Miss New York 2024: Young woman crowned as Staten Island delegates make their mark at state competition (Photos)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Islanders undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the stage of the Miss New York Scholarship Pageant on Saturday at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater in Upstate Peekskill, where they competed for crowns and gowns during the highly anticipated annual event.

Local delegates competing for the much-coveted title of Miss New York were:

Alexa Moley, Miss Staten Island; Gabriella Marinelli, Miss Richmond County; Madison Burkhart, Miss Staten Island Teen, and Joann Lee, Miss Richmond County Teen.

They were joined by four other Staten Island women who won titles in other New York State local competitions, namely, Tatiana Santos Mroczek, Miss Gotham; Nadia Michel, Miss Queens; Nadia Anwar, Miss City of New York and Felicia Gambino, Miss Empire Rose.

Of the young women delegates Alexa Moley, Miss Staten Island, finished in the Top 11 and nabbed the People’s Choice Award in the Miss New York Scholarship Pageant.

Gabriella Marinelli, Miss Richmond County, who was a preliminary winner in fitness, finished as third runner-up.

Madison Burkhart, Miss Staten Island’s Teen, was second runner-up in her division.

And Joann Lee, Miss Richmond County’s Teen, was first runner-up and received the Congeniality Award.

Nadia Anwar was a non-finalist teen gown winner.

The winners of the Miss New York Scholarship Pageant will represent the Empire State on the national level at the Miss America Pageant in January of 2025.

A BRAND NEW MISS NEW YORK FOR 2024

The evening culminated with the crowning of Abigail Quamamen, Miss New York 2024 and the former Miss Empire, who also garnered an award for overall talent and preliminary gown winner.

A student at New York University, Erica’s talent is vocal. The title of her Community Service Initiative is Read-Lead-Succeed.

Erica Parks, Miss Greater New York’s Teen, is now Miss New York’s Teen. Erica is a student at the Institute for American Musical Theatre. Her talent is tap dancing and for her Community Service Initiative she chose “Paws for a Cause: Fighting for Animal Justice.”

Scoring for competitions are as follows: Private interview, 30%, stage interview, 10%, health and fitness, 20%, talent presentation, 20%, and evening wear, 20%.

The private 10-minute interview with the panel of judges is conducted prior to the scholarship competitions, which begins with each delegate offering a 30-second pitch about their community service initiative.

QUOTES FROM STATEN ISLAND DELEGATES

Alexa Moley, Miss Staten Island: “The opportunity to represent Staten Island at the State competition has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I feel incredibly blessed with this title and opportunity to continue advocating for our Pediatric Cancer Warriors at the state level!”

Gabriella Marinelli, Miss Richmond County: “After being crowned Miss Richmond County back in November 2023, I felt so much love and support for the Staten Island Community. I thank the board members, my family, friends, and the Richmond County community for supporting my endeavors as I compete for the title of Miss New York.”

Madison Burkhart, Miss Staten Island Teen: “The reason I competed for the role of Miss Staten Island’s Teen was to gain a far reaching platform on Staten Island to expand my nonprofit organization, ‘Magical Moments with Maddie.’ And now I am so excited to take this big step and compete to expand ‘Magical Moments with Maddie’ across New York State!”

Joann Lee, Miss Richmond County Teen: “As a first time titleholder in my Miss America opportunity, I am ecstatic to be representing Richmond County at the Miss New York’s Teen competition. I’m so grateful and proud to share my community service initiative, ‘SHE-EO: Empowering Women in Business,’ on the state stage!”

COMMENTS FROM PAGEANT OFFICIALS

“As the Speech and Interview Coach, I am especially proud of how poised, confident and articulate our four titleholders were, as they answered the On-Stage Interview questions as finalists,” stated Felicia DeBetta.

Carmine DeBetta, the Miss Staten Island/Miss Richmond County Pageant executive director added: “Our Organization is over the moon and bursting with pride over the success of our four titleholders. Credit goes to our hard working preparation committee and receptive titleholders. Jim Smith, our past executive director, is smiling down on us and is filled with pride.”

“I am so incredibly proud of our Teen and Miss titleholders on their placement this week at Miss New York/Miss New York’s Teen Pageants,” said Ashley Marie Davis, the Social Media Coordinator and former Miss Staten Island and Miss Richmond County. “To watch the growth over the course of their preparation has been truly inspiring!”

“So pleased with the achievements of our Staten Island and Richmond County queens,” said Lenore and Al Lambert. “Happy that our two teen singers did very well.”

“Great job Gabriella and Alexa!” said Kristina Ferraro, producer of the Miss Staten Island/Miss Richmond County Scholarship Pageant. “Your gymnastics and tap routines merited you high scores and placement in the top semi -finalist group. Soak up the win.”

“I am so incredibly proud of all of these accomplished young ladies whom I have come to know so well,” said Dawn Macchia, office coordinator and assistant interview coach. “They have worked so hard towards their goals and have invested so much into their respective Community Service Initiatives.”

Five Staten Islanders have held the title of Miss New York: Kari Pedersen Cynar in 1967, Lezley Braun in 1977, Alice Knisely in 1987, Deana Herrera Walker in 1998 and Jamie Lynn Macchia in 2015.