With the Miss USA pageant just a few days away, we take a look at another promising contestant looking to take the crown. From the state of New York, say hello to Joanne Nosuchinsky.

Hailing from Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan, 24-year-old Nosuchinsky has been accustomed to the big city hustle. She notes, however, that despite her pageant success, being a beauty queen was not always on her radar of career aspirations.

"I'm an actress, I was kind of at a standstill in my career and I wanted to try something new. I was looking for audition notices online and I came across an audition notice for the pageant. So I thought, you know what, I could try this, I think I would like it. Why not?"

And with that, she decided to throw her name in the ring for the title of Miss New York, and as a pageant rookie, took the crown. That shouldn't have been too surprising though, as Nosuchinsky has been performing all of her life.

She says she has been practicing a variety of dances, from tap all the way to ballet, since she was four years old. From there she was eventually admitted to the Performing Arts Center at Howell High School and went on to receive a full tuition scholarship to Rider University. So, what's the secret to her success?

"I think the best piece of advice would be to know yourself. Really dig deep, do some soul searching, and know exactly what it is that you want. I think if you can clearly define what you're after, it's easier to get there because you can make a plan and stay focused," says Nosuchinsky.

In interviews, Nosuchinsky comes off as a surprisingly down-to-earth individual. She notes her ability to make impressive bird calls as one of her strong suits, and says that entertaining and making people laugh is one of the things nearest and dearest to her heart. When asked about what the pageant life has been like as a rookie, she had nothing but glowing reviews.

"It's really not as cliché as they think it is. It's not just about waving and looking pretty. And it's not super catty; it's really a great group of women getting together and celebrating. It's a celebration of beauty, brains, your background, and how far you've come, as well as the opportunity to pick a platform and really promote a charity and a cause that is near and dear to your heart."