First Miss Far Rockaway USA Vies for Miss New York Crown

By Kami-Leigh Agard

“There she is, Miss America. There she is, your ideal; the dream of a million girls who are more than pretty can come true…” And for 28-year-old Miss Far Rockaway USA—Victoria Serrano—vying to win the Miss New York USA Pageant this upcoming August, the competition is more than a beauty contest. It’s about scoring a win for her daughter, beloved community and fellow victims and survivors of domestic violence. To help meet the expenses associated with competing in the pageant, Serrano launched a GoFundMe campaign, and direly needs the community’s help.

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, with paternal roots in NYC, Serrano’s love affair with Far Rockaway began when she moved to the peninsula in 2022 with her now eight-year-old daughter.

“I moved to downtown Far Rock after transitioning out of a domestic violence shelter. It was Easter weekend, and one of my favorite preachers, Juanita Bynum, was hosting a revival at the church attached to the building that I was moving into. I was like, ‘When would I ever be able to see Juanita Bynum for free?’ This is when I knew God ordained for me to be in this community. When I walked into the church, I felt so much comfort,” Serrano shared.

The young mother said soon after moving, she hit the ground running with getting involved in the community. From volunteering at her new-found church’s back-to-school backpack giveaway, Rock The Block and many more community events, plus, working at Challenge Charter School, Serrano said she immediately saw the rewards of living amongst the many community advocates who call the peninsula home.

“This community has shown me so much love, and when I walk around hearing people say, ‘We need this and we need that,’ I want to help. Entering the Miss New York Pageant was not about me. Winning will be such a victory for everyone residing here, giving us a platform to get more opportunities and services for residents,” Serrano said.

As for how she entered the pageant, Serrano said that it was pure happenstance. She shared, “I was on Instagram and the application for the pageant literally popped up out of nowhere on Instagram. I was like, ‘This can’t be real. The Miss New York pageant? How is it so accessible?’

“My boyfriend said give it a try because I used to do pageants when I was much younger, plus I actively work as a model. Still doubtful, I sent in the application with my photo. To my surprise, I got called for an interview. The very next day at 8:30 a.m., I got an official email from Miss New York USA stating that I was in! And I was like, ‘Oh my God! This is real!’”

As for why she elected to represent Far Rockaway, as opposed to the borough of Queens, the 5-foot, 10-inch-tall blue-eyed beauty emphatically stated that Far Rockaway is her home and this is the community that she wants to make proud.

“I love the Rockaways. Yes, we are a part of Queens, but I want to represent and promote this community, giving us the positive recognition we need and deserve. I’m proud to wear my ‘Miss Far Rockaway USA’ sash,” she said.

At the tender age of 28, Serrano has survived many hard knocks in life—getting married and having her daughter at a young age, living in a domestic violence situation that forced the two to move to a shelter in New York, then moving to Far Rockaway—all the while working on her degree in computer science. Yet, despite her hardships, what’s more endearing about the young woman is her glowing aura of positivity and zest for life. She doesn’t see obstacles, she sees lessons for growth.

She shared, “I’ve been through a lot. Many times, no matter how much I was trying to pull through a challenge, another one would pop up. So, this pageant means a lot. It’s given me a sense of fulfillment. This is not just for my daughter, but all the little girls in Far Rockaway who need to see nothing can hold you back when you have faith, hope and a desire to succeed. During the pageant application interview, I got teary eyed, thinking about the students I worked with at Challenge Charter School. I entered this pageant for them.

“Also, I want to use this as a platform to advocate for all victims of domestic violence—men, women and children. I am a victim and feel that it’s a subject that is often overlooked with people sugarcoating what victims endure, especially with mental health. I want victims to speak up for themselves. Never let anyone dim your light or make you feel that your feelings aren’t valid.

“Pageants are not just beauty contests. I want people to see that a woman with a child, a background of abuse, can do anything she puts her mind to, not just for herself, but others. I want to give people hope.”

Serrano said that she is the oldest contestant entering this year’s pageant. According to Miss New York USA 2025 contestant eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S. citizen, recognized medically and legally as a female, a full-time college student or retain full time employment, and be born during the year 2006 or before. Each contestant will compete in three equal phases of preliminary competition: interview, swimsuit and evening gown.

Serrano shared that she would not be in the pageant if it weren’t for the community’s support—both monetarily and spiritually. “My first sponsor was Nancy Martinez. She paid the entire $1,500 application fee. She’s been such as godsend,” she said.

Serrano launched a GoFundMe and is still actively looking for sponsors to help with other expenses, including headshots, traveling expenses, orientation, wardrobe and more. She shared that competing in the pageant is like a job with deadlines, strict rules and expectations.

“With the application, I had to send in my birth certificate. They also do a thorough background check and full x-ray of all your social media,” she said.

This Friday, July 11, Serrano will be attending the pageant’s pre-orientation in Albany to prepare for the official nail-biting event happening from August 15 to 17—Miss NY USA.

“I’m putting my vulnerability on the line because despite my rocky past, I want domestic violence victims, little girls and the community at large to see that with hope and faith, anything is possible. We can resurrect from challenging circumstances. This pageant is for Rockaway, and I want to make you all proud.”

For more info about being a sponsor and to donate toward Victoria Serrano’s GoFundMe campaign, visit: https://gofund.me/90eb5867 or follow: v.serrano_ on Instagram.