaced 2026 Brianna Stern Appointed TBA TBA
Winners' gallery
National finalists The following list is the national finalists of the Miss Grand US Virgin Islands pageant, as well as the competition results. Eight contestants competed in the pageant's first edition held in Doral, Florida, the United States. + Miss Grand United States Virgin Islands 2024 competition result by divisionColor key: 2024BarrettEmma Knapp ChristianstedShriya Boppana Cinnamon BaySonika Komal Coral BaySamantha Keaton FrederikstedBrianna LopezKingshillRebecca AriannaRed HookKathyria BurgosReef BayLondon Tucker Saint ThomasAlayzia Christopher Water IslandLayel Hamchou Total8
See also Miss Virgin Islands Miss US Virgin Islands
References
External links