Miss Fulton County 2009 Courtney Sheridan has often followed in her 23 year-old sister Keelie's footsteps.
The sisters were both high school cheerleaders and learned Irish dance. They've also both won scholarship pageants, and this year, the two will compete, side by side, at the Miss New York competition, which will take place today through Sunday at The Egg in Albany.
The two sisters marveled Wednesday at their unique circumstances while expressing their excitement with what they say is fantastic good luck.
"It's awesome-I really feel like I'm at an advantage over the other girls," Keelie said. "I get to do it with one of my best friends. I get to have somebody here who I really trust."
Keelie was a contestant in the Miss New York competition as Miss Fonda Fair last year and was third runner-up in the Miss Fulton County competition when she was 17. Now 23, she is back at the Miss New York contest for the second straight year, this time as Miss Brooklyn, a place she moved while attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
In the years after Keelie's Miss Fulton county appearance, Courtney, who is 17, developed similar hobbies-she also was a cheerleader at Fort Plain High School, a member of the drama club and a devoted Irish step dancer.
She was crowned Miss Fulton County in February, and found out a month later she would be competing next to her sister when Keelie won Miss Brooklyn in March.
Courtney said her sister has been a welcome presence throughout the week, during which the 21 contestants have made various appearances throughout the city and have prepared for the competition.
"I love having her here," Courtney said. "I don't actually know if I would be sane if she weren't here right now."
The sisters say they were somewhat competitive growing up. A third sister, Kieren Sheridan, was runner up at the Miss Central Region, Miss Lake Country and Miss Empire Rose competitions, meaning the family was close to having three sisters compete in the statewide contest. Kieren also was crowned Miss Mohawk Valley last year and competed in the Miss New York contest.
The two said they have a unique way of providing feedback to one another.
"We are brutally honest with each other," Courtney said. "We can absolutely hate each other and in 20 minutes we can say, 'OK, that was kind of mean, but we're also sisters. Let's move on.'"
"We'll call each other out if someone did something that was stupid," Keelie added.
Even though the two originate from the area, they represent two very different jurisdictions in this competition-one, rural Fulton County, the other a residential urban borough.
Their performances onstage also will be very different from one another. Keelie will be Irish step dancing-something she learned to do at the Wild Acres School of Irish Dance, which performs in Gloversville and is based in Saratoga-while Courtney will be spinning poi, a New Zealand performance art that involves spinning balls attached to flexible string around one's head in a manner that is "pleasing to the eye," as Courtney put it. Keelie's platform centers on promoting arts opportunities for underprivileged youths, while Courtney's is "Think Twice: Drive Sober."
Still, the two have a lot in common, and said their competition is a friendly one. They both said they feel good about their chances.
Courtney said she would be just as happy to see her sister finish in the top 10-or even win-as she would be if she did the same.
"I mean that with the utmost honesty," she said.
