Rotterdam resident captures Miss NYC title
Capturing the first Miss New York City competition went to a local resident and she said it takes more than just good looks to come out on top.
Brittany Jasenski, a 22-year-old Rotterdam resident, was crowned the first Miss New York City during the competition held the weekend of Feb. 5 to 6 in Manhattan at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre. The pageant is also unofficially being considered a preliminary pageant to the Miss New York USA Pageant. In winning the crown, Jasenski won a gift and prize package including paid entry into the upcoming Miss New York USA Pageant, a 1-year modeling contract, a trip to Las Vegas to watch the Miss USA Pageant in June, as well as other various prizes and sponsorships.
To be named Miss New York City 2011 is such a prestigious honor, and to be the first, that’s just unreal, said Jasenski. `There’s so much hard work and preparation that goes into competing in a pageant such as this, this is so very rewarding. I look forward to representing New York City the best I can. It’s going to be lots of fun.`
She said the judges look for contestants to demonstrate beauty, confidence, enthusiasm, communication skills and intelligence. The first day of the contest had judges interviewing the women, while the second day featured the swimsuit, evening gown and on stage questioning. There were more than 30 contestants in the final round of the competition.
`It was a huge adrenaline rush and it kind of got me addicted in that way,` said Jasenski.
During her senior year at Mohonasen High School she received something in the mail about competing in a pageant and she decided to enter on a whim. In her first pageant, Miss New York Teen USA 2006, she came in third place runner up out of 163 girls.
Preparing for pageants isn’t an easy task either, she said, because on the physical aspect she was watching what she ate by portioning out meals and working out on a regular basis.
`You have to go to the gym and I was going to the gym twice a day,` she said.
She also has to exercise her brain to prepare for a contest too.
`A lot of preparation goes into it practicing for speaking and interview questions,` she said. `That is probably the most stressful part because you don’t know what they are going to ask you.`
Through pageants she learned there is always something she can improve about herself. She also has been able to build up confidence in herself through competing, which also plays an important role in pageants.
`I was very confident, almost because you have to be,` she said about her recent pageant win. `The judges look for the confidence and poise and that is what you have to feel to show it on stage.`
Any doubt a contestant feels, she added, is something they have to get past too.
`Sometimes I get so nervous that I over prepare and the answers sound too rehearsed,` she said.
With all the work and preparation of more than just appearance she said, `it takes more than just a pretty face to win a pageant.` As far as what she will do moving on from pageants she is not sure, but she knows her time is limited on how long her reign could last.
`If I could I would be in them forever,` she said. `I have to move on to something else, but I don’t know what yet.`
She said modeling isn’t something she has been overly interested in and there isn’t that many opportunities around Albany for her to do it. One opportunity she will have is to make personal appearances throughout the year promoting her title at various New York City events and ceremonies. Through making appearances she hopes to make some connections for future endeavors.
While she doesn’t have a lot of free time during the day, she said she likes to relax and watch TV sometimes. On Wednesday night she has a line-up of programming she likes to watch every week.“
