Did Gabriella Vigorito win Miss Connecticut USA? 'sMothered' star refuses to give up her dream of following in mom Catherine’s footsteps
CLINTON, CONNECTICUT: Catherine Galasso-Vigorito and Gabriella Vigorito, Clinton's mom-daughter duo, are among the new cast members on this year's season of TLC's 'sMothered'. This season's plot centers on Catherine and her daughter's rise to the top of Connecticut's beauty pageant scene, highlighting unconventional relationships between mothers and their children.
Despite Gabriella's relentless devotion to the 2023 Miss Connecticut pageant, the coveted crown remained just outside her reach. Karla Aponte Roque emerged victorious, however, Gabriella did not go empty-handed – she was chosen as the fourth runner-up.
While the crown was not on Gabriella's head this time, the setback demonstrates her perseverance and persistence. And it doesn't appear that she'll give up anytime soon.
Gabriella Vigorito has high hopes after Miss Connecticut pageant loss
Gabriella's fourth place in the Miss Connecticut 2023 pageant has not dimmed her enthusiasm. Instead, it has strengthened her ambition to compete for the title again.
Gabriella said in an interview with the New York Post, "I have been competing since I was 19, and I’ve placed as a top five finalist, but I’m not giving up on my dream to follow in Mama's footsteps and bag the same title she landed."
Beyond her ambitions for the throne, Gabriella expresses her desire for a love connection while realizing the difficulties of her special link with her mother. Despite the challenges, she stays hopeful of finding love while negotiating the complexity of her unusual mother-daughter relationship.
Gabriella went on to explain, "My mom...wants me to always be hanging out with her— no one else. When I have boyfriends, mom says we are in the ‘love triangle.'"
'sMothered' star Catherine Galasso-Vigorito won pageant title in 1988
Catherine earned the Miss Connecticut USA title in 1988. She went on to participate in the 1988 Miss USA pageant in El Paso, Texas.
Gabriella followed in her mother's footsteps and competed in the Miss Connecticut USA pageant in April 2023. She also competed in the pageant in 2021 and 2022.
While she did not win the title, she finished in the top five and was crowned Miss Photogenic. She praised her mother for her support during her trip and intimated that she would not give up on her ambition of wearing the crown one day.
"To my Mom, the former Miss CT USA herself. Thank you for being the best walking coach there is," Gabriella said on Instagram.
“We spent the entire year preparing. Taking countless trips to NYC for my wardrobe, traveling and live-streaming every state pageant, the words of encouragement and mental preparation—you do it all. This is a legacy and I want to follow in your footsteps,” she added.
“Pageantry is in my blood, and I’m not giving up now,” she continued. “I have tears in my eyes,” her mom responded.
“You’re simply beautiful inside and out. You’re my whole [heart] and you have incredible, life-changing opportunities just ahead! I love you.”
Gabriella Vigorito wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps
Catherine is more than a mother to Gabriella. She is also her "idol."
The two like spending time together and even dress similarly. "She's my mini-me," Catherine admits.
The person with black hair, Gabriella doesn't only want to look like her mother. She aspires to do the same things that she achieved.
That's why she aspired to win the Miss Connecticut USA pageant, just like Catherine had decades earlier.
"Imagine growing up and your mom being Miss Connecticut USA," Gabriella remarked. "Those are some shoes to fill."
Gabriella anticipated her mother to be immediately beside her when she heard her name called.
"When I win, she's going to come up on the stage with her crown and sash," she remarked.
New episodes of 'sMothered' Season 5 premiere on TLC every Tuesday at 10 pm ET