by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
The 2019 Miss Connecticut pageant season is underway as the first competition for the year, Miss Wolcott, was held on Saturday, Nov. 3.
At the pageant, which was held at Wolcott High School, Wolcott, Conn., Jillian Duffy was crowned the new Miss Wolcott. Miss Wolcott’s Outstanding Teen is Monika Korbusieski. Miss Farmingbury’s Outstanding Teen is Gia Iwanec.
At the weekend event, the Miss Wolcott Scholarship Organization celebrated its 50th anniversary. And Duffy now is the 50th ever Miss Wolcott.
“It does put a little bit more pressure on me. I feel that I have to do a really good job, but I’m committed to do the job of Miss Wolcott and continuing to share my message of the underfunding of pediatric cancer and awareness and just to be a positive role model in the community,” said Duffy.
“I’m so beyond honored, and my dream has come true,” said Korbusieski, who was competing in her first pageant. Being a Wolcott resident and getting a chance to represent her hometown, said Korbusieski, is an honor. “I can’t wait to represent Wolcott. I’m so excited.”
To represent the Miss Wolcott organization is “beyond a dream,” said Iwanec after she was crowned. “Since I was a little girl, I loved how the Wolcott community is so supportive of the girls. I’m happy to be one of the girls in the community,” said the North Haven, Conn. resident.
“I’m absolutely excited to be heading back to Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen this year as Miss Farmingbury’s Outstanding teen,” said Iwanec.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic (about winning),” said Duffy, a Burlington, Conn. resident said following the crowning. “This is the most prestigious title in Connecticut and I’m so glad to be working with an amazing prep team and following such an amazing sisterhood. I hope to make a difference in the community.”
Duffy, who has competed for Miss Connecticut before, said “I think I’ve learned between Miss Connecticut and this pageant is how to keep mentally positive and not to let the little things bother me. For example, today, when we were driving to my interview, there was an accident and we had to be rerouted, so we were going to be a couple of minutes late.” She said she learned to keep the big goals in sight. She wanted to win Miss Wolcott, she said, and she reached that goal.
Over the next year, Korbusieski said she is looking forward to “all the events and all the community service work (in Wolcott).”
Iwanec said, “I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead of us.”
PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN
