She comes from a prominent pageant family; sister Alita Dawson is Miss Connecticut USA 2002 and Miss Connecticut Teen USA 1997.
After passing on her title, Gomes competed twice for the Miss Connecticut USA title, placing 2nd runner-up in 2001 and 1st runner-up in 2002.
USA | Connecticut | USA Today | Miss Universe | Hartford, Connecticut | New Haven, Connecticut | Miss USA | Miss World | Girl Scouts of the USA | Miss America | USA Network | University of Connecticut | Communist Party USA | Greenwich, Connecticut | Femina Miss India | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Stamford, Connecticut | Norwalk, Connecticut | New London, Connecticut | Connecticut River | Miss Universe 2012 | Miss Universe 2011 | Mystic, Connecticut | Miss Saigon | Fox Sports (USA) | Norwich, Connecticut | Miss Teen USA | Miss North Carolina USA | Miss Europe | Middletown, Connecticut |