Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Keith Lewis, Co-Director of K2 Productions of California, announced recently that the 2012 Miss New York USA® Pageant and Miss New York Teen USA® Pageant will be held at the Performing Arts Center of Purchase College in Purchase, New York on Jan. 13-15, 2012. This is the first time in more than three decades that these pageants have been in Westchester.   

Astorino and Lewis made the announcement today at 42 Restaurant in White Plains, New York, where renowned Chef Anthony Goncalves prepared a special meal to celebrate the occasion. Also in attendance was MISS USA® 2011 Alyssa Campanella.

Donald Trump's MISS UNIVERSE® Organization also has announced that this year's MISS NEW YORK USA® Pageant is getting an extreme makeover. New director K2 Productions promises to represent a chic and contemporary event – in music, program and fashion – at the pageant.

Said Astorino: "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."

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

Lewis said that about 300 contestants are expected to compete in the Miss New York and Miss New York Teen USA Pageants; and this could pump nearly $3 million into the local economy.

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

Co-Executive Director of MISS NEW YORK USA® Shanna Moakler, the 19th Miss USA and current model/actress/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 the 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," added Lewis.

"I am so pleased to be here for today's big announcement," said Campanella. "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."

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.

Young women in New York ages 14 – 27 who want to be trained exclusively by a professional team, and have opportunities to win scholarships and prizes, are encouraged to participate in this year's MISS NEW YORK USA® and MISS NEW YORK TEEN USA® pageant, the official preliminaries to the prestigious MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® pageants. This year there will be over $300,000 in prizes and scholarships. Some prizes go to all the competitors and many go to the top five. The winner gets to do appearances that sometimes pay between $1,000 and $3,000 per booking. The 2012 MISS USA® Pageant will be televised live on NBC.

For more information on qualifications and the application process, visit www.missnewyorkusa.com or call (310) 275-4339.