Miss New York Teen USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Miss New York Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

New York is the fourth most successful state at Miss Teen USA across all twenty-three years of competition [1]. They were the most successful state in the 1980s [2], far less successful in the 1990s, and regained their position in the top three in the 2000s [3]. They have the third (equal) highest number of semifinalist placings (or better) [4]. New York is also one of only five states to have won the Miss Congeniality award more than two times.

Like the first Miss USA competition (which was won by Jackie Loughery, Miss New York USA), the very first Miss Teen USA competition was won by a Miss New York Teen USA. That winner was Ruth Zakarian, who went on to be an actress. Two New York teens have also placed 1st runner-up.

Four New York teens have also competed at Miss USA, which includes Zakarian who competed as Miss Teen USA in the Miss USA competition (a short-lived tradition gave Miss Teen USAs in the early 1980s this opportunity). Two won the Miss New York USA crown, and one won the Miss Vermont USA title. Adriana Diaz, Miss New York USA 2006, was the former Miss New York Teen USA 2003.

Perhaps the most successful "cross-over" was Kimberly Pressler, Miss New York Teen USA 1994. Pressler went unplaced at the Teen competition, which was won by Shauna Gambill of California but later won the Miss New York USA 1999 crown. She went on to win the Miss USA crown at the national pageant televised live from Branson, Missouri in February 1999, and later competed at Miss Universe.