STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE — Sabrina Mahmood, 22, of Graniteville, will compete for the title of Miss New York USA 2017 from Jan. 13-15 at The Purchase (N.Y.) College Performing Arts Center.

Sabrina, the daughter of Maria and Arif Mahmood, attends the College of Staten Island.

An excited Sabrina’s reveals this is her first attempt at any pageant and she looks with anticipation toward its outcome.

Sabrina whose activities and hobbies include painting, running, and reading explains: “Of course I would love to win, but i think it’s really just going to be a great experience and something I can remember for the rest of my life.”

The Miss New York Teen USA and Miss New York USA pageants are official preliminaries to the Miss Teen USA, Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants — and Sabrina couldn’t be more proud  to be part of the entire experience.

The young woman chosen Miss New York USA 2017 will go on to represent the state of New York in the 2017 Miss USA pageant as seen live on FOX television, one of the most anticipated television events of the year.

FYI: Sabrina’s pageant dress is from Ultimate Fashions in the Staten Island Mall, her dress pageant sponsor.

The prospective titleholder goes on to say, besides school she’s active in her family business, Omar Jewelers in Meiers Corners.

“I am studying accounting at the College of Staten Island as well and I hope to be finishing my bachelor’s in about a year. I feel like becoming Miss New York USA would be ideal for me because it would allow me to be more involved in the community and I would be honored to represent my home State of New York.”

This article by Carol Ann Benanti was first published Nov. 30, 2016 on www.silive.com.  It is reprinted here with permission.