NYC ICU Nurse for Pageant Expenses

Dear Friends and Family,

I’m thrilled to announce that I am an Official State Finalist for the 2024 Miss New York Pageant! I’d like to see if I can notify my fellow members at AACN about this and how they can support me. I want to share my story with you on how I, an ICU nurse, Ecuadorian-American immigrant, and passionate Latin dancer, am here today running for the title of Miss New York. In doing so, I want to ask for AACN’s support as I represent nurses and front-line workers.

My whole life I have embraced public service and the American Dream of improving me and my family’s lives through an enriching profession. My parents came to NYC from Ecuador when they were only 19 years old, with very little but grit and determination. I am a New York girl through and through, and I went to Long Island University-Brooklyn to study Nursing. I proudly became an ICU Nurse 2 years before COVID began.

When COVID-19 hit the US shores, NYC as a global hub was hit the hardest. I had to go straight into battle as a front-line worker, using my training on trauma, injuries, ventilator equipment, comforting patients, and many other skills. These two years of alleviating suffering from COVID patients were fulfilling, but hard on my body and mental health. I personally know the struggle of all the front-line workers who comforted and rebuilt New York after the devastation we went through. Now I want to use my experiences to represent our profession and all we do for the American people.

After the vaccines were distributed and the pandemic’s strength waned, I knew I had to do something for my own healing. I rekindled my passion for dance, and used Latin and heels dance, fitness, and modeling for my self-healing and empowerment journey. I used to have lower back pain, poor nutrition, and poor sleep due to my intense nurse and front-line worker lifestyle. I have used dance and fitness to uncover my deep passion for wellness and taking care of my own body. Now I am entering the Miss New York 2024 Pageant to represent nurses, emergency responders, and immigrants who helped rebuild New York, to show that we deserve to invest in ourselves and be the ones on stage instead of behind-the-scenes! We can share our story and take up space.

I have already been in a several-months-long training for myself to learn the ins and outs of doing pageants and presenting my best self forward! Now I am asking for your help. I need to fundraise $1,495 in sponsorships to participate in the final competition which will be June 28-30th, 2024 in Albany. I am asking friends, family, colleagues, community members, organizations, and any supporters to chip in. The fee goes toward: my competition weekend lodging and meals, transportation, pageant materials, and competition entry fees for a high-production-quality event. I am fundraising this amount between now and the deadline of 5/26/2024. (I also need more funds if possible, to defray the costs of my coaching and pageant preparation.) Would you consider a donation of any amount to sponsor my candidacy for Miss New York? Or to help me notify other members of how they can support me?

All sponsors will be recognized in the official MISS NEW YORK pageant book, promotional materials, and recognized and acknowledged publicly on my social media accounts continuously between now and the pageant. This is also a tax-deductible charitable contribution!

Thank you for your support of my dream!

With appreciation,

Nydia Llangari

Miss New York USA Official State Finalist

Member: American Heart Association, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Emergency Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, United Federation of Teachers

Volunteer: NY Road Runners Medical Team, NYC Emergency Management Response Team