OCEAN CITY — The oldest of seven siblings, including five girls, Kayla Magazzu was crowned Miss Ocean City 2027 Saturday night on stage at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Magazzu, 16, is a rising junior at Ocean City High School, a choice student from Margate City.
The pageant is open to Ocean City residents, girls whose parents are property owners, such as summertime residents, and students in the Ocean City School System.
Her dad, Chris Magazzu, joked that he may need to save that pageant money his daughter just won. Her mother is Amy Dee Collins.
“It’s exciting,” he said of Kayla winning the title. Laughing, he added, “Hopefully some of the scholarships will start rolling in from these pageants because colleges and weddings won’t be cheap, that’s for sure.”
“She’s the oldest of five daughters (ages 16 to seven months), so I may as well get used to it,” he added. “She’s been doing dance a long time, since she was 2 years old, working on her stage presence. We’re watching all the hard work pay off. She puts in the time.”
“I absolutely love to dance,” Kayla said after getting hugs from the other contestants and her family. “This actually feels unreal. I never imagined this.
“My first pageant was last year, so I’m really grateful,” she said.
“Antonella and Arianna are close friends of mine, so them getting to crown me is really special.”
Antonella DiAntonio, Miss Ocean City 2026, and younger sister Arianna, Junior Miss Ocean City 2026, aided by Little Miss Ocean City Harper Juelg, put the crown on Kayla’s head and the sash around her shoulders before Kayla walked the Music Pier stage to cheers and applause from the audience.
“I come from a big family. We’re missing three tonight, but that’s OK,” Kayla said. “I love my family, I love my friends, I love a day at the beach and the boardwalk is my favorite thing to do in Ocean City with my family.
“I love to go and get ice cream, and pizza at Manco and Manco, our go-to spot,” she added.
Kayla said she can’t wait to see who will be the new Little Miss and Junior Miss, who will be crowned Friday and Saturday night, respectively, at the Music Pier.
“I’m looking forward to all the events and to meet my Junior and Little Miss Ocean City and just create such a special bond with them,” she said.
At OCHS, she is a member of the dance team (like Antonella and Arianna) and plans to be a student ambassador.
Georgia Little was the first runner-up and Gianna Ganiel was the second runner-up. There were six young women competing for the title, including Jordan Dezeeuw-Yager, Melody Kuchler and Isabella Barbagello.
Aggie Becker is the director of the pageant. Dawn Vanderslice and Devon Vanderslice DeVries, who won the Miss Ocean City titles 33 years apart (1979 and 2013), were emcees. There were special presentations by Mayor Jay Gillian, who gifted outgoing Miss Ocean City Antonella DiAntonio with a piece of the boardwalk for her service over the years, also as Little Miss and Junior Miss, and by Michael Allegretto, aide to the mayor. The OCHS Dance Team provided a special performance.
Awards
Spirit of the OCBP Award: Isabella Barbagello
Ad Book sales: Jordan Dezeeuw-Yager
Miss Congeniality: Melody Kuchler
Community Service Award: Dezeeuw-Yager
Scholastic Achievement: Barbagello
People’s Choice: Barbagello
Eileen Parks Hostess Award: Dezeeuw-Yager
Poise Award (tie): Kuchler, Georgia Little
Swimsuit: Kayla Magazzu
Talent: Gianna Ganiel
Interview: Little
Second runner-up: Ganiel
First runner-up: Little
Winner: Magazzu
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
