Miss New York 2011Preliminary award-winners are, from left, Miss Metropolitan Tara Szczepanski, Miss Southern New York Kaitlin Monte, Miss Southeast New York Amanda Mason, Miss New York City Hannah Wright and Miss Manhattan Mallory Hagan.

NEW YORK (June 18, 2011) — The preliminary competition of the 2011 Miss New York Pageant took place at the St. George Theatre on Friday, setting the stage for this evening’s final round at the historic venue in Staten Island, N.Y., when Claire Buffie, Miss New York 2010, crowns her successor.

Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen Competition will follow on June 19.

Among the results of last night’s event:

• The Preliminary Swimsuit awards were presented to Miss Southern New York Kaitlin Monte and Miss Metropolitan Tara Szczepanski.
• The Preliminary Talent competition was won by Miss New York City Hannah Wright and Miss Southeast New York Amanda Mason.
• The Preliminary Eveningwear awards were garnered by Miss Manhattan Mallory Hagan and Miss New York City Hanna Wright.

The conclusion of 2011 statewide event, just one step away from the Miss America Pageant, will be co-hosted this evening by Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008, and Leigh-Taylor Smith, Miss New York 2008.

 The Miss America Organization is the leading scholarship provider for women in the United States, awarding over $45 million each year.

It is the first time in history that the Miss New York pageant is being held in New York City.

The pageant had been a fixture in the upstate towns of Olean and Watertown, prior to running in Long Island and Albany. The St. George Theatre has been chosen by pageant operators as the new, permanent venue of the annual event.

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