Miss Wantagh Finalist to Compete in Miss Long Island Teen USA

Editor's Note: This article was written by Ella Stevens.

The Miss Wantagh Pageant committee is delighted to announce that Paulina Renda, Miss Wantagh 2012 2nd runner-up, was chosen among 350 girls to compete for the title of Miss Long Island Teen 2014.

If she wins, she will go on to compete in Donald Trump’s Miss New York Teen USA pageant in January. The Miss Long Island Teen 2014 pageant will be held at the Patchogue Theatre on Aug. 11 at 4 p.m.

Renda applied for the pageant shortly after being crowned second runner-up of the Miss Wantagh Pageant on July 4, 2012. 

“I did not want the pursuit of my literacy platform to end because I did not win the pageant," Renda said. "My goal is to promote an emphasis on learning and a love of reading in children.  As a tutor, I have found that those struggling even in subjects like math and science have a weakness in reading comprehension skills. My objective is to instill in children, no matter what adversities or struggles they may face, confidence in themselves and in their knowledge and that happens with reading."

Aside from tutoring, Renda enjoys giving back to the community so it’s not surprising that she would want to head down a path where she can continue giving back. She has volunteered at Island Harvest, set up and run art shows at Adelphi University, volunteered for John Thiessen’s back-to-school program and was a peer mentor for autistic children and adults at AHRC.  

Renda is also extremely talented. She plays flute, piano, alto sax and tenor sax. She has marched in Wantagh parades and participated in Newsday’s Marching Band Festival at Hofstra. 

"When Paulina competed at the Miss Wantagh Pageant last year she spoke emotionally about her love for learning - a love she hopes to impart in children: Therefore, we know she will succeed since she is so determined,” Ella Stevens, the coordinator of the Miss Wantagh Pageant, said. 

"I am so happy that I am given another chance to pursue my platform and make a change in my community,” Renda added.