Miss New Jersey Events Set for June 15 to 18 in Ocean City

The Miss America Pageant moved from Atlantic City to Las Vegas in 2006, but local fans can still see the Miss New Jersey Pageant in Ocean City.

Twenty-three title holders from throughout the state will compete for the Miss New Jersey crown June 16 to 18. The pageant will be held on the Music Pier with shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The winner of the Miss New Jersey Pageant will vie for the Miss America crown in January in Las Vegas.

The Miss New Jersey Boardwalk Parade, featuring contestants from throughout the state is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15. The parade begins at Sixth Street and ends at 14th Street. All contestants will dress as TV characters or TV show themes.

Reigning Miss New Jersey, Ashleigh Udalovas, will lead the parade on a float. Miss Ocean City, Rachel Reese, will ride the parade in a lifeguard boat. Little Miss Ocean City, Sadie Ford, and Junior Miss Ocean City, Emily Aita, will be on floats.

Returning as primary emcee for the pageant events Thursday through Saturday will be Miss New Jersey 1995, Dena Blizzard, a popular standup comic, who has received national recognition for her humor based on the trials and tribulations of being a mother. She has emceed the event continuously in recent years and has become a favorite among Miss New Jersey fans for her routines and off-the-cuff remarks.

Udalovas will co-host and perform the dance she did at the Miss America Pageant in January.

In preliminary competition on Thursday and Friday, the contestants will be divided into two groups. While one group competes in swimsuit and evening gown, the other will perform their talents. On Saturday, the Top 10 will be selected and the winner crowned.

Special guests on Friday evening will be the Infernos, “America’s Number One Show Band,” who will open the show. Members of the group include Richie Rosato, lead singer of the Duprees for 27 years. Another lead singer of the Infernos, Kenny Simmons, was a member of the Grammy Award-winning Commodores. The group recently opened for the legendary band Chicago.

Renowned DJ and music producer Valentino LaRosa will provide background music during the show.

The program will emphasize the history of the pageant. Past pageant winners have been invited to assist Blizzard in certain phases of the competition, says Robin Filippone, co- producer. They include former title holders, Debra Naley Minnenna, 1981, Erica Lynn Scanlon Harr, 2004 and Mary D’Arcy Jurman, 1977.

Also performing throughout the week will be Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen, Natalie Ragazzo and the Little Miss New Jersey stars.

Those competing for Miss New Jersey include:

• Cierra Kaler-Jones, 17, Miss Atlantic County of Galloway, a student at Absegami High School. Her platform is Empowering Today’s Youth Through the Arts, talent: dance.
• Lauren Talvacchio, 22, Miss Atlantic Shore, Sewell, West Chester University. Her platform, a Cure for Crohns and Colitis, talent: vocal.
•  Roopali Pendse,23 Miss Camden County, Morris Plains, Rutgers University. Her platform is Encouraging Higher Education, talent: dance
• Kaitlin Davis,23, Miss Cape Shores, Millville, Fordham University. Her platform is Youth Enrichment Through the Arts, talent: vocal.
• Anna Negron, 19, Miss Cape May Country, Vineland, Seton Hall University. Her platform is Drunk Driving Awareness, talent: vocal.
•  Katie Berry,22, Mt. Laurel, Fordham University. Her platform is HIV/AIDS Awareness, talent: dance.
• Carissa Palumbo, 19, Miss Champaign Springs, Wayne, Rowan University. Her platform is Queen of Hearts Foundation, talent: dance.
• Krysten Moore, 20, Mahwah, University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Platform is the Education and prevention of Childhood Bullying, talent: dance.
• Katharyn Nicolle,19, Wenonah, Dickinson College. Platform is Reading for the Right Reason, talent: dance.
• Angelica Nardi, 21, Miss Cumberland County, Millville, Cumberland County College, platform, Inspiring Self Discipline, talent: vocal.
• Courtney Charatsaris, 21, Miss Eastern Shore, Totowa, Montclair State. Platform is Care for a Cure, talent: vocal.
• Vanessa Baez,21, Miss Gateway, Bloomfield, Montclair State University. Platform is Raising Medical Funds Through Non Profit Organizations, talent: vocal.
•  Kate Bozzelli, 20, Miss Gloucester County, Linwood, Drexel University. Platform is Road to Safe Driving, talent: piano.
•  Ellen Chu,20, Miss Heartland, Park Ridge, Rutgers University. Platform is Overcoming Obstacles, talent: dance.
• Tamara Allison, 23, Miss Liberty, Mt. Laurel, Villanova University. Platform is Enrichment Through Service, talent: dance.
• Carmen Jewell Bloom, 22, Ringwood, Seton Hall University. Platform is Be the Change, Youth Mentoring, talent: vocal.
• Breanne Ray, 18, Miss Middlesex County Area, 18, Williamstown, Thomas Jefferson University. Platform is Shine Through, Mentor Program for Young Girls, talent: vocal.
• Katie Revier, 22, Miss Monmouth County, Ringwood. Platform is Building Communities through the Arts, talent, vocal.
• Sammi-Jo Danze, 23, Miss Northern Lakes West Deptford, Rutgers University. Platform is Ronald Mc Donald House, talent: dance.
• Rachel Kuhar, 18, Miss Salem County, Bridgeton, Rowan University. Platform is Animal Cruelty Awareness, talent: saxophone.
• Jachele Velez, 20, Miss Seashore Line, Hillside, Columbia University. Platform is Fresh Perspective on Diversity, talent: vocal.
• Quaniesha Frost, 23, Red Bank, Montclair State University. Platform is Save the Music and One’s Self Esteem, talent: vocal.
• Michelle Goldberg, 22, Rutherford, Rutgers-Douglas. Platform is Mentoring Our Youth, talent: dance.

Tickets for preliminaries and Saturday’s final may be ordered by calling Mary Lou Cake at 609-315-1423. Tickets are $35 for the preliminaries and $50 for the final. A package price for all three is available for $100.