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Who we are

For over 90 years, New York has had a state representative at the annual Miss America Competition—the historic program that started in Atlantic City in 1921 as a beauty pageant. Today, it is much more than a pageant. Miss America candidates working towards college or postgraduate degrees can earn scholarship awards to help further their education through the Miss America Foundation.

The Miss New York Scholarship Organization is an official state franchise of Miss America and holds an annual competition to select a state titleholder between the age of 18-28 who will work for one year to advance the mission of the Miss New York Organization, while also promoting her own personal charitable platform. The selection criteria include academic records, community service, public speaking ability, performing arts skill during a live talent performance, and live interviews. The woman who is selected to represent the State of New York advances to compete in the Miss America Competition. Additionally, one teen candidate between the age of 13-17 is selected to represent New York at Miss America’s Teen Competition.

Miss New York 2023, Amelia Collins
Miss New York 2024, Abigail Quammen

The young women who participate in the program at the state and local level are leaders in their respective communities, high schools, colleges, or universities. The participants raise funds for 501(c)(3) organizations such as the Make a Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society, local Humane Societies, and many more. They attend events as keynote speakers at corporate events, in school classrooms, and at charity fundraisers, and volunteer their time at nursing homes, shelters, and in youth programs.

The organization consists of a board of directors whom are all unpaid volunteers and whose mission is to provide career-readiness and leadership education for young women from the State of New York through educational programming, mentorship opportunities, and other annual events.

Miss New York 2019, Lauren Molella
Miss New York 2022, Taryn Delanie Smith
Learn more about our full purpose

Meet the State Team

  • Sloane Lewis, Miss New York Executive Director

    Sloane Lewis

    Executive Director

  • Bailey Catan, Miss New York's Teen Director

    Bailey Catan

    Teen Director
    MNY Board President

  • Ashley Whitebirch, Miss New York Assistant Director

    Ashley Whitebirch

    Assistant Director
    MNY Board Treasurer

  • Claire Buffie Adkisson, Miss New York Board Chair, Miss New York 2010

    Claire Adkisson

    Director of Alumnae Outreach
    MNY Board Chair

  • Anna Laura Strider, Miss New York Director of Production

    Anna Laura Strider

    Director of Fundraising
    Executive Producer
    MNY Board Member

  • Jacob Dixon, Miss New York Board President

    Jacob Dixon

    Director of State Week Coordination
    MNY Board Member

  • Taisha St. Jean, Miss New York Director of Operations and Fundraising

    Taisha St Jean Tard

    Director of Operations & Funding
    MNY Board Member

  • Megan Stier, Miss New York Director of State Contestants

    Megan Stier

    Director of State Contestants

  • John Giglio, Miss New York Board Vice President, Director of Panelists

    John Giglio

    Panelist Chair
    MNY Board Vice President

  • Willa Hahn, Miss New York Director of Scholarships

    Willa Hahn

    Director of Scholarships
    MNY Board Secretary

  • Eileen Simoniello, Miss New York Field Director

    Eileen Simoniello

    Director of Chaperones
    MNY Board Member

  • Tasha Cuccinelli, Miss New York Director of Empire Stars

    Tasha Cucinelli

    Director of Empire Stars

  • Fatima Maqboul, Miss New York Assistant Producer

    Fatima Maqboul

    Assistant Producer

  • Angela Simoniello, Miss New York Assistant Producer

    Angela Simoniello

    Assistant Producer

  • Ro-Z Edelston, Miss New York Production Team

    Ro-Z Edelston

    Production Team

  • Coming Soon Graphic

    Tom Dwyer

    Production Team

  • Kyanna Sabanoglu, Miss New York Booking Director

    Kyanna Sabanoglu

    Booking Manager

  • Dale Weil, Miss New York Board Member

    Dale Noelle Weil

    MNY Board Member

volunteer

Miss New York 2021, Sydney Park

We are always searching for local leaders who see the benefits of this organization and the potential in young women in their area. Local Directors hold their own local competition and crown winners to represent their communities at the State Competition. If you would like to start your own local competition you can apply for a local franchise. If you want to help on the local level but don’t know where to start, you can apply here!

Local Volunteers

Apply

The Miss New York Organization needs volunteers for year-round and State-Week positions. We are looking for people with experience or familiarity with the Miss America Opportunity who are able to work both behind the scenes and in the public eye. Many of the State-Week roles (lobby assistance, chaperone, etc) do not require years of experience with the organization – only a familiarity with the program and a compassionate approach to working with others.

State Volunteers

Apply

Our local programs need qualified panelists to select the representatives for their respective programs. If you believe you have a discerning eye for talent, intelligence, and community activism then volunteer to judge one of our local competitions. Panelists for a local organization must not be affiliated with a local New York contestant or New York Local organization in any way and are subject to approval by the State organization.

Judges Panel

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Contact us

Do you have questions for our team?
Send us an email!