Elaine Collado

Elaine Collado (27) of Providence, is a first generation American from the Dominican Republic and is fluent in Spanish. She graduated from Central High School and the Rhode Island College Upward Bound Program. She majored in Communication Studies at the University of Rhode Island and attended New York Film Academy for their Acting in Film program in Los Angeles.

On September 9, 2012, Elaine was crowned Miss Rhode Island Teen USA. She went on to fulfill her dreams of competing for the 2013 Miss Teen USA title. On May 29, 2022, she was crowned Miss Rhode Island USA and became the 6th titleholder in history to capture both the Teen and Miss crown.

Elaine always knew she wanted to be an actress. However, growing up in the projects of Providence, she felt like she had trapped potential. “I saw pageantry as a way of tapping into my fullest potential. When I won Miss Rhode Island Teen USA in 2013, it opened my eyes to a whole new world outside of what I knew in Providence” She tells The RI Wave. Being a part of the prestigious Miss USA organization is not just a dream come true for Elaine but it also enhances her ability to make a qualitative impact as a Youth Advocate. “It is an honor to inspire and lead by example for disadvantaged youth, to follow their dreams.”

In RI, only 26% of students in underserved communities scored proficient in Math and Reading. As an Advocate for Inner City Youth, Elaine is working with the board of directors at the Providence After School Alliance to help improve the lives of the students in Providence. This Organization provides quality after school learning opportunities and has helped over 17,000 students in Providence stay on track to graduate. “I am passionate about raising awareness for quality education in the inner city because this was my life. English was my second language. I didn’t start reading until I was 8 years old and today I get to help children build their confidence in reading and learning.”

Elaine believes she has found her “Full Circle” moment.

Today, Elaine is a working actress with representation in Los Angeles and New York City. You can spot Elaine in Golden Globe winner Andra Day’s Burn Music Video, a record from the Broadway sensation, Hamilton’s Mixtape Album. She also appeared in People Magazine Investigates on the Discovery Channel, and has landed a role in the film Sugar, featured in Hollywood’s Variety Magazine.

On journey to land her dream role, Elaine is currently auditioning for projects on ABC, Netflix, Hulu, and HBOMax. Her goals include winning an Academy Award appearing on screen with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars such as Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon, and Zoe Saldana. She also plans to write a screenplay based on her family’s journey to the United States from the Dominican Republic. When Elaine is not on set, she works as a tutor for Elementary School students, helping to build confidence and improve reading skills.. In her spare time, Elaine serves as the Executive Director of Abba Hope, a faith based non-profit organization dedicated to families suffering from homelessness. As a Co-Founder of the organization, she hopes to one day expand its enterprises to include free tutoring services for children in underserved communities.