Miss Staten Island and Miss Richmond County

2 more girls have a ticket to Miss New York 2011! Saturday was the 45th Anniversary of the Miss Staten Island Pageant. This year, 8 Miss Contestants competed for two titles with the top spots going to Miss Staten Island Maria DeSantis and Miss Richmond County Amanda Alicea. And six Teens competed for an opportunity to compete for Miss NY Outstanding Teen, awarding Miss Staten Island's OT Shreya Jain and Miss Richmond County's OT Victoria Dugay. Two fun facts about these results: Shelly Jain, Miss SIOT 2010 crowned her younger sister Shreya, and Maria and Amanda will join Allison Carlos, Miss Forest Queen, as the three former Miss NYOT to now compete for the MISS State crown. I think that speaks volumes about the outstanding teen program and what it prepares women for. Also to note, Joelle Bracco, 1st RU to MNYOT 2010, was 1st RU in the Miss Staten Island pageant-another great example of teen growth. Congratulations to all of the contestants and winners, to Staten Island for an amazing 45 years, and to Jennifer Scacco and Kim Cantoni on their wonderful reigns as 2010 representatives of Staten Island.

(L) Richmond County, Amanda Alicea
(R) Staten Island, Maria DeSantis

At the pageant we also made a huge announcement for the Miss NY Organization! For 25 years, the state pageant was held in Watertown, then we began searching for a new home, trying out Long Island for 2 years and Albany for the 2 years I've been involved. We have found a new home in Staten Island at the St. George Theatre with great support of the SI community and the Borough President, Jim Molinaro. In addition, we will have our first princess program, giving all the little ones a chance to be a princess :) We have some exciting things planned for the girls and the community coming in the spring and summer. If you have ideas, we want to hear them!! Email us! Golf outing anyone? I think so.

View the official Press Release HERE.

Many more photos on my November Events Photo Gallery