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ARMONK, N.Y. -- Samantha Gold, an 18-year-old Armonk resident who graduated from Byram Hills High School in 2011 and attends Pace University, is competing in the Miss New York Teen USA 2012 pageant this weekend at SUNY-Purchase.
Gold, who won the inaugural Westchester Teen 2011 pageant at the White Plains Performing Arts Center and was the second runner-up in the Miss New York Teen USA 2011 pageant, is hoping to win the New York crown this year. Winning would qualify her for the Miss Teen USA pageant, which will be held later this year.
This weekend's events start with three-minute interview sessions on Friday in which a panel of seven judges asks each of the 42 Westchester contestants a series of questions.
On Saturday, there will be swimsuit and evening gown preliminaries and on Sunday an opening dance followed by swimsuit and evening gown finals.
In order to succeed, Gold said, "I have to show all around confidence, comfort in front of large groups and be a good role model for girls of all ages."
She has received support from friends. "Everyone's been calling, sending text messages and Facebook posts, everyone's wishing me luck," she said.
She said she became interested in participating in the teen competitions when a neighbor gave her a newspaper article about the Westchester Teen pageant.
Gold said she's majoring in criminal justice at Pace.
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