MISS NEW YORK TEEN USA 2009
Taylor Gildersleeve

Taylor Gildersleeve had a passion for acting, performing, and music ever since she was a little girl. Her favorite time of the year was always the springtime, the time of dance and piano recitals.

Taylor grew up on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island in wine country where her parents both owned their own businesses. She grew up modeling for various charities and helping her parents with the family business. She was a member of the Varsity Tennis and Cheerleading teams and was the President of her class in her early high school years. Throughout high school she worked with various charities such as “Make a Wish Foundation”, “Teens Against Cancer”, and she was an aid to students in her school district with disabilities. She was the Student Representative to the School Board on her school’s “Shared Decision Making Team”, was an AP scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and graduated in the top of her class.

Taylor began pursuing acting professionally when she signed with an agency and manager at the age of thirteen. Shortly after, she booked her first major role on the Soap Opera, “All My Children” and remained on contract with the show from 2005-06. She credits her work on the soap to be the best training she ever could have imagined. She believes that the fast-paced nature of soaps taught her “countless lessons, a great deal about the rewards of dedication, and how to be a serious actress.”

The following summer Taylor performed a leading role in an off-Broadway played called the “Travel Dance” at the producer’s club in NYC. Taylor credits the director and acting coach, Anthony Abeson to be one of the most influential people in her life. After training with Anthony Abeson, “master acting coach” to various award winning actors (such as Jennifer Aniston and Ellen Pompeo) for two years, Taylor feels he has sparked a passion for acting in her that she will always cherish. He has taught her that as actor’s we “have the universe inside us” and has given her the tools and confidence to continue pursuing her dreams.

Recently, she has appeared on NBC’s Law and Order in the role of Lauren Claiborne, has shot and independent film called “Recess”, and has appeared in a national TV commercial. She also recently shot a TV pilot.

She continues to pursue both her passion for acting with Anthony Abeson as a private coach and her passion for dancing while training at Broadway Dance Center in NYC. She recently performed in a dance performance showcase at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in NYC and claims both acting and dancing to be her favorite outlets.

Taylor recently came to love the world of pageantry as well and feels extremely grateful to be crowned Miss New York Teen USA 2009! She is more than excited to compete in Nationals at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas in July 2009. She has been thoroughly enjoying her reign thus far, loving every second of her duties as titleholder for the Miss Universe Organization.

Taylor is planning on attending NYU in the fall of 2009 and is very excited about her future. She is currently in the process of auditioning for various TV and film roles. She plans on training diligently for the Miss Teen USA competition in the summer. Her future plans include graduating from NYU, continuing to pursue her acting career, and possibly becoming a broadcast journalist or a host on her own talk show! Most of all, she looks forward to having the opportunity if she is fortunate enough to win the title of Miss Teen USA, to serve as a role model for other teens and to share her unique experiences. Taylor credits her ability to balance her schooling, career, and acting all to her amazing, and wonderfully supportive family. “I would be nowhere without them. I love them more than anything and am forever grateful and blessed” she beams.