Miss Connecticut Kaitlyn Tarpey chats with INSIDE EDITION about feeling flattered that she's reportedly the inspiration behind Caitlyn Jenner's name.
When Miss Connecticut sashayed on stage at last year's Miss America Pageant, little did she know her name would one day have a huge impact.
Turns out, Kaitlyn Tarpey inspired Caitlyn Jenner to choose the name "Caitlyn," which is making history on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Tarpey told INSIDE EDITION, "I'm just a little, kind of, overwhelmed!"
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Jenner says she's been a big fan of the Miss America Pageant, and made a point of watching, listening for names that might strike her fancy.
She had been considering several. Among them, "Cathy" and "Heather" - but she reportedly decided on "Caitlyn" after hearing Miss Connecticut utter an empowering phrase: "Chin up, boobs up, and rock it!"
In her Diane Sawyer interview in May, Jenner spoke the same statement, saying, "Girl, you gotta rock it, baby. You gotta look good."
Tarpey added, "You never know who's watching, you never know who you're inspiring."
Kaitlyn Tarpey had wonderful presence on the stage and became a fan favorite with her rousing Irish folk dance performance.
Caitlyn Jenner chose to spell her name with a "C" instead of a "K," that's because she wanted to separate herself from all the Kardashian ladies who all use the letter "K."
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Tarpey added, "I think she looks hot! I think she looks awesome!"
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