PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Miss Pennsylvania 2024's reign has officially begun.
After being crowned at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Page Weinstein is the new Miss Pennsylvania.
"Gosh, I'm still on cloud nine this morning," she smiled. "I'm running on little to no sleep, but the adrenaline is high. I'm really excited for my year of service."
Her service initiative is "Promoting the Ability in Disability: Serving the Underserved Community of People with Disabilities."
"My best friend Ashlyn has Down syndrome, and so I've seen firsthand how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face stereotypes every single day, so through my 501(c)(3) nonprofit, I've been able to break that stereotype," Weinstein said.
A Pittsburgh native, Weinstein has been part of the Miss America organization for 16 years. She says winning the title was "the best moment of [her] life."
"To hear that I was Miss Pennsylvania, the tears just started flowing," Weinstein said. "I just remember thinking, like, 'wow, I'm so blessed for this opportunity. My life just changed in that one little moment, and I'm just so excited."
It was a moment made even sweeter by the fact that she nearly didn't come back to the competition this year after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
"Through all of the adversity I had faced this year, I was like, 'you know what, something in my gut is telling me that I should come back,'" Weinstein said. "Even with my cancer diagnosis and going through surgery, I was like, 'this is my dream, and I'm not going to let that stop me from achieving my dream,' and now here I am."
She has set a goal to visit all 67 counties in Pennsylvania during her reign.
The over $15,000 Weinstein won in scholarships through the competition will help her continue her education. She is working towards earning her private pilot's license.
To any young girls wanting to be a part of Miss America or just looking for advice, Weinstein reminds them to be their authentic selves.
"Through my years in this organization—I started when I was just 10 years old—and now looking back at the growth and who I am as a woman today, I just can't believe how much I've grown into who I am, and I always remember to be my true, authentic self."
Weinstein will next compete in Miss America in January.