L-R: On August 16th, 2011, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli, Miss Westchester Christina DeLeon, and Miss Westchester Teen Samantha Gold announce that the Miss New York USA® Pageant is moving from Albany to Westchester, which is expected to pump $3 million into the local economy.

Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, visited Restaurant 42 at the Ritz-Carlton in the 89th  Assembly District today, where she joined Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge), Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, and Keith Lewis, Co-Director of K2 Productions, to announce that the 2012 Miss New York USA® Pageant and Miss New York Teen USA® Pageant will be held in the 89th Assembly District at the Performing Arts Center of SUNY Purchase from January 13th to January 15th, 2012. This is the first time in more than three decades that these pageants have been in Westchester.

According to Lewis, whose company also organizes the Miss California USA® Pageant, the event is expected to pump over $3 million dollars into the local economy during that weekend, as 300 contestants from around the State travel to Harrison.

“As a strong supporter of the Miss Westchester Pageants, I am pleased to see the pageant grow here in Westchester, and am thrilled to be able to host the Miss New York USA Pageant as well,” said Castelli, who helped in the early stages of working to bring the Miss New York USA Pageant to Westchester. “I believe they will bring much needed revenue and attention to our County and give the young women of Westchester a chance to shine,” he said.

The group was joined by 2011’s Miss Westchester and Miss Westchester Teen, Christina DeLeon of Yorktown and Samantha Gold of Armonk. Renowned Chef Anthony Goncalves prepared a special meal to celebrate the occasion.

County Executive Astorino said that “I am delighted that Westchester County was selected to host the 2012 Miss New York USA Pageant and Miss New York Teen USA Pageant. This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Westchester County to hundreds of visiting contestants and their families, as they stay in our premier hotels, dine at our top-rated restaurants, and visit our many cultural and historic attractions during what is typically a slow period in the industry.”

Donald’s Trump’s Miss Universe® organization also announced that this year’s Miss New York USA® Pageant is getting “an extreme makeover.” K2 productions promised to represent a chic and contemporary event, in music, program and fashion at the pageant.

“It’s great to be back on my home turf, especially to work on something as exciting and innovative as this pageant,” said Lewis, who was born and raised in Schenectady and attended college at SUNY. “We’re taking a new look at a traditional idea and revitalizing it. Our experience in revamping the Miss California USA Pageant helps us understand how to bring contemporary and professional changes to the New York pageant,” he said.

Co-Executive Director of Miss New York USA® Shanna Moakler, the 19th Miss USA and current model, actress, and reality TV star, said “the Miss New York USA pageant seeks to empower women to be recognized for their internal as well as external beauty, to give them their own distinctive approach and technique.”

K2 productions has had tremendous success with California pageants. Lewis said Miss California has made the top 15 since K2 took over seven years ago. “We also had three runners-up in the pageants; and our team trained Miss California, Alyssa Campanella, who went on to capture the current Miss USA title,” Lewis said.

“I am so pleased to be here today for today’s big announcement,” Campanella said. “Westchester county and K2 Productions comprise a winning combination for tremendous success with the 2012 Miss New York USA Pageant. As a contestant for the Miss California USA and Miss USA Pageants, I received invaluable professional training from the K2 team.”

L-R: Keith Lewis of K2 Productions, Miss USA, Miss New York Teen USA, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Miss Westchester, Miss Westchester Teen, and Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli at a press conference at Restaurant 42 on August 16th, announcing that the Miss New York USA Pageant, a parent of the Miss Westchester Pageant, will be held in the 89th Assembly District in Purchase, New York. The Miss Westchester competition is also held in the 89th Assembly District, in the City of White Plains.

Out are the sashes and swimsuit uniforms; in are individualized styles that complement the figures of the women, for a more natural presentation, according to Moakler, whose goal is to inspire the contestants to recognize that their outer attractiveness is a manifestation of their inner confidence and sense of worth.

The Miss Westchester competitions will be held on September 4th, 2011 at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in White Plains, NY. The winners and finalists in these preliminary pageants will be eligible to compete for the titles of Miss New York USA 2012 and Miss New York Teen USA 2012 on the weekend of January 13-15, 2012, at the Purchase College Performing Arts Center in the 89th Assembly District. This year there will be over $300,000 in prizes and scholarships, and the event will be televised live on NBC as well as broadcast streaming on the internet.

For more information on the qualifications and application process for young women in Westchester Ages 14 – 27, visit www.westchesterpageants.com and www.missnewyorkusa.com.