Former Bartlett resident wins as Miss Rhode Island.
Miss Rhode Island Ivy DePew, formerly of Bartlett, knows that nothing replaces persistence. The 23-year-old competed four times at Miss Tennessee and twice at Miss Rhode Island, finally winning the title of Miss Rhode Island in mid-June.
“I did it for the people who had supported me non-stop,” she said.
DePew recently completed her master’s degree in public affairs at Brown University, and she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of Memphis. She worked in Washington, D.C. for Congressman Steve Cohen and said she has political aspirations of her own.
“One day I would love to run for public office,” she said. “I like having a constituency that you’re responsive to.”
She credits her participation in pageants with being able to graduate debt-free and continue her education at Brown.
Her platform as Miss Rhode Island is “United We Stand: Supporting U.S. military members, veterans, and families.” She was inspired by former Miss Rhode Island Gloria Berlanga, a pageant judge and military service member. DePew’s boyfriend is also in the Army.
