Miss New York: I’m a former ballerina, Elite model and child sex abuse survivor

This former ballerina traded tutus for tiaras — however first she needed to overcome a brutal childhood trauma.

Rachelle di Stasio — the newly topped Miss New York USA — is heading to Reno, Nevada, subsequent month to compete for the Miss USA 2023 title after defeating 184 contestants Sunday at her state pageant.

Draped in a customized gold Jovani couture robe that took practically 4 months to finish, the previous bunhead received over the judges on the Performing Arts Heart at Buy Faculty by being her “genuine self.”

The 26-year-old, who was accepted into the distinguished American Ballet Theatre Faculty as a teen, transitioned to modeling after a first-degree sprain on her proper foot. It was a tough resolution, however saying bye-bye to ballet catapulted her catwalk profession, resulting in being repped by Wilhelmina and now Elite Model Management NYC.

Nevertheless, she quickly found that her true calling, pageant life, mixed all her passions.

“Pageantry for me is a mixture of all the things I like to do – being onstage, dancing, a mixture of modeling, picture shoots and talking with others. It’s actually all my passions in a single,” the Nashville native, who has referred to as NYC residence for the previous 12 years, informed The Put up.

Maybe most significantly, the pageant world gave her a platform to share her story of survival.

After surviving a sexual assault at age 4, di Stasio — who works with the nonprofit Rape, Abuse & Incest Nationwide Community, also referred to as RAINN — is set to assist different victims.

“[I’m] prepared for my voice to be heard, my story to be shared and be a part of one thing stunning,” she informed The Put up forward of the Miss New York 2021 pageant. “I’ve been in a position to make use of my voice and energy to get me the place I’m right now, and wish to let different ladies know that their previous doesn’t have an effect on their self-worth or who they’re.”

A part of her platform is to assist different victims, so sharing her personal story publicly throughout her first pageant was “a giant a part of my therapeutic.”

“It was a brand new stage of awakening of my self-worth,” she informed The Put up after taking residence her Miss New York crown.

“I like New York greater than something — it’s my residence. Each time I see the skyline after coming again on a flight, I get emotional and I get goosebumps,” the Manhattanite added. “I really feel the power of New York and the love. New York is my complete coronary heart.”

For her third attempt on the tiara, the competitor honed in on her uniqueness in standing out among the many pack.

“This yr, for me, I actually embraced who I’m.”

Di Stasio credit her mother, who taught her “perseverance and energy and overcoming challenges,” for giving her an edge over the competitors.

“It’s not letting previous challenges that outline you,” stated di Stasio. “I consider that my story brings hope for different folks — it’s not nearly me anymore. It’s about sharing and being weak, so folks don’t really feel alone.”

She believes her “authenticity” has helped her shine in a really crowded discipline. “That’s what makes me stand out as a competitor. I’ve such a ardour for serving to different folks.” 

“Everybody who’s competing needs the crown — everybody needs the gold medal,” she stated, noting, “I believed I had the potential to win,” with a mix of her “confidence and self-assurance.” 

Despite the fact that New York-based magnificence queen wannabes are identified to carpetbag in different states, due to the stiff competitors inside the Empire State, di Stasio would by no means dream about abandoning her adopted residence.

“New York is taken into account the hardest state to win — the toughest and largest. Individuals have gone and tried to win in less-competitive states,” stated the wonder queen, defiantly including, “I wasn’t backing down. New York is my residence, and I wish to be the one to signify this state. New York is me and who I’m.”

With solely seven weeks till the Miss USA pageant, di Stasio isn’t letting the grass develop below her ft. 

With solely 4 hours of sleep after her triumphant win, she awoke Monday morning prepared to begin a three-day boot camp, which covers, amongst different issues, “strolling methods.”

“I’m nonetheless within the pageant mindset — it offers me an edge,” she stated. “I’m within the zone. I like that I don’t have a break. I thrive below stress. I like being busy, hustling and being proactive. My motto is, ‘Keep prepared so that you by no means must prepare.’ ”

The newly topped Miss New York, draped in her sash and clutching a bouquet of bursting purple roses, was awash in love among her 109,000 Instagram followers: “I knew… that she was destined for the crown,” gushed one.

For now, the only, “natural-born competitor” goes for gold — or not less than a rhinestone crown — come September.

”I’m going all in. All or nothing,” she stated. “I’m going to let my hearth and lightweight shine.”