Jamie Lynn Macchia

Macchia began vying for the Miss Staten Island crown when she was 17 and a student at Staten Island Technical High School.[1][2] In November 2008, she was second runner-up for the Miss Staten Island 2009 title.[3] In November 2009, she placed first runner-up to Jennifer Scacco for the Miss Staten Island 2010 title and won a $2,000 scholarship.[4] On November 12, 2011, Macchia won the Miss Staten Island 2012 title and received $3,000 in scholarship money.[5][6] She later returned in November 2013 and won the Miss Staten Island 2014 title, becoming the first [and only] woman in the pageant's history to win the title twice.

As Miss Staten Island 2012, Macchia then competed in the 2012 Miss New York pageant in June 2012.[7][8] Macchia was top-11 semi-finalist.[9][10] On March 30, 2013, Macchia won the Miss Greater New York 2013 title then, in July 2013, competed in the 2013 Miss New York pageant.[11][12] She was not a finalist for the state title.[13] In November 2013, Macchia won the Miss Staten Island 2014 title, the first woman to win the title a second time.[14] In May 2014, she competed in the 2014 Miss New York pageant.[15][16] She was named was second runner-up to winner Kira Kazantsev.[17][18]

When Kazantsev was elevated to Miss America 2015, both first runner-up Desiree Wiley and second runner-up Macchia declined the promotion to serve as Miss New York 2014 to preserve their chance to win the state title in 2015 and compete for Miss America 2016.[19] Instead, third runner-up Jillian Tapper accepted the promotion and the crown.[19] Macchia later accepted an invitation to participate in the National Sweetheart 2014 pageant at the Sweet Corn Festival in Hoopeston, Illinois. She placed first runner-up for the national title.[20]

Macchia was crowned Miss Greater New York 2015 which made her eligible to compete for the 2015 Miss New York title.[21] Entering the state pageant in June 2015, Macchia's competition talent was dancing to "I Was Here" by Beyoncé.[2] Her platform is "Inspiring Action Against Pediatric Cancer".[14][1] Macchia chose this work in honor of a childhood friend who fought but ultimately died from leukemia.[22]

Macchia won the competition on Saturday, June 6, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss New York titleholder Jillian Tapper.[22] She earned more than $25,000 in scholarship money from the state pageant.[1][2] She also won the Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award and the Miss America Organization Academic Award.[1]

As Miss New York, her activities include public appearances across the state.[2] Macchia was New York's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.[22][23]