For Victoria Whetzel, being a Miss New York USA 2025 finalist isn't about winning a crown; it's about reclaiming a narrative, amplifying a purpose, and honoring the city that turned her grit into something extraordinary. Her journey is a testament to the power of kindness, resilience, and community.
Eight years ago, Victoria arrived in New York City from North Carolina with just two suitcases and an unshakable belief in possibility. "I didn't know exactly where I was going," she reflects, "but I knew I was meant to be here." That leap of faith began a layered journey across boroughs, industries, and identities.
Since then, Victoria has called eight different apartments across six neighborhoods home and worked over 25 jobs and side hustles. From bartending and modeling to talent management and casting for reality TV, she said yes to every opportunity. "If it helped me pay rent, or if it helped me explore a new version of myself, I said yes," she explains.
This adaptability was more than just survival; it was the seedbed for her creativity and entrepreneurship. Her community-rooted ventures include:
"Entrepreneurship was never just a title," Victoria notes. "It was how I survived, and ultimately how I thrived."
Her creative expression also led her to the world of modeling, but it came with a cost. "Modeling gave me visibility, but it also boxed me in," she says. "There were endless comments about how to look, dress, post, and act. I spent years trying to be chosen until I realized I didn’t need to wait for permission to shine."
That turning point inspired her to embrace the Miss New York USA 2025 platform not as a competition but as a calling. "I applied not for validation, but as an investment in myself," she says. "This is my way of showing that resilience and magic can coexist. You don’t have to choose between grit and glamour; you can embody both."
This mindset led her to Kada’s Promise, a nonprofit supporting children facing abuse, homelessness, or illness. When Victoria learned of the organization’s teddy bear donation drive, she saw a chance to make a real impact that aligned perfectly with her values.
Victoria, envisioning a larger reach for her community drive, sought a partner who shared her values. She approached Stowfly, a local package receiving solution, with an ambitious pitch: to help her collect teddy bears from an Amazon wishlist across their city-wide network. The response was immediate and enthusiastic. 'They didn't hesitate,' she recalls. 'Sid Khattri, the CEO, and his team jumped right in. It’s that New York spirit, when you ask for help, people show up.
Stowfly is now partnering with Victoria to manage and receive teddy bear donations across its NYC network, amplifying the effort to new levels. For Victoria, the initiative is a perfect blend of service and love. "It's not just about collecting teddy bears," she says. "It's about reminding children that they're seen, they matter, and that kindness is still alive in this city."
At its core, Stowfly was built to solve a real urban problem: missed deliveries and package theft. But the company has always believed its impact could be bigger than logistics.
Stories like Victoria's remind Stowfly that local infrastructure can be a bridge, not just for packages, but for purpose. By supporting community-rooted projects like the teddy bear donation drive for Kada’s Promise, the company is doing more than providing drop-off points; they're helping empower people who use their platforms for good. To Stowfly, logistics isn't just about convenience. It's about connection, and when they show up locally, they help kindness go further.
Victoria is walking into the competition with a deeper mission. "Pageants are so often framed around beauty," she says. "But to me, this is about purpose. It’s about using your platform to build community, uplift voices, and prove that your worth is never tied to your appearance, it’s rooted in who you are."
Victoria Whetzel's story is a love letter to New York City. A city that challenged her, lifted her, and gave her the tools to become the woman she is today. "Every job, every subway ride, every rejection, it was all leading to this," she reflects. "To be a role-model. To show what’s possible when you lead with heart."
The Miss New York USA 2025 pageant will be held this August, and no matter the outcome, her impact is already being felt across boroughs, with Stowfly helping to enable every story, every donation, and every act of kindness.