Abby Mansolillo, 22, was crowned Miss Rhode Island 2022 at the Bishop McVinney Auditorium in Providence on May 1.

Mansolillo, a law student at Roger Williams University Law School, who will also be interning at the Attorney General’s office this summer, said she wanted the crown for quite a while.

“This has been a dream I’ve had since I was little,” she said. “I’m speechless. It’s an honor, it’s a privilege. I’m humbled. I’m actually afraid that it’s not real. I love this state. I’m thrilled. I’m so thrilled.”

The Smithfield native received her bachelor’s degrees in English and Women and Gender Studies.

Mansolillo was third runner-up to Miss Rhode Island 2018 and has competed in other systems, but said she’s looking forward to spreading the word about her Social Impact Initiative, Trust Your Gut, which is about advocating for one’s own healthcare.

Of course she’s also excited about the Miss America competition, slated to take place in late 2022.

“I’m excited to serve this state and represent Rhode Island at Miss America, and I want to be the very first Miss America from Rhode Island,” Mansolillo said.

During the competition, she said she was nervous, but that was a good thing.

“I was really excited, and I was nervous, of course,” she said. “But, as I say all the time, the day I’m not nervous is the day I stop, because that would mean it’s not important anymore. It was all-around incredible. The girls were phenomenal. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls. It was an honor to share the stage with them. All of the competitors are smart, driven, intelligent, beautiful, and talented.”

For more information, visit http://www.missri.org.