Jessica Ricco is one of 12 young women selected as an official delegate in this weekend's Miss Long Island 2009 Pageant but for the 20-year-old Westbury native walking away as Long Island's reigning queen is more about the opportunities it will provide than the crown bejeweled with Austrian crystals.

Ricco, who attended Bowling Green Elementary School and W.T. Clarke Middle School and High School, currently attends Adelphi University where she is enrolled in the STEP Program, a five-year academic program where students earn their bachelor's and master's degrees. She is majoring in childhood education with a concentration in psychology.

In her spare time, Ricco enjoys watching movies and gathering with close friends for game nights where they play board games. "It is a really good time and we have lots of laughs," she said, adding, "I also love being outside. When the weather is nice I will do anything to get outdoors - sports, barbecues, gardening, mini-golf, etc."

Although this is her first Miss Long Island Pageant, Ricco is no stranger to competition. She entered her first Miss New York Pageant at age 16 and has competed over the past four years. Like all others, Ricco said this week's pageant will be filled with a lot of "tough competition."

"All the young women I have met involved in the competition deserve it in their own way. It's hard to say why I am better than the other girls because we are all so different," said Ricco, adding, "I would be lying if I said I didn't love thinking about the beautiful crown on my head but what is more important to me is all the doors that will open up due to this competition."

For Ricco, the crown will provide an opportunity for her to further her pageant platform, which includes the "Prevention of Drinking and Driving Under the Influence." If she wins, Ricco said she will be "able to reach out to more young women about body image and more teens about the dangers of driving while intoxicated," she said. "This hits close to home for me and if I can help save one person from making the wrong decision or stop one girl from thinking bad about themselves, I would be so happy."

The Miss Long Island 2009 Pageant is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Island Hills Golf & Country Club in Sayville. The winner of the Long Island competition will represent the region at a statewide pageant comprised of winning queens from throughout all of New York State, and will make appearances as Miss Long Island 2009 at myriad community events across Nassau and Suffolk. For more information, visit www.lipageants.com.