With the crowning of Miss New York Mallory Hagan as Miss America 2013 on Saturday, the state crown is likely to pass to Katie Berry.
"My friend is Miss America!!" Berry tweeted after Hagan was announced as the winner. "Omg omg omg @MissNewYorkMAO is now Miss America!!!"
Berry finished as first runner-up at the Miss New York 2012 Pageant. She won the talent portion of the pageant on the first night of state preliminary competition, and won in both the swimsuit and evening gown categories on the second night of competition.
Berry is also a former Miss New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen. She finished in the top 10 at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant.
She is the reigning Miss Manhattan.
Berry describes herself in her Twitter profile as a "dancer, communications professional, HIV/AIDS advocate, coffee lover (and) peanut butter addict."
“The Miss America Organization to me represents a modern-day woman and embraces to the fullest the sense that the modern-day woman is a scholar, an advocate and deeply involved in her community," Berry told South Jersey Magazine in July 2012.
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