Saturday, November 14, 2026
To empower the next generation of women, the Miss Long Island Pageant hosted a ceremony at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre on Nov. 1 to crown the next Miss Long Island and Miss Long Island Teen 2027.
Miss Long Island Pageants has a long history of crowning role models who are passionate about their communities. This year, Alexa Cox, of Central Islip, and Valentina Chapman, of Franklin Square, were named 2027’s Miss Long Island and Miss Long Island Teen, respectively.
Chapman, a 15-year-old Franklin Square native, described the honor as an opportunity to represent Long Island, to serve as a role model and to expand a platform she created for the pageant that she calls Let’s Create and Be Kind. She said she was excited about earning the title, and mindful of the responsibilities that come with it. She also noted the hard work that led to it, and her gratitude for her family’s support — especially from her mother.
“The title of Miss Long Island Teen creates so much more opportunity for me to be able to meet so many people that can help me spread my platform, Let's Create and Be Kind,” Chapman said, “and host more events such as Hearts and Crafts, where we made heart boxes to give back to cancer patients with kind messages inside. And I would love to continue doing so.”
Chapman shared her experience of being bullied, and said she wanted to use her platform to stand up to bullying and encourage other teens to do the same. She hopes to continue her work with Howie’s Heart — a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that organizes service events that inspire children, teens, and families to find joy in helping others and spreading kindness — and her pen-pal connections with residents at a local home for seniors.
“I want to continue my work with Howie's Heart and my pen pal connections with the elderly at the local senior home in the Plattdeutsch, where we were able to write with them for a whole month, and then on the last day we finally met with them, where I met a senior named Nora,” Chapman said. “And she made me log my name in her phone and take a picture with me, because she had a very bad memory and really wanted to remember the impact I had on her. That changed both her life and mine. I’d love to keep doing this, and remind seniors and everyone that you’re never alone — someone is always there for you.”
A sophomore at H Frank Carey High School, Chapman balances her academics and pageant responsibilities, she said, by staying organized. She said she hoped to compete in Miss New York Teen USA next year, and eventually to study marine biology and help protect the oceans.
Cox, who won the Miss Long Island Teen in 2018, serves as an ambassador for Girls with Impact, a nonprofit that offers online leadership opportunities for young women. She is also the founder of her own event business, based on her pageant platform, G.R.I.T. Mindset Mantra.
Cox said she views her title as an opportunity to give back to the Miss Long Island organization — and to mentor Chapman.
“As a former Miss Long Island Teen, I've always wanted to come back and compete not just for the title and for my platform, but to really give back to the organization that has given so much to me,” Cox said. “So many of the women who have competed and become former champions have watched me turn into the woman I am today, and have also helped to mentor me. And so, I just wanted to give that same mentorship back.”
Cox said she is passionate about helping young women develop professionally, and supports Girls with Impact’s entrepreneurship and career programs. She also hopes to promote Long Island businesses and community organizations through in-person appearances, school visits, sponsor and partner engagement.
Chapman said she wants to inspire youth and encourage them to fight their fears. “I want to inspire them to continue volunteering and going out to their community,” she said. “A simple act of kindness can really make a big difference in someone's life. A simple compliment can be given and received for free, and it truly makes such a big impact.”
“I'm very excited for the year ahead for both Alexa and Valentina,” Leanne Baum, executive director of Miss Long Island Pageants, said. “I think that they're both incredible representatives for our organization and for all the community service initiatives that they have done and will continue to do through our organization. So we're very excited for a full year of community involvement.”
