Miss New Jersey Parade Kicks Off Pageant Week

The popular Miss New Jersey Parade will kick off Pageant Week on Wednesday (June 12) in Ocean City. Twenty-three contestants from throughout the state will be featured in the event known for its unusual “dress-up” themes.

The parade will start at 7 p.m. with the route proceeding down the Ocean City Boardwalk from Sixth Street to 14th Street. 

This year's contestants will portray sinister characters in a comical manner as they are driven down the Boardwalk in convertibles.

The theme is “Villains Down the Venue,” according to Parade Director Maribeth Neal. 

Rest easy, parents. It will be all in good fun — nothing that will make children uncomfortable or grown ups cringe.

The benign “make believe villains” include Miss Atlantic County Lindsey Giannini portraying the Wicked Witch of the West from the "Wizard of Oz." Miss Atlantic Shores Carissa Palumbo will appear as Cruella De Ville from "101 Dalmatians."

Miss Avalon Fiona Di Gennaro will be a semi-frightful Medusa while, Lauren Fogarty, Miss Cape May County, will be the Tax Collector (that’s really scary) from the Monopoly game.

Miss Cape Resort Olivia Srez has selected Jadis White Witch from "Chronicles of Narnia" as her favorite villain, while Miss Cape May Shores Cierra Jones has opted for the Evil Queen from "Snow White."

Miss Central Coast Melissa Hoffman has selected the brutal Nurse Ratched from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," while Courtney Fairfield, Miss Coastal Shore, loves to hate Ursala. Courtney Charatsaris, Miss Columbus Day, says Cat Woman is the purrfect villain while Miss Cumberland County, Ayla Gentiletti, chooses Harley Quinn Silver Surfer from "Fantastic Four."

Miss Eastern Shore Brenna Weick, is a Kissing Kate Barlow fan ("Holes"), while Miss Gateway Krysten Moore goes for the star-crossed Bonnie and Clyde. Captain Hook is the favorite of Katie Klaus, Miss Gloucester County, while Cara McCollum, Miss Island Resort, prefers Hamburgler.

Miss Liberty Myra McCann, will be Angelica Pickles from "Rugrats" and Miss Middlesex County Angie Abdelrehim will be the Big Bad Wolf from "Little Red Riding Hood."

Ellen Chu, Miss Monmouth County, will mean it up as the Riddler from "Batman," while Miss Northern Lakes Andrea Cocozza will portray Scar from "Lion King." Miss Salem County Katie Skwirut will be the excitable Queen of Hearts from "Alice in Wonderland." Miss Seashore Line Kaitlyn Schoeffel becomes the Black Swan, and Miss Seashore Line Anna Negron is itching to be Poison Ivy. Miss Stars and Stripes, Vennessa Baez, will be a Fire Breathing Dragon while Miss Tri-County Nicole  Washington, will resurrect Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty."

Leading the Parade will be the reigning Miss New Jersey Lindsey Petrosh.

Floats will include a Pirate Ship, Alice in Wonderland and Miss New Jersey United States with their pageant winners. Miss Ocean City Devon Vanderslice will be featured on a Beach Patrol display. The Gotham City Supercars with a 66 Batmobile will roll by. Marching units include the Marine Corps, Girl Scout Troops and USO Military forces.

The Pageant will begin with preliminaries on June 13 and 14, and the final will be on Sat., June 15, at the Ocean City Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Miss America, Mallory Hagan, will be a special guest and participate in the program.

This will be Miss New Jersey’s 80th annual pageant. It has been held for the past 17 years in Ocean City. 

Tickets are $35 for each preliminary night and $50 for the final with a $110 ticket covering all three nights. Tickets are now available by calling Mary Lou Cake, 856-424-3564 or on the cell at 609-315-1423.

You can access a complete list of all contestants, their talents and pertinent information at www.missnewjersey.net.

— News release from Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer