OCEAN CITY — Arianna DiAntonio danced her way to the 2026 Junior Miss Ocean City crown Saturday night, Aug. 16, at the Ocean City Music Pier.
A former Little Miss Ocean City (2022) and a rising sophomore at Ocean City High School, Arianna she felt a bit more trepidation going into the pageant after big sister Antonella won the 2026 Miss Ocean City crown a week earlier on the same stage.
“I think it made me a little bit more nervous, to be honest,” she said. “I put more pressure on myself.”
That pressure wasn’t visibly apparent as she won the preliminary awards for poise and composure and for talent.
“I’m just really excited (for the year ahead) with my sister Antonella and Harper. I think that this year is going to be great and it means the world to me. And I’m going to make it the most best experience ever,” she said.
Harper Juelg won the 2026 Little Miss Ocean City crown the night before at the Music Pier. All three girls will be ambassadors for the city, appearing a numerous events.
First runner-up was Gianna Ganiel, second runner-up was Kayla Magazzu, third runner-up was Lynnie Becker and fourth runner-up was Tallulah Costal. Fifteen girls competed.
Arianna said she enjoyed being Little Miss when her older sister was the Junior Miss that year and she learned a lot being the youngest of the trio. Now she also will get to be a mentor to Harper.
“I’m really excited for the Christmas and Halloween parades and I’ve always loved Night in Venice as well,” she said.
A resident of Sea Isle City, she performs with the dance team at OCHS and on a competitive dance team at Prodance Academy in Northfield, activities that certainly gave her a leg up dancing for the talent competition.
She has a favorite subject in school. “I really love English this year. It just lets me describe myself so well and I have so much fun with my friends in that class.”
Big sister Antonella is proud of her little sister’s accomplishment. Well, more than proud.
“Proud is an understatement,” Antonella said. “I’m just truly excited for the year ahead. Not only am I lucky to call her my sister, she’s my best friend and we’re going to have the most special, perfect year together, and Harper is like our triplet. We’re just going to have the best time.”
Arianna and Antonella are the daughters of Anthony and Angela DiAntonio, two very proud parents.
Anthony said his daughter had the right perspective about the pageant. Like the other girls, she wanted to win, but she was determined to enjoy the entire experience “and that was important.”
With two daughters wearing crowns, he was brimming with positive emotions as he posed for photos with them.
“I never experienced anything like this in my life, but since I prayed about it these girls keep making my dreams come true,” he said. “Arianna and Antonella work together in so many ways. They just try to help each other out, no matter what the outcome is. We’re just so happy about these girls setting themselves on fire. They’re just so happy about everything. And their spirit shows in how they act.
“Two girls helping one another and encouraging one another, win or lose, has been a positive thing,” he added, “because they both had some disappointments along the way and they learned from that. And they learned that winning’s a beautiful thing, but also it’s the journey of it all.”
Sisters Paige Aita and Emily Aita, former Junior Miss Ocean City winners (2018 and 2016, respectively), were the mistresses of ceremonies for the pageant, which was directed by Aggie Becker. Judges were Belle Nicholas, Miss New Jersey 2025; Amy Phillips, Marty Mendetta and Susan Nicolle, with judges chair Angela Biamonte Kosar.
Sarah Smith and Bella Clark did the choreography, Joyce Trofa was the hostess chair, A Bella Salon and Spa provided the hairstyling and Carole Taylor and Mark Nicole were the auditors. The staff of the Ocean City Music Pier handled the audio, lighting and stage crew.
There were performances by outgoing Junior Miss Ocean City 2025 Sarah Smith, before her final walk; Antonella DiAntonio, Harper Juelg and the OCHS Dance Team.
Junior Miss Ocean City
2026 Awards
People’s Choice, Madison Keenan
Spirit of OCBP, (tie) Vera Schuh and Giselle Ardelean
Ad Book Award, Gianna Ganiel
Hostess Award, Maggie Morris
Evelyn Reed Spirit Award, Poppy Hudak
Miss Congeniality, (tie) Tallulah Costal and Lynnie Becker
Academic Achievement, Waverly Dunn
Community Service, Sophia Neal
Community Involvement, Frankie Schaffer
Poise and Composure, Arianna DiAntonio
On-stage Question, (tie) Randy Scarborough and Elizabeth Canale
Interview, Kayla Magazzu
Talent, Arianna DiAntonio
Fourth runner-up, Tallulah Costal
Third runner-up, Lynnie Becker
Second runner-up, Kayla Magazzu
First runner-up, Gianna Ganiel
Winner, Arianna DiAntonio
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
