Lianne Webb
Miss Long Island 2023
Lianne Webb is grateful to have been awarded the title of Miss Long Island 2023. Lianne is a 26 year old Baldwin native who graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College in 2019 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is currently attending CUNY Hunter College to obtain her Masters Degree in Literacy Education. Currently she is a teacher, behavior therapist, model and a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island organization.
As a teacher in Long Island, Lianne hopes to continue to make an impact on the lives of not only her students but students throughout the community as well. She is a behavior therapist who works with children with special needs. While being a mentor in the Big Brother Big Sister organization, she also enjoys volunteering with Girls Inc of Long Island.
The mission of Girls Inc Long Island resonates with her as she was a part of a women empowerment organization all throughout college that helped her educate, empower and uplift the women and children throughout the Buffalo community. The organization, You Are My Sista at SUNY Buffalo State College allowed her to gain insight on how children in other communities outside of her own are in need of resources and mentors.
During her reign as Miss Long Island, Lianne plans to promote her platform of children’s advocacy which aims to educate and uplift the youth through a variety of events, programs and fundraisers. As Miss Long Island she will continue to mentor the youth, provide resources for those in need and collaborate with social organizations throughout the Long Island community and throughout the boroughs. In January of 2022, Lianne initiated a prom giveaway in collaboration with a Harlem native designer, Barry and his brand Ko Choix Fashion. The purpose of this giveaway is to have students engage in answering one of the provided prompts with hopes of being chosen to receive a free prom suit as a reward.
Lianne has been in the fashion and modeling industry for 9 years. In December of 2019, she was published in the Buffalo Spree Magazine. Lianne started out modeling for Macy’s in a fashion show in 2013. As of 2021 she made her first appearance in New York Fashion Week as she was a model for Tier NYC. In 2022, Lianne appeared in New York Swim Week as a model for Haitian Doll by Jo Bella. Outside of modeling, she enjoys traveling, trying new foods and working out.
In August of 2021, Lianne competed in her first pageant, Miss New York USA and received best stage presence and confidence in swimwear. In January of 2022, Lianne competed in the Miss Long Island 2022 pageant and received third runner up. Lianne is extremely proud and honored to have had the opportunity to compete this year as she is now the new Miss Long Island 2023.
Natalia Suaza
Miss Long Island Teen 2023
Natalia Suaza is incredibly honored to have been crowned Miss Long Island Teen 2023. She was born and raised in Valley Stream, New York.
Natalia had never competed in a pageant prior to Miss Long Island Teen, but she welcomed the opportunity to try something new and completely out of her comfort zone. Natalia is not new to taking on challenges that push her beyond her own expectations. Just two weeks prior to the pageant, she ran the NYC marathon. This was a big goal for her to achieve, and something she had dreamed of doing since she was thirteen years old when she ran her first half marathon. Natalia was only one of ten, 18-year-olds who completed the NYC marathon out of 47,000 plus runners. She describes the accomplishment of completing the race as one of the best moments of her life.
Natalia is currently a freshman at Hofstra University majoring in Journalism. She is currently in the training class to be a part of the student-run radio station WRHU, and she is also the weather anchor for Hofstra Today, the student-run tv-station. In addition, Natalia holds a seasonal job as the senior manager at Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices in Rockville Centre. She has been working at Ralph’s since she was 15 years old, and she credits this role with enhancing her leadership and communication skills.
Natalia was only 9 years old when she lost her father to cancer in 2013. She recalls her dad living every day as if it were his last. He lived this way even prior to his cancer diagnosis. Natalia feels that she shares so much of her dad’s spirit in exploring new things. Since his passing, Natalia has found resilience in taking action to overcome fear. She tries to live every day with purpose by remembering that tomorrow is not promised.
During her reign as Miss Long Island Teen, Natalia plans to focus on cancer awareness and the impact it has on families. Natalia will do this by sharing her own story of how organizations like the Center for Hope at Northwell, and Calvary Hospital were integral in her family's healing journey. These communities provided a safe space to feel and heal. Natalia believes that healing happens through the power of storytelling, because everyone has a story.
Natalia is excited to compete in Miss New York Teen USA, and she hopes that as she prepares to take on this newest challenge, that she will inspire at least one girl to break free of any limiting beliefs she may have about herself, because she will never lose anything in trying.