During the weekend of June 3-4, Fonda-Fultonville senior Sadie Perry was crowned Miss New York’s Teen 2023! She achieved this remarkable accomplishment at the Miss New York and Miss New York Teen Pageant (which is part of the Miss America Organization) in Peekskill, N.Y. She will now represent the entire State of New York in her new role and will focus her efforts on community service and volunteerism. She also has a community service initiative called “Kindness is Key.”
She began her title on June 4, 2023, and will hold that title for one year. As part of her becoming Miss New York’s Teen 2023, she will now have the opportunity to represent New York state as Miss New York in the upcoming Miss America competition at the completion of her one-year term.
“Ever since she was a little girl, the stage was where she loved to be most,” said Ms. Perry’s mother Melanie Perry. “Her dad and I were so proud of her passion, determination, and work ethic, as she prepared for this pageant.”
In addition to her role as Miss New York’s Teen 2023, Ms. Perry will be studying speech-language pathology at Penn State University in the fall.
Today, we shared a one-on-one conversation to learn more about her crowning achievement and her plans moving forward as Miss New York’s Teen 2023.
Congratulations, Ms. Perry!
How did you become involved in pageants?
I have been a dancer at High-Performance Dance Center since the age of three, and each year, our dance team has performed in our local Fulton & Montgomery County Pageant. In February of 2022, I made the bold decision to compete in our local pageant, honored to have come home that night as Miss Montgomery County’s Outstanding Teen 2022. A couple of months later, I attended the Miss New York Teen competition, coming home as the first runner-up to Dajania James. At that moment, I decided that I was more determined than ever to come back the following year and earn the title of Miss New York’s Teen. This past January, I had gone through the process all over again, as I was ecstatic to have won the title of Miss Upstate, New York’s Teen. On June 4, 2023, I earned the title of Miss New York’s Teen, 2023. State week was filled with unforgettable memories! I am proud to announce that I will be headed to Miss America’s Teen this upcoming year, as I am honored to be one of the 50 delegates competing for this job of a lifetime.
What will your goals be as Miss New York’s Teen 2023?
My current community service initiative is Kindness is Key. As well as visiting multiple schools in New York and sharing my ideas through social media, I also wish to collaborate with large-scale businesses to become an advocate for the virtue of kindness. As a titleholder, I am determined to reach out to other teens and youth within our communities to spread the word that we can change the world through kindness and compassion toward others.
What advice would you give to those interested in following your pathway?
If I were to give any piece of advice to someone wishing to follow in my footsteps, I would tell them to be their true self and never give up on their dreams. A few quotes that I have looked back on quite often throughout this journey would be, “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself,” and “The best is yet to come.“ These quotes have been a driving force for me during this journey, as it isn’t an easy process to reach your preferred outcome. It will take a lot of time, passion, and commitment to achieve greatness, but as long as you believe in yourself and remember to never give up on your dreams, I truly believe that the best is yet to come for you and your future.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
This upcoming fall, I will be attending Penn State University to study speech-language pathology. I have been a dancer for as long as I can remember and I’m not willing to give that up yet, so I wish to continue my dance career throughout my college experience, hopefully having the opportunity to perform at college functions and events. I plan to receive my bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences, and after Penn State, I hope to earn my master’s degree and receive a job allowing me to work with children, and leave an impact on others’ lives. I hope to earn my pilates certification in the near future and I wish to take up every opportunity that may come my way! I believe that with a little hard work and determination, you are destined to reach your wildest dreams.
Finally, what’s your favorite memory at Fonda-Fultonville?
My favorite memory at Fonda Fultonville is by far the FF Dance Club. This past year, I was named the Co-founder and Co-Choreographer of the Fonda- Fultonville Dance Club, as my friends and I were able to come together to bring true performance and entertainment to our district. From having the opportunity to dance under the Friday Night Lights, to pep rallies, and basketball sectionals, our little team couldn’t have been more proud to represent our school spirit from the student body at Fonda- Fultonville High School. To me, being a member of FF Dance was a privilege and honor. We had not only learned valuable lessons on leadership, passion, and teamwork and we brought our school together in ways we never could have imagined. We created an unforgettable dance family, and for that, I am forever grateful!