Q&A: Meet new Peach Queen Alyssa Strangio

by jmaloni

Mon, Sep 8th 2025 12:35 pm

Peach Blossom & Peach Fuzz also named at Peach Festival

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Alyssa Strangio was crowned Peach Queen on Sunday night at Academy Park. The 17-year-old is a Wheatfield resident and a senior at Niagara Wheatfield High School. She is the daughter of Frank and Merrie-Carole Strangio.

The Peach Queen receives a scholarship from the Lewiston Kiwanis Club, which organized the four-day Niagara County Peach Festival.

This year’s pageant packet stated Alyssa is captain of the Niagara Wheatfield varsity soccer team; a defender for the varsity lacrosse team; a Class of 2026 officer (historian); a member of the National Honor Society; president of DECA; on the high school pep club; and a graduate of LYNC (Leadership Youth of Niagara County). She has volunteered time for Community Missions, FeedMore WNY, Compeer Buffalo, Friends of Night People, and Heart, Love & Soul.

Alyssa received her crown from outgoing Peach Queen Amelia Faddoul.

Sixteen women competed in this year’s pageant. Coordinator Jennifer Pauly explained, “Out of our 16 contestants for the 2025 Peach Queen program, eight were returning. Not only that, but we had 10 former Peach Queens this year come back throughout the weekend to help out. We also had a ‘first’ moment where Hannah Sherman was chosen as Miss Congeniality for the third year in a row that she has participated in the program!

“Amelia served her year with grace and a full heart to serve, and we are looking forward to working with her successor, Alyssa – who is no stranger to the program, as she was Ali Fitch's Peach Blossom when Ali was Peach Queen! What a full-circle moment!

“So many wonderful memories were made this past weekend, and we look forward to planning next year. To top it off, Miss New York was crowned Miss America the same evening we crowned Alyssa!”

The new Peach Queen shared more in this edited Q&A.

Q: In all the times you’re going out for Peach Queen events, and meeting with the other girls, and going through the whole process, is there a time you allow yourself to think about what it would mean if they called your name as the Peach Queen?

Alyssa Strangio: I thought about that so much!

These girls, genuinely, from the bottom of my heart, every single one of them could be Peach Queen. They're all such amazing girls.

But, yes, I did think to myself, “This would be so amazing to be like Amelia.” She's such a great role model, and I look up to her so much.

I'm so fortunate to be crowned – with all the other amazing girls that competed for this title – to be the next Peach Queen. I'm so honored, and I'm ready to take that role.

Q: You said all the girls were amazing; any one of them could have been the queen.

How does it feel to be the queen, and to hear your name?

Alyssa Strangio: It feels fantastic, especially because of the caliber of the girls; they're so amazing, and to see myself be one of them – I'm so proud of all of my accomplishments and everything that I've done that has gotten me here.

I'm thrilled – and I was so shocked when they called my name – but I'm very excited.

Q: This was your first time in the competition.

Alyssa Strangio: Yes, it was my first time competing. I was the Peach Blossom in 2014, so I’ve been involved in the program. But it was my first year that I was eligible to compete in Peach Queen. I’m so happy I decided to.

Q: They give you a scholarship, but what else about this whole process was appealing to you?

Alyssa Strangio: I believe that my values align very well with the Kiwanis program. I'm very involved in my community and through the National Honor Society at my school. I perform a lot of community service projects. I know that Kiwanis is super-involved in helping every family, and I am just so fortunate that I'm able to be a part of that, because community service is one of my biggest passions. So, I think that it's going to tie in great together, and that was the biggest appeal for me.

Q: Tell me about your platform for the next year.

Alyssa Strangio: My platform is called She's Got Game. It's all about empowering young women to use the power of sports to build courage, character and confidence. I've been playing sports since I was 3 years old, and sports have had a huge, positive impact in my life. I've learned so many lessons like resilience, determination; and I just want to show every girl that she's got game on and off the field.

Q: What will you do to celebrate tonight?

Alyssa Strangio: First, I'm going to go get a peach cobbler. I'm going to share it with my parents, because I've been waiting all week to get it! I had peach pop yesterday, but I saved tonight for peach cobbler. And then I'm going to watch the Bills game!

This year’s Niagara County Peach Festival Peach Blossom is Paisley Bigley, age 7, a third-grade student and the daughter of Shannon and Brian Bigley. The Peach Fuzz is Alexander Schulz, 5, a first-grade student and the son of Chris and Amanda Schulz. (Photo by Robin Clark)

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Peach Queen Alyssa Strangio (Photos by Robin Clark)

Peach Queen Alyssa Strangio with Peach Queen Amelia Faddoul.

The Peach Queen court.

The Peach Queen alumna.

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Peach Festival a hit

The Kiwanis Club of Lewiston presented the 67th annual Niagara County Peach Festival from Sept. 4-7 at Academy Park on Center Street. This year’s event staved off some potentially detrimental weather (including rain and initially cooler temperatures) to retain its title as the River Region’s largest and most-attended annual event.

Highlights of the Peach Festival included the midway rides, the Peach Taste-Off recipe competition, cheerleading and dance competitions, a parade, musical entertainers, and the Peach Queen scholarship competition.

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