Blog Feature by Miss Newark 2012

Q&A With Miss New York 2012 Mallory Hagan

Miss America is coming up in a few months and the contestants vying for the title have been chosen. I got the pleasure of asking the stunning Miss New York 2012, Mallory Hagan a few questions . This 23 year old beauty queen was crowned on June 16th at the St.George Theatre .Get to know her as she prepares to compete for the title of Miss America !

1. How did you first get into pageantry?

1. MH: I began competing in the Miss America Organization at 13 years old. Miss America’s Outstanding Teen is a scholarship program that is meant to encourage teen girls to gain scholarship money and later compete for Miss America. I competed at the teen level for 4 years and the Miss level for 4 years as well.
   
   
   2. What are you excited for at Miss America ?
   MH: I’m excited to try and become Miss America! Most people don’t realize that the ‘title’ of Miss America is actually a full-time job. She travels over 20,000 miles a month and is in a new city and state just about every two days. I think it will be an incredible way to gain exposure for my personal platform, “Stop it Now: Child Sexual Abuse,” and travel across our country and also the world!
   
   
   3. Are there any organizations you have created or that you support ?
   
   
   MH: Absolutely! With my personal platform, I have chosen to support and work closely with “Stop it Now!” and “Child Abuse Prevention Program” or CAPP. I also work closely with a non-profit called “Project Empower” and Miss America’s national platform, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
   
   
   
   
   4. What do you like most about pageantry ?

   MH: I love the opportunity that I have to gain a voice to speak about things that are important to me. It’s so much more than a “crown” or a pageant. Being a title-holder and doing the job of Miss New York means people are more likely to listen to what I have to say. In addition, I just can’t explain how special it is to see a little girl look up to you with sheer joy and disbelief in their eyes. It’s truly something I cannot explain, but it might be my favorite feeling in the entire world.

   
   
   5. What do you hope to accomplish this year as Miss New York ?
   

   MH:

   It is my goal to help CAPP raise the additional $50,000 they need to help their program grow. I will be traveling the state speaking on behalf of Stop it Now and CAPP on prevention surrounding sexual abuse. I would also like to work with legislation in our state. In addition, I will be speaking in over one hundred schools with Project Empower and helping them expand internationally. I would also like to gain more in-kind scholarships from the universities across our state for the Miss New York Organization. Oh, and I want to win Miss America.

   J

   
   
   
   
   6. What was your first thought when you were crowned?
   MH: Complete and utter disbelief. The way the pageant was shaping up after preliminary competitions, I just was not sure it would be in the cards for me. I was first runner up for the past two years, so I was really hopeful and beyond elated to have been given the opportunity to represent our state.
   
   
   7. How long have you been tap dancing?
   
   
   MH: My grandmother and mother are both dance teachers and owned/own studios. I’ve been dancing since I was in the womb! Tap is just my favorite thing to perform.
   
   
   8. Fan question via Facebook from Shellye Echeveriia : What did you do to prepare for the Miss NY pageant ?
   
   
   MH: Everything ! Competing in the Miss America Organization requires that you be the best all-around person you can possibly be. Preparation for me included spending a lot of time in the gym, practicing my talent, being well read on current events, doing work with my platform and making appearances all over New York City. I was doing all of that while working a full-time job and going to school, too !
   
   
   Thanks so much to Miss New York Mallory Hagan for participating in this fun interview ! Stay tuned and watch as Mallory Hagan competes in the upcoming Miss America pageant !

   
   

   
   

   Follow Mallory on Twitter @missnewyorkmao