Four remarkable women claimed their crowns at the Staten Island beauty pageant, with a standout moment for a 'Good Morning America' staffer who took home the top title. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating: what if beauty pageants are not just about glamour, but about empowering women to become leaders in their communities? Let’s dive into the story that proves just that.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The coveted title of Miss Staten Island was awarded to Gabriella Marinelli, a 23-year-old Dongan Hills resident whose grace, powerful platform, and authenticity left the judges in awe. Marinelli, crowned by the outgoing Miss Staten Island 2025, Madison Gattullo, is no stranger to the spotlight—she serves as an executive assistant and producer for ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show, Good Morning America. Her lyrical dance performance, a mesmerizing blend of ballet, jazz, acrobatics, and modern dance set to Whitney Houston’s I Didn’t Know My Own Strength, was a showstopper. For her Community Service Initiative, Marinelli chose Promoting Mindful Media, a project aimed at fostering media literacy education—a topic that’s more relevant than ever in today’s digital age.
The pageant’s grand event, held on the newly refurbished stage of Port Richmond High School, also celebrated three other winners who shared the spotlight. Nadia Michel, 21, claimed the title of Miss Richmond County with her powerful talent piece, HERstory, a deeply personal narrative about her life’s transformative moments. Her Community Service Initiative, Striving For Financial Literacy, highlights the importance of financial education—a topic often overlooked but critically important. Victoria DiPaolo, 17, was crowned Miss Staten Island Teen, showcasing her vocal talents and committing to Serving Those Who Served as her initiative, honoring veterans. And Alexis Ryan, 15, took home the title of Miss Richmond County Teen with a lyrical dance performance and her initiative, The Power of Pink, focusing on breast cancer awareness.
These four winners will now advance to compete for the Miss and Teen New York State titles next spring. The journey doesn’t stop there—statewide winners will then vie for the national title, with the ultimate honor of being crowned Miss America. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Are beauty pageants still relevant in today’s society, or are they outdated relics of a bygone era? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Interestingly, the pageant’s mistress of ceremonies, Jamie Lynn Macchia Homan, holds the unique distinction of being the only woman to win the Miss Staten Island title twice—in 2012 and 2014. She also claimed the Miss Greater New York title in 2013 and 2015, culminating in her victory as Miss New York in 2015. Carmine DeBetta, executive director of the Miss Staten Island-Miss Richmond County Scholarship Organization, praised this year’s contestants, noting the exceptional talent and enthusiasm among both returning and new delegates. ‘The judges had a challenging task selecting our new titleholders,’ DeBetta remarked.
THE PAGEANT PRODUCTION
As the curtain rose and the stage lit up, the 59th annual Miss Staten Island-Miss Richmond County Scholarship Pageant unfolded as a celebration of purpose and community advocacy. Themed ‘Heroes - Women Empowerment,’ the event emphasized empowering women through education—a core mission of the Miss America Organization. Beyond the glitz of crowns and gowns, the pageant seeks to honor modern leadership, intelligence, grace, and a commitment to service. And this is the part most people miss: these women are not just faces on a stage; they’re advocates, scholars, and role models.
The event brought together 13 academically accomplished and articulate young women, each with a unique platform and story. Among them were six teens, ages 14 to 18, and seven Miss-level delegates, ages 18 to 28, all competing for titles within their respective categories. The competition phases included a private interview (30% of the score), fitness (20%), talent (20%), evening gown (20%), and an onstage question (10%).
COMMENTS FROM WINNERS
Gabriella Marinelli reflected on her experience, ‘Being live on *Good Morning America was great preparation for the pageant. Both are live, spontaneous, and require you to think on your feet.’* She expressed her excitement about representing Staten Island and her hopes to bring home the Miss New York crown. Victoria DiPaolo shared her gratitude, ‘I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity. Our veterans have done so much for us—it’s time we give back to them.’ Nadia Michel, after three years of competing, celebrated her win, ‘I’m ecstatic to represent the borough I was born and raised in. I can’t wait to make a lasting impact.’ Alexis Ryan added, ‘This has been an unbelievable experience. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible!’
Ashley Marie Davis-Parascondola, a former titleholder and now Social Media Coordinator and Choreographer for the organization, expressed her pride in the delegates, ‘Each of them worked tirelessly and represented Staten Island with grace and determination. I’m excited to continue working with these amazing women as they prepare for the state competition.’
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Before the crowning ceremony, scholarships and awards were presented to the titleholders and delegates. Notable awards included $800 each to Marinelli and Michel, $400 each to DiPaolo and Ryan, and various other prizes for talent, fitness, and community service. But here’s a controversial take: Do these scholarships justify the focus on physical appearance in pageants, or is it time to shift the narrative entirely?
THE PANEL OF JUDGES
The judges, with diverse backgrounds in business, education, and the arts, included Shreya Jain, Alisa Vasquez, Lisa Bova-Hiat, Dennis McGarry, Dana Talese, Ed Thompson, and Ben Truncali. Their task was to evaluate contestants on interview skills, onstage presence, and scholarship potential.
MORE ON THE PAGEANT
The new titleholders will soon embark on a busy schedule of holiday appearances and community service. The Miss Staten Island-Miss Richmond County Organization has a strong track record, with recent successes at the Miss New York State Competitions. Notably, Nadia Anwar, Miss Staten Island Teen, became Miss New York State’s Teen and earned a $5,000 scholarship. She later represented Staten Island at the Miss America Competition in Orlando, Florida, securing a $3,000 educational scholarship.
Five Staten Islanders have held the Miss New York title and competed in the Miss America Pageant: Kari Pedersen Cynar (1967), Lezley Braun (1977), Alice Knisely (1987), Deana Herrera Walker (1998), and Jamie Lynn Macchia (2015).
Final Thought: Beauty pageants remain a platform for women to showcase their talents, advocate for causes, and pursue educational opportunities. But as society evolves, so must the conversation around their purpose and impact. What do you think? Are pageants still a force for empowerment, or is it time to redefine what it means to celebrate women’s achievements?
