It seems like just yesterday I risked my life to make the journey to Staten Island to watch Miss New York be crowned. For two years in a row, Mallory Hagan was first runner up. But last year, she broke free of the rut, and won. I watched and I cheered, and I crossed my fingers that she’d do well at Miss America. (You can catch up on this magical crowning moment, here.)

Mallory, although originally from Alabama, won her Miss Mew York title as Miss New York City. She  is officially the third Miss America to come from New York, although actually the fourth. In 1945, Bess Myerson was the first Jewish contestant to win Miss America, and was also the first Miss New York to win. Many years later, in 1976, Tawny Elaine Godin took the Miss America crown. In 1984 Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America, and was also from New York. Unfortunately, due to some controversy from her past, she resigned. This was disappointing not only for obvious reasons, but also because she was from Watertown, and not from the City.